Call the Plumber
For a moment there I thought I was underwater with this project.
Hello!
A few weeks ago when all the other plumbing stuff was happening, I noticed that our bathroom tap was dripping. Not enough to be concerned about but I knew it was going to have to be fixed. So the next time our plumber showed up I asked him if he could fix it. He said he could, but it would be $400.
Ooh. Well, what's the problem?
It's probably a cartridge that needs replaced he said.
I learned something that day. That sinks take cartridges. I told him thank you for the time but I can go on YouTube University and see if I can't fix it myself.
How hard could this be?
Apparently, it's harder than I thought.
First, I had to figure out what a cartridge is and what it looks like and what our 13-year-old faucet model was because I had to make sure I bought the right cartridge.
Up next: tools. I had a hodge-podge of tools, and I needed a hex wrench. Of course, I had metric when I needed SAE. 3/32, to be specific.
OK. I'm ready to roll right. First thing is to figure out the size I needed and then only find out the hex wrench is too long as there's not enough space between the sink and the back wall.
Back to the local hardware store to buy cheap short hex wrenches. The cheap wrenches worked for half a turn and then rounded right up so that's out.
By now the hex nut I have to remove is semi-stripped and has been caked tight with 13 years of soap scum. I have no choice but to pull the sink out from the wall so I can get at this stupid set screw.
I forgot there was plumbing under the sink. I know, rookie mistake.
As you can guess, I once again get wet feet. I was smart enough to turn off the water, so the water was only about half cup dripping down the wall and once again, I have wet socks.
Great.
Up next: try and get the old cartridge out.
Where are my channel locks? I knew I had channel locks?
I don't have channel locks.
Oh well, this is the only tool I really need:
I figured this could go one of two ways: I would get the brass nut off and be able to replace the cartridge, or I'm replacing the entire tap. Turns out I lucked out and the little nut finally loosened. So far so good, right?
Then when I pulled the cartridge out, only the top half came out. So then because I have no idea what I am doing it takes me about half an hour to figure out if this is even fixable at this point.
Turns out, if I put the top half back in and then turned counter-clockwise the bottom popped out. I am still in the game.
Okay! New cartridge goes in!
Up next, plumbing. I figure I might as well clean out the trap, so I am good for another 13 years, but first I have to empty the disaster that has been under the sink and sort that out first.
Cartridge is in and plumbing is back and tight. Let's put the handle back on and see how this all works out:
And....no leak! This is miraculous.
YouTube University comes through once more.
A few lessons from this project:
- You will not have the tool you need
- They make it look easy on YouTube.
- There will be water everywhere
- Things might not come off or go back on as you had hoped.
- Worse case, you call someone to fix your mistake.
Hopefully, that's the last of the plumbing around here for a long time because I am so done with wet feet.
In other news, she had her first taste of fun-dip tonight after dinner. She was just a little wound up after all that sugar. But you should have seen the face with the first the dip and then taste. It was great!
Keeping dry once more,
TH and Co.
