Faucet Replacement

[Visheau]

As I am about to undertake the replacement of my kitchen faucet in an hour or so, any sage advice? I have a faucet wrench, water lines, seals, and of course the new faucet. Any tips or tricks to not breaking anything?

[barry2952]

As I am about to undertake the replacement of my kitchen faucet in an hour or so, any sage advice? I have a faucet wrench, water lines, seals, and of course the new faucet. Any tips or tricks to not breaking anything?

Yes, shut off the water to the whole house and don't mess with the individual valves. Hold each valve with a crescent wrench before removing the compression nut, just as a precaution.

Don't over-tighten the compression connections. Snug them up and inspect for leaks. Tighten as necessary.

Oh yeah, remove the strainer at the water outlet before you turn the water back on. Give the new faucet a good flush before re-installing it.

[Jiffycake!]

just to add to what barry said.. teflon tape or pipe dope on the water line fittings.

[barry2952]

just to add to what barry said.. teflon tape on the water line fittings.

Why? The threads on compression fittings are not supposed to be taped, only tapered pipe threads. They do not seal, just the compression ring. Putting tape on the compression fitting threads would defeat the purpose.

[Papa Dras]

What is the purpose of shutting off the water to the whole house? I've replaced numerous faucets in my homes and never had to do that.

[Jiffycake!]

That's true that you only really need it on pipe fittings, but I found it is a good second insurance and helps when you have to disassemble. Ever have a garden hose stuck on the spigot? If there was teflon tape or pipe dope there it would come off a lot easier. I mean what is the harm in using it?

[barry2952]

What is the purpose of shutting off the water to the whole house? I've replaced numerous faucets in my homes and never had to do that.

In my experience the mass-produced shut-off can easily break. It's just easier not to mess with them if you have access to a whole-house shut-off.

[winstonsmith84]

In my experience the mass-produced shut-off can easily break. It's just easier not to mess with them if you have access to a whole-house shut-off.

Also, older shut offs have a tendency to leak some. I just shut the whole house down. Only takes a second.

[barry2952]

That's true that you only really need it on pipe fittings, but I found it is a good second insurance and helps when you have to disassemble. Ever have a house stuck on the spigot? If there was teflon tape or pipe dope there it would come off a lot easier. I mean what is the harm in using it?

I kinda see your point, but the threads on a compression fitting are supposed to be able to fully tighten to compress the brass or plastic ring. They really can't do that if there is teflon taking up the space in the threads.

I wouldn't recommend that. I don't believe I've ever seen a plumber do that, but I could be wrong.

[jddaigle]

I kinda see your point, but the threads on a compression fitting are supposed to be able to fully tighten to compress the brass or plastic ring. They really can't do that if there is teflon taking up the space in the threads.

I wouldn't recommend that. I don't believe I've ever seen a plumber do that, but I could be wrong.

I have seen a plumber do that. The way he explained it was that it helps you get the joint tighter by reducing friction on the threads. Done it many times myself too with good results.

[barry2952]

Learned something new today.

[shofast]

In my experience the mass-produced shut-off can easily break. It's just easier not to mess with them if you have access to a whole-house shut-off.

It is true that these often break or leak, that is all the more reason I want to use them to shut off the water, if they do leak, NOW is the time to replace them. If they dont work then there is no value in them being there.

[barry2952]

I would agree. I don't see much value in them being there. In most cases they are strictly a convenience.

In your opinion it would be better to break a valve and cause a flood rather than shut of the main as a precaution? I think that's screwy.

[GeoffD]

After my flood in my summer house last winter, I now have a quick water shutoff to the house that's beyond the feed to the boiler. If I'm gone for more than a day or two, I shut the water off. I've always done that as a matter of course in my Vermont place.

[barry2952]

That's actually very clever. My boilers won't fire under 12# of pressure, so I have no heat during repairs. That seems like such a simple fix. Thanks.

[trbochrg]

That's actually very clever. My boilers won't fire under 12# of pressure, so I have no heat during repairs. That seems like such a simple fix. Thanks.

X2 something i may have to look in to. I have a combi tankless water heater and it too won't fire when it is under a certain #'s of pressure. Having the additional shut off past the boiler is a great idea.

[shofast]

I would agree. I don't see much value in them being there. In most cases they are strictly a convenience.

In your opinion it would be better to break a valve and cause a flood rather than shut of the main as a precaution? I think that's screwy.

If I am there fixing the sink and notice that it isnt working I can go ahead an replace it - I dont understand at what point you would allow the house to flood, maybe when your wife or mother trys to use the valve when you are out of town on a business trip and you were too lazy to check it?

[barry2952]

My wife knows where the main is. No problem.

[winstonsmith84]

If I'm gone for more than a day or two, I shut the water off.

I do the same. Takes 2 seconds and it on the way out of the garage. Free insurance.

[Visheau]

I got this job done a few hours after posting. The only glitch I had was that the included water line was too short so I had to grab an extension piece.

Once I figured out how everything was supposed to go together it was pretty easy. Thanks for the help, Barry

[barry2952]

My pleasure.

[Big Dac With Fries]

I kinda see your point, but the threads on a compression fitting are supposed to be able to fully tighten to compress the brass or plastic ring. They really can't do that if there is teflon taking up the space in the threads.

