Kitchen Disaster Semi-Averted
On Apr 16, 11:58�am, "JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:
> "Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
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> > The hot water faucet in the kitchen sink has been
> > leaking, and I tried putting in a new washer.
> > That didn't work. *Then I tried reaming the seat.
> > I have the tool for this, and I've done it a
> > couple times before. *Worked like a charm each
> > time.
>
> > Not this time. *At first, I thought I just did
> > a sloppy job, so I reamed it again. *And again.
> > It just seemed to get worse each time. *Now a
> > dribbling leak had become a steady stream.
>
> > Hmmm . . . I can't shut off the supply to the
> > hot water tap without shutting off the supply
> > to the whole house, because there aren't shutoff
> > valves under the sink for the faucets. *(This
> > is a really old house with ridiculous plumbing.)
>
> > I examined the valve stem, and it was at its
> > limit when I tried to shut off the water.
> > Hmmm . . . looks like I reamed the seat too
> > deep. *This could be a serious problem.
>
> > I can't go to bed with this much hot water
> > running in the sink. *After I take my shower,
> > I may have to go outside to shut off the water
> > at the main valve. Not a good solution.
> > What to do, what to do?
>
> > Ah! *I could put _two_ washers in the valve
> > stem to build up the height I need to close
> > the gap to the valve seat, if the center bolt
> > in the valve stem is long enough for two
> > washers. *It is! *After futzing with this for
> > about two hours, and facing up to the fact that
> > I may have created an unfixable disaster, I've
> > finally stopped the leak! Hooray!!!
>
> > In theory, I might be able to restore operation
> > of the hot water tap with the new configuration,
> > but I'm going to leave well enough alone for now.
> > I've lived without hot water in the kitchen before,
> > and I'll do that for now, rather than taking
> > a chance on creating a problem I can't fix.
> > I'm grateful just to have cut off the hot water
> > for now. *I can worry about replacing the whole
> > fixture some other time. *I can go to bed tonight
> > without shutting off the water to the whole house.
> > Sometimes the smallest things can be the most
> > important.
>
> How about removing the valve seat, using the special (and inexpensive) tool
> for that purpose, taking the seat to a real plumbing store, and getting a
> replacement? Total cost will be under ten bucks.
Some valve seats have a square hole, others a hex hole, easily
unscrewed with two flat blade screw drivers used in tandem or the hex
hole with an allen wrench. Replacement seats are usually sold in
pairs and should cost under a buck. Personally I would replace the
entire faucet with a modern single lever one... constantly fiddling
with washers, valve seats, valve stems, and bonnet gland packings is a
pain.
Sheldon
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