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Jess from VA
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« on: July 30, 2025, 03:58:59 AM » |
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Couple days ago, I discovered a healthy leak under my kitchen sink. The old plywood cabinet base under there has had many leaks over the last 50+ years, and shows it. Back in 2019, I paid plumbers a bunch of money to go all over my house and change all my supplies to braided stainless, new (quick) cutoffs, all new faucets (Moen), a new hose bib, 2 new toilets. And I've had no trouble anywhere since.
The space under the kitchen sink is huge and crammed full of all kinds of stuff, so I pull enough out to work and do what Harry Homeowner does, I go to snugging up the fittings on the leaking cold water supply. But the leak is up behind the sink at the faucet hookup and I have to do the human pretzel maneuver to climb halfway under the cabinet, banging my head and tweaking my old back. And when I finally get a wrench on that supply nut and go to tightening it, the leak gets much worse and blasts me in the face. OK time for a plumber. I clean up the mess and cut the water off under there, and spend the next 2 days washing dishes in a bathroom sink (up and down stairs).
Being a considerate fellow, I practically empty that huge space, remove a wire shelving unit, put down a pad on the floor, and stick in an incredibly bright rechargable LED spot.
The plumber and helper arrive and first he checks everything else, but arrives at the conclusion that it is a leak in the faucet fixture itself (my conclusion too). A Moen fixture new in 2019 has developed a big crack in an internal brass supply line. I've anticipated this and already bought a new Moen tall kitchen fixture (to be returned if unneeded).
The fixture and plumber run $480 (ouch). I only tip the plumber and helper $10 each (get some lunch), I always do this with workmen at the house, usually more, but not this time.
I carefully watch the repair in progress and conclude I could probably do all that myself, but a good man knows his limitations, and an old man knows what his old back will not like.
It was 95* outside and at least all the work was indoors with the AC blasting.
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crow
Member
Posts: 510
Toujours Pret
Citrus Co Fla
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« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2025, 04:12:41 AM » |
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Was the leaking faucet a Moen? They, and other high quality faucets provide free rebuild kits. Our house built in 97. I've gotten free parts only twice for two different faucets.
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dont write a check with your mouth,
that your ass cant cash
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f6john
Member
Posts: 9598
Christ first and always
Richmond, Kentucky
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« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2025, 05:55:41 AM » |
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My son is waiting on me, I think, to show up and replace his kitchen faucet. He bought the replacement faucet weeks ago. He hasn’t actually asked me to do it but I am his go to plumber. My biggest holdup is when I was actively a remodel/repair guy, I had a one ton van with all my tools available when I pull up. Now I have to imagine all the tools and supplies I may need before I leave the house. So, now every one hour job has the potential to be an all day ordeal.
I just might tackle this job sometime this week and get it checked off my list.
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2025, 06:21:42 AM » |
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Was the leaking faucet a Moen? They, and other high quality faucets provide free rebuild kits. Our house built in 97. I've gotten free parts only twice for two different faucets.
Yes, it was a Moen. It developed a big crack in the internal fixture brass supply line that could only be repaired with solder (or epoxy or something) (which if I do it, will leak again shortly). The plumber called it unrepairable/unreliable if repaired. I agreed. Pretty new (purchased 2019), but no receipt. The plumber said call Moen and see what they might do for you. I looked, and Moen has a new limited lifetime warranty, but only to faucets purchased after November, 2024. Having dealt with disputes of all kinds for many years in my profession, I now avoid them like the plague in my retirement. And I hate to go whining and begging with people. With any luck, this one will last longer than 5-6 years. |
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h13man
Member
Posts: 1832
To everything there is an exception.
Indiana NW Central Flatlands
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« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2025, 06:29:24 AM » |
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I've had two kitchen Moen faucets with softened water usage and neither lasted 6 yrs. Cartridge is half the price of the faucet.  American standard lasted 8 yrs. and now we got a Price Phister. Bathrooms, are old Delta "washer" units and oldest is 35 yrs. old. Delta isn't as good as they used to be either as they left SS cartridge tech for ceramic. For those who don't know, Peerless is "backdoor" Delta line. |
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« Last Edit: July 30, 2025, 06:32:07 AM by h13man »
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2025, 08:38:55 AM » |
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For all the huge taxes we pay here, the one good thing is our city water is about the cleanest and softest anywhere in the US. So that wasn't a factor in my internal faucet crack.
My cartridges were fine.
My plumber told me no plumbing hardware is as good as it used to be. You hear this so often about everything under the sun, so why should plumbing parts be any different?
I replaced my Moen with another Moen anyway (though I bought it before I knew the old one failed). Looked at Kohler, but didn't see what I wanted in that line. Everything else in the house is Moen, and so far so good.
I was tempted to buy one of those big pull down sprayer faucets, but at around $300, nope.