I wouldn't recommend that. I don't believe I've ever seen a plumber do that, but I could be wrong.

If you're putting together a compression fitting, it's a good idea to apply pipe dope to the ring and/or it's mating surface (female). The dope will give some added lubrication when compressing the ring.

Applying any type of sealant to the threads is a waste of material - the ring does the sealing, not the threads.

Also the fixture shut-off valves are there to be used! I turn mine on/off a couple times a year to make sure they're working. If a toilet tank cracks, and you've got to shut the water off, what's faster, shutting the toilet shutoff valve, or running downstairs and shutting the main off?

[barry2952]

Also the fixture shut-off valves are there to be used! I turn mine on/off a couple times a year to make sure they're working. If a toilet tank cracks, and you've got to shut the water off, what's faster, shutting the toilet shutoff valve, or running downstairs and shutting the main off?

What's worse, 2 minutes of flooding in a valve break, until you get to the main, or no flooding by simply shutting off the main? I'm just saying..........

If we took a poll, I'd say that less than 1/100 of one percent of people exercise their shut-off valves on a regular basis. You are the unusual case, I assure you. Nothing wrong with it, if that's what you want to do.

[Big Dac With Fries]

What's worse, 2 minutes of flooding in a valve break, until you get to the main, or no flooding by simply shutting off the main? I'm just saying..........

If we took a poll, I'd say that less than 1/100 of one percent of people exercise their shut-off valves on a regular basis. You are the unusual case, I assure you. Nothing wrong with it, if that's what you want to do.

They're designed to be used in an emergency, so why wouldn't you want to know if they work or not?

It's the exact same principle as an emergency brake on a vehicle.

Also, sometimes it's not practical to shut off water to the entire house.

[barry2952]

They're designed to be used in an emergency, so why wouldn't you want to know if they work or not?

It's the exact same principle as an emergency brake on a vehicle.

Also, sometimes it's not practical to shut off water to the entire house.

That's fine. You're entitled to twist your shut-off as much as you'd like.

[GeoffD]

That's actually very clever. My boilers won't fire under 12# of pressure, so I have no heat during repairs. That seems like such a simple fix. Thanks.

My Vermont place was set up that way when it was built in 1986. In any house with a boiler, you'd think it's so obvious that it should be in the code.

My summer place is also plumbed with a faucet at the same spot and at the hot water heater to make it easy to get a compressor hooked up to blow the pipes out. I've been heating it in the winter but I have the technology to blow all the water out pipes; and push anti-freeze into the pipes to the toilet tank, washing machine, dishwasher, and ice maker if I want to shut the place down completely. No different from winterizing the boats.

[dunhamjr]

as others have said, turning off the house can be a better option if its easy.

however. you really should be able to just turn off the water at the point of use.

my house is old and the shutoffs are crap. so each time i have done work on a faucet, i have been taking out the old point of use shutoffs and replacing them with new 1/4 turn units.

in some cases this was required because my supply lines are the old integrated supply line/shut off valves that look like they are made of electrical conduit. and they tend to leak as soon as you start moving them around.

[johndeniel]

First close the main supply of the water. Then carefully attach the faucet wrench and open the faucet. Then keep the good adjustment for removing the spring clip. Then replace it and seal it. for more queries, you should talk with contractor or plumbers.

[sg207ptg]

That's fine. You're entitled to twist your shut-off as much as you'd like.

I also replace all shut-off valves for faucets and toilets to the one-quarter turn type. That way I don't have to do all the twisting (and it's faster)...

[jackswwagar]

Now you have got lots of advice and all you have to do now to perform these tips very well while your work.

flooring milton

[barry2952]

Must be spam day.

[barry2952]

I wish spammers would just kill themselves.

[Jettavr666]

Yes, shut off the water to the whole house and don't mess with the individual valves. Hold each valve with a crescent wrench before removing the compression nut, just as a precaution.

This is both true and misleading,

There are some older valves that are terrible. The center portion was plastic that if they had not been used in any period of time would simply shatter and render the valves useless. In general the older valves with screw shutoffs nomatter if they are under the sink of in the basement are fairly poor. However newer valves like the quarter turn ones I used in my house are VERY reliable and have no issues.

When I replumbed my house I went for complete overkill on shutoffs just so if there was ever an issue I would be okay. I put shut off valves for every room with water on both the hot and cold lines in the basement, and then also replaced all the individual shutoff valves for the appliance they went to. Overkill, yes, but it makes repairs SO much easier. I also made sure to get the valves with a weep hole, so that the pipe could be drained to re-sweat it without shutting off water to the whole house.

[barry2952]

Sorry, do you know what the word misleading means? How was my statement leading somebody away from the truth?

Many people here, including professionals, think it prudent to shut off the main before any work is done.

[Big Dac With Fries]

Many people here, including professionals, think it prudent to shut off the main before any work is done.

I don't.

I only shut the main off if I have to. Why disrupt water service/inconvenience the homeowner if it's not needed?

If you've got shut off valves serving fixtures, why not make sure that they work, instead of finding out when you've got a cracked toilet tank and now you've got to rely on that valve that's never been touched.

On the other hand, I always suggest that when customers go on vacation, and they don't have anyone looking after the house, it's a good precaution to shut the water main off.