Help: Leaking faucet

Qacer

Platinum Member
Apr 5, 2001
2,721
1
91
Good morning everybody. I'm not a handyman, but once in a while, I try to do some "easy" DIY projects. So, I have a leaking faucet problem. The water is leaking from the base.

This is my faucet (partially dismantled):

faucet-leak-1.jpg


Here is a picture of it from the bottom of the sink:

faucet-leak-2.jpg


I've decided to break for a bit. I didn't want to continue dismantling the faucet if I can fix the leaking problem without doing so.

Anyway, as you can see from the pictures, the water leaks from the base on the top and also at the bottom of the sink. Is there an easy fix to this? Can I just caulk the bottom part of the faucet (below the sink) to stop water from dripping?

Thanks!
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
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Anyway, as you can see from the pictures, the water leaks from the base on the top and also at the bottom of the sink. Is there an easy fix to this? Can I just caulk the bottom part of the faucet (below the sink) to stop water from dripping?

Thanks!

heh

http://www.moen.com/consumer-support/faq said:
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The requested URL /consumer-support/faq was not found on this server.

There's probably a torn gasket in there, you should be able to find a compatible replacement at home depot or lowes. I wouldn't caulk the thing unless it's really really temporary.
 

Qacer

Platinum Member
Apr 5, 2001
2,721
1
91
heh



There's probably a torn gasket in there, you should be able to find a compatible replacement at home depot or lowes. I wouldn't caulk the thing unless it's really really temporary.

Yeah, I tried going to Moen's website earlier, but it's down. I was planning on going to HD anyway. I just wanted to make sure that I have my list of stuff to get.
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
126
Yeah, I tried going to Moen's website earlier, but it's down. I was planning on going to HD anyway. I just wanted to make sure that I have my list of stuff to get.

I'd just bring the middle part with me to HD.
 

Lanyap

Elite Member
Dec 23, 2000
8,243
2,330
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Probably an O-ring gasket. You should be able to find a repair kit at Lowes or home depot that has the O-ring and other internal parts that probably need replacing also.
 

Qacer

Platinum Member
Apr 5, 2001
2,721
1
91
I'd just bring the middle part with me to HD.

Middle part? Is that the cartridge?

I found a really good video on Youtube that I've been using to come up with my parts list:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5M4feAc7Y8

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMbr7wqwgTY

I got the faucet spout out, and the bottom most O-ring seems good, but I will replace it anyway. It seems like a lot of Moen faucets leak from the base and to fix it involves replacing the cartridge. Are all Moen cartridges created equally? I can't pull up the Moen website, so I can't really tell the model number of my faucet.
 

jaha2000

Senior member
Jul 28, 2008
949
0
0
Just take it out and bring it with you to HD.

Its a plumbing job, at least 3 trips will be required anyways
 

Rastus

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
4,704
3
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There's probably a repair kit at HD that will have gaskets and nylon parts in it to repair Moen faucets. Shouldn't cost more than 5-6 bucks.
 

Qacer

Platinum Member
Apr 5, 2001
2,721
1
91
Just take it out and bring it with you to HD.

Its a plumbing job, at least 3 trips will be required anyways

Take what out, though? If you are talking about the cartridge, I tried pulling it out already. It's hard. It seems like I need a special tool to loosen it first.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,101
771
126
The spigot the water comes out of should slide straight up. There should be an o ring under there.
 

stargazr

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2010
4,101
3,586
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That's a good video, note removing the clip. It is a cartridge valve on that type of faucet that uses one knob for hot & cold. I just replaced one this morning, was around $20. I have a Moen removal tool from the last one I replaced - it was really tight.
 

Qacer

Platinum Member
Apr 5, 2001
2,721
1
91
Dammit. Tried replacing the cartridge and the damn plastic adapters keep breaking. I'm on my second adapter now. I had to drive back to HD to get the first one replace. Tsk. Tsk.

One hard son of a gun to replace:
faucet-leak-3.jpg


It broke already a second one:
faucet-leak-4.jpg


How the heck do I pull this cartridge out?

I've got no drinking water for the time being. Hah.
 

Qacer

Platinum Member
Apr 5, 2001
2,721
1
91
No sinks in your bathroom?

Yeah, tap water. My faucet was filtered. That's what I meant.

Anyway, I was able to finally pull out the cartridge. Half of the second removal adapter broke, but I still managed to loosen up the cartridge and pull it out.

Five hours and $50+ worth of parts and tools later... it's all done. I guess 5 hours to fix a leaking faucet is not too bad for a DIY noob. My next project will be refurbishing some old, hardwood floors. Let's see how bad I'll screw that one up. Hah!

hardwood-floors-1.jpg
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
126
Anyway, I was able to finally pull out the cartridge. Half of the second removal adapter broke, but I still managed to loosen up the cartridge and pull it out.

Five hours and $50+ worth of parts and tools later... it's all done. I guess 5 hours to fix a leaking faucet is not too bad for a DIY noob.

Damn that was a lot of trouble. If that happened to me, the next time I had a similar leaky faucet I'd just get the cheapest one like it for ~$80.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
Yea no kidding, you shoulda gotten a new faucet, cost only a few bucks more and all new parts, and pretty easy to put in.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
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www.slatebrookfarm.com
Yea no kidding, you shoulda gotten a new faucet, cost only a few bucks more and all new parts, and pretty easy to put in.

I haven't been in the market for a decent faucet in a long time, but I'd think a faucet that wasn't going to require repairs about every other year would cost somewhere in the ballpark of double what he spent.

More importantly though, he learned a valuable skill. The next time he has to do something like that, it'll take him a fraction of the time.
 

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,101
771
126
I haven't been in the market for a decent faucet in a long time, but I'd think a faucet that wasn't going to require repairs about every other year would cost somewhere in the ballpark of double what he spent.

More importantly though, he learned a valuable skill. The next time he has to do something like that, it'll take him a fraction of the time he'll call a plumber.
FTFY