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Serk
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« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2025, 08:59:28 AM » |
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Indeed, the first rule of being a good DIY'er is "A man's got to know his limitations." Unfortunately for my large carcass, replacing faucets (And toilets) is something I can do. Almost wish it wasn't, I don't enjoy folding my rather substantial corpus up under the sinks to do it! And toilets are even more fun, with all the cleaning out of the old wax seal, and trying NOT to think about what all is embedded in it... I picked up a lot of plumbing know-how with my faded Aquarium obsession (Anyone know someone in the Dallas area that wants a very high end 300 gallon aquarium btw?  ) |
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away...  IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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scooperhsd
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« Reply #7 on: July 30, 2025, 09:26:31 AM » |
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In the NC house - we had PEX plumbing (put in by yours truly and FIL), and we had a 16' X 32' 19000 gallon outdoor swimming pool, That I replaced plumbing / pumps, electricity etc. I also replaced an electric water heater (put it outside in a shelter).
MIL's house - my back doesn't care for the bending to do faucet replacement any more - nope, just not going there.
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Rams
Member
Posts: 16469
So many colors to choose from yet so few stand out
Covington, TN
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« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2025, 10:42:21 AM » |
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Jess, glad you got that fixed. Knowing your own limitations is a good thing, that includes knowing one's own patience capabilities. You (IMHO) made the right decision. Myself, I'm not nearly as good with knowing my limitations. Just last week, the handle came off our kitchen sink. I inspected the connecting parts and determined that a piece of plastic in the handle was simply worn out and the whole faucet needed replacing. Told my spousal unit to go to Lowe's or Home Depot and pick out one, gave her advice on what she needed to be looking for. Instead, she got on the internet and ordered what she thought looked good and admittedly, it's not bad and goes well with the sink. But getting the old faucet out and installation was not a fun project; I don't have the plumbing tools I needed and getting in and out of that back breaking cabinet sucked. Made up my mind and advised my wife that if this needed to be done again to call f6john. I put his number on her speed dial.  Rams |
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VRCC# 29981
Learning the majority of life's lessons the hard way.
Every trip is an adventure, enjoy it while it lasts.
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Serk
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« Reply #10 on: July 30, 2025, 05:43:54 PM » |
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It's certainly large enough!  |
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away... IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #11 on: July 30, 2025, 06:53:04 PM » |
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That thing is huge. She doesn't look very pleased in there.  |
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Serk
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« Reply #12 on: August 01, 2025, 05:17:13 PM » |
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away... IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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Hook#3287
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« Reply #13 on: August 03, 2025, 04:42:56 AM » |
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My 30 something kitchen faucet started leaking awhile ago, not shutting off all the way unless I positioned the valve just right. So I bought a new faucet and just continued to position the valve to stop the leak for about another 3-4 years.
Finally, no matter where I positioned it, the leak wouldn't stop. So being pretty much inherently lazy, I would just shut off the valve under the sink.
Did that for a couple months till I decided to bite the bullet, stop being an idiot and fix the stupid thing.
Took about 2 hours.
The conclusion is, besides I'm the stupid one, is plumbing fixtures have evolved to be considerably easier to replace than I remembered.
So even if they don't last like the old stuff, at least replacing them is easier.
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scooperhsd
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« Reply #14 on: August 03, 2025, 09:23:58 AM » |
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Indeed, the first rule of being a good DIY'er is "A man's got to know his limitations." Unfortunately for my large carcass, replacing faucets (And toilets) is something I can do. Almost wish it wasn't, I don't enjoy folding my rather substantial corpus up under the sinks to do it! And toilets are even more fun, with all the cleaning out of the old wax seal, and trying NOT to think about what all is embedded in it... I picked up a lot of plumbing know-how with my faded Aquarium obsession (Anyone know someone in the Dallas area that wants a very high end 300 gallon aquarium btw? ) And the latest toilet upstairs is a one piece - too heavy for me to deal with. So I call a plumber to do those jobs that I can't do anymore.... |
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GiG
Member
Posts: 2886
"That's just like, your OPINION, Man!"
NEAR the "In 'n' Out Burger"
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« Reply #15 on: August 08, 2025, 06:33:23 AM » |
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This story is not as fascinating as the never-ending hail storm saga. Maybe you can enlist doughboy to use his exceptional people skills and uncanny red-tape solutions to get your plumbing repaired fast, free plus a full refund on all plumbing fixtures  |
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« Last Edit: August 08, 2025, 06:52:23 AM by GiG »
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Nothing is Everything.
When you come to a fork in the road - TAKE IT!
(Then be sure to send it to OSS... C.O.D.)
This isn’t Rocket Surgery
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cookiedough
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« Reply #16 on: August 09, 2025, 05:31:32 AM » |
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This story is not as fascinating as the never-ending hail storm saga. Maybe you can enlist doughboy to use his exceptional people skills and uncanny red-tape solutions to get your plumbing repaired fast, free plus a full refund on all plumbing fixtures sure why not?  |
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