MAYDAY Monday!

It’s MAYDAY MONDAY! On Mondays we will be sharing with you helpful tips on how to deal with your home. We have all experienced problems that we wish we could just solve without having to call in a professional. Here we will be trying to help you with some of the common problems that may arise in your home.

Repair or Replace?

Frustrated by a leaky bathroom faucet?

You have two easy options, either repair it or replace it. Both options are simple enough to do yourself; follow the steps below and stop that annoying drip once and for all!

To Repair: (slightly easier than replacing)

• First, you need to determine the source of your leak; is it coming from the tap or the handle?
• A leak from the tap means you need a new Washer, a leak from the handle means you need a new O-ring.
• Next, turn off the water using the valves located under your sink and then drain the faucet by turning it on and allowing any remaining water to drain out.
• Place a towel in your sink to avoid any damage or scratches to the bowl while you make the repair.
• Now remove the decorative handles and the screw underneath; then remove the lug nut using a wrench, turning it counterclockwise.
• Take out the “stem” and replace the Washer or O-ring with an exact match purchased at your local hardware store.
• Put all parts back in the way they came out.

To Replace:

• If you are not replacing the entire vanity top, be sure to select a new fixture that is the same configuration as your current faucet; either a single-hole, all-in-one fixture or a center-set faucet with decorative handles set the standard 4” apart. If your wash bowl sits on top of the vanity, faucets that attach to the wall are an option or even a goose-neck style will work (will be more difficult to replace).
• Turn off the water supply at the valves under the sink. Loosen the supply tubes at the hot and cold valves. Use a basin wrench to loosen and remove the nut at the faucet stem. Remove the nut holding the faucet to the sink, and remove the faucet.
• Remove the nut above the P-trap (curved piece of pipe under your sink), and loosen the nut attached to the P-trap. Remove the P-trap. Remove the pop-up lever from the drain. Loosen the lock nut holding the drain to the sink. Unscrew the drain and the drain flange (usually metal, visible in the bottom of the sink bowl).
• Place paste or plumber’s tape on the faucet stems. If your faucet has a rubber gasket, install it on the base of the faucet before inserting the faucet stems in the appropriate holes in the sink. If your faucet doesn’t include a gasket, run a line of caulk under the faucet before installing it to prevent leaks.
• Secure the nuts holding the faucet to the sink. Tighten the nuts by hand then give them another quarter-turn with a wrench. Connect the water supply tubes to the faucet stems. Apply more paste to the shutoff valve threads, and tighten the coupling nuts to the faucet-supply stems. Do not over tighten.
• Apply caulk or paste to the underside of the drain flange and press it into the drain hole. Place the lock nut on the drain housing, followed by the metal washer and the gasket. Screw the drain housing tightly to the flange.
• Drop the pop-up drain into place, keeping the hole for the control pin toward the rear of the sink. Place the bail lever in the side hole of the drain assembly so the control pin fits through the appropriate hole in the pop-up drain.
• Set the drain rod into the hole in the faucet, and attach the connecting link to the faucet rod by tightening the attached screw. Make sure the pop-up is up and the drain rod is down, then attach the bail lever to the connection link, using the V-clip. The pop-up should go down when the lever is pulled up.
• Replace the p-trap and turn water supply valves back on. Clean the supply tubes by removing the aerator from the faucet and turning on the water. While the water is running, check for leaks. Shut the water off after you’re certain there are no leaks and replace the aerator.

You can do this project in about 2 hours and save yourself the expense of
hiring a professional plumber, it’s that easy! Good luck! 

Have a problem that you would like to see on MAYDAY MONDAY? Send us a message and I will do my best to put together a post to help you and others!

Like always, if you feel that you cannot handle the MAYDAY MONDAY tip, please consult an experienced professional.

Related articles

• Bathroom Plumbing Tips (rotorooter.com)
• Easy Compression Faucet Repair (rotorooter.com)
• Safely Unclogging The Clogged Kitchen Sink Drain (propertydevelopmentuk.wordpress.com)
• Tips for Unclogging Drains (rotorooter.com)