posted
So the the kitchen sink drips, that is, it has a leak out of the faucet. Not at the base or handles, but where water usually comes out.
I've tried replacing the washers underneath the handles, to no avail. So I decided to try and install a whole new fixture, to see if that stops the problem (Also, this new faucet has more vertical clearance as a bonus).
Now, though, the shut off valve for the hot water under the sink doesn't seem to work. I have it turned all the way to the right, and it hasn't even slowed the hot water coming out of the faucet. The valve was leaking too, but tightening the nut behind the handle seemed to fix that.
Any ideas on solutions would be greatly appreciated.
Posts: 2907 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
have you tried turning it all the way to the opposite end? or is there another valve underneath?
Posts: 1918 | Registered: Mar 2005
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There is a third valve below the other two, but it leads to the dishwasher, and I'm pretty sure it's not involved. I tried it anyway, just to be sure, and it didn't do anything.
*I meant left here, sorry.
Posts: 2907 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
I'll ask my husband when he gets back in range - I tried calling him but he's working somewhere today without good cell coverage.
The valve may be messed up, in which case you'll need to cut the water off to the house, then replace the valve.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
I'm in an apartment actually, though I suspect it may come down to the same thing.
I suppose I could have asked the landlord to deal with it, that may still need to happen, but I kind of wanted to learn how to do this.
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Oh, most leases I have seen don't allow for a tenant to make modifications to the premises. I suppose it's so someone doesn't make a repair and then try to deduct it from their rent or something.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I don't think it'll be a problem, pooka. Landlords I've had in the past haven't really cared for this type of thing, and I wasn't planning on making a stink about my rent anyway. Posts: 2907 | Registered: Nov 2005
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quote:Originally posted by pooka: Oh, most leases I have seen don't allow for a tenant to make modifications to the premises. I suppose it's so someone doesn't make a repair and then try to deduct it from their rent or something.
California tenant law has specific provisions allowing exactly that.
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Jux, sounds like your shutoff valve is worn out. Is your water metered separately (do you get a monthly water bill, or is it included in your rent)? I ask because if you are metered separately then you will have a master shutoff valve somewhere that would allow you to (assuming you can access it) replace the valve.
Although I have to say, at this point, I'd call the landlord and have him fix it. If you're friends with the handyman you can watch him work and ask questions.
Posts: 5462 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Does the cold water valve work? It does sound as though the valve is bad and will need to be replaced. There should be a shut off valve at the water heater, from the water heater to the rest of the house. Try shutting that valve and see if it will shut off the hot water to the faucet. If that does not work, you may have to shut down all water to the apartment to replace the angle stop on the kitchen faucet.
Posts: 25 | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
The cold water valve does work. I tried turning turning off the valve at the water heater, which slowed down the hot water to a trickle, but not to the point where it seems like a good idea to start taking things apart.
I think this has gotten to the point where it would be inadvisable for me to keep at this on my own. I'm just gonna contact the building manager and schedule the maintenance.
Thanks for the advice everyone. Posts: 2907 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Can I ask for plumbing help too? One of our sinks in the new house only gets hot water, even though there's two pipes leading into it. We've tried fiddling with all the valves, but no combination worked. The same pipelines run into the bathroom where there's no problem w/ the water...
Any ideas? Is this a do-it-yourself sort of problem? If we get a plumber out, assuming nothing catastrophic (and there shouldn't be - we had a very deep home inspection), how much would fixing this issue cost? The pipes run directly into the unfinished portion of the basement, so everything is exposed.
Posts: 2409 | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote:Any ideas? Is this a do-it-yourself sort of problem? If we get a plumber out, assuming nothing catastrophic (and there shouldn't be - we had a very deep home inspection), how much would fixing this issue cost? The pipes run directly into the unfinished portion of the basement, so everything is exposed.
Um, everything that it could easily be you have already checked. I cannot answer for you how much it will cost, because it depends on a myriad of factors - what types of pipe you have, how easy everything is to get to, how accessible the problem is, etc., etc. The fact that the pipes are in the ceiling of an unfinished basement is in your favor, of course. It could be a very simple thing...or it could not.
My husband would diagnose such a problem and tell you how much it would be to fix it for a simple hourly fee. If he could fix it easily he would do so, and if not, he'd have to come back with the right supplies and everything and the cost of that would be wholly dependent on how difficult the problem is to fix.
I will tell you that usually such things are problems with valves, unless the water was run wrong to being with. (this happens more often than you might think). Is the house new construction? If so, ask the general contractor who did the plumbing and have that plumbing contractor back out. He should warrant his work in a new home for a minimum of a year, and should fix a problem like this for free.
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