Removing a kitchen faucet help.... *Round 2* Let's get it on!

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Save yourself some trouble and call the plumber. Sometimes it's okay to throw in the towel.

 

[trmiv]

When I'm attempting projects like this I always get into them and then realize I should have followed step one from the start.

Step 1) Call a professional.

 

[Cuda1447]

I've fixed the broken pvc.... I ended up getting a new shut off valve from Ace hardware and luckily was able to screw it back onto the pvc that I broke. No leaking and the water is working fine.... I am just back to square one. *sigh* I'll try again in a few days.

On a related note, I figure someone will get a kick out of this. As I've said, I'm not handy. I had read online that I should shut off the hot/cold water valves under the sink before starting. Makes sense, don't want water coming out. I didn't shut off the water to the house though. In fact, I didnt even know where the water shut off to the house was. (Lived here just over a year, this is my first home). Upon breaking the PVC I soon learned that water was still being supplied to where that shutoff valve was (duh!) and I had a HUUUUUGE problem on my hand. Water was gushing out everywhere and I had absolutely no idea what to do. I frantically ran outside searching and praying I would find the water shut off. I figured it was outside since I had read that warm climates usually keep these outside. After about 3 minutes of searching I found it. The mess had been made but a monumental disaster had been averted. I then spent the next hour or two shop-vaccing up all the water in my kitchen and living room. What a mess!!

Unfortunately, I think some water got under my laminate flooring in the living room and will likely ruin it. I wonder if my homeowners insurance will cover this? Even if they don't, its not the end of the world. I installed that flooring myself so I'm sure you can imagine how well it was done! (Hint: it looks like shit, I want to hire someone to do a better job than I did!).


*sigh* At least everything is back to normal before my wife gets home. She may not even know what happened today if my dogs keep quiet!

 

[iGas]

I've fixed the broken pvc.... I ended up getting a new shut off valve from Ace hardware and luckily was able to screw it back onto the pvc that I broke. No leaking and the water is working fine.... I am just back to square one. *sigh* I'll try again in a few days.

On a related note, I figure someone will get a kick out of this. As I've said, I'm not handy. I had read online that I should shut off the hot/cold water valves under the sink before starting. Makes sense, don't want water coming out. I didn't shut off the water to the house though. In fact, I didnt even know where the water shut off to the house was. (Lived here just over a year, this is my first home). Upon breaking the PVC I soon learned that water was still being supplied to where that shutoff valve was (duh!) and I had a HUUUUUGE problem on my hand. Water was gushing out everywhere and I had absolutely no idea what to do. I frantically ran outside searching and praying I would find the water shut off. I figured it was outside since I had read that warm climates usually keep these outside. After about 3 minutes of searching I found it. The mess had been made but a monumental disaster had been averted. I then spent the next hour or two shop-vaccing up all the water in my kitchen and living room. What a mess!!

Unfortunately, I think some water got under my laminate flooring in the living room and will likely ruin it. I wonder if my homeowners insurance will cover this? Even if they don't, its not the end of the world. I installed that flooring myself so I'm sure you can imagine how well it was done! (Hint: it looks like shit, I want to hire someone to do a better job than I did!).


*sigh* At least everything is back to normal before my wife gets home. She may not even know what happened today if my dogs keep quiet!

The laminate floor might be damage, but you might saved the floor if you got to the water right away with the shop vac and keeps on sucking it out from the edges of the walls (try to find a low point and suck it from there or drill a hole from below, but be careful not to drill it through the laminate.

 

[bruceb]

It may be easier to just pull out the sink to remove and replace the faucet. That sink looks like it surface mounted and from the photos, I don't see any underneath clips holding it in. Remove them if they are there. If not just use a putty knife to break the seal between the sink lip and countertop. Clean countertop of old sealant before reinstalling and use a proper silicon caulk (color match to counter) when you put it back in (use clear if you can't match color)

 

[Cuda1447]

*sigh* My laminate floor is most likely ruined. At least half of it. Anyone have experience with making claims on home-owners insurance? Will my premiums go up? Will they cover half of a ruined floor, even if it was my fault? (I won't tell them it was my fault!)

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

What is your deductible?

Laminate flooring is not that expensive and is easy to install. If your carpentry skills are better than your plumbing skills you may want to look into doing it yourself, particularly if your deductible is $1K or more.

 

[waffleironhead]

That faucet looks like a moen, or uses the same attachment.

To the best of my memory, you need to remove the nut i have pointed towards and then pull straight down on the bracket i attempted to highlight.

 

[Eli]

Oh man, poor guy.. I really feel for you, that sucks.. LOL.. But don't give up. Unless you feel that this truly isn't your thing and you can't learn, you really should keep trying.

That faucet should be able to be removed from the top. Our faucet started leaking from the base, and it looks similar to yours. We went and bought a new one, but I took the old one all apart, cleaned it up a bit and replaced the O rings. We took the new faucet we bought back.

I did accidentally install the piece inside backwards, so hot is right and cold is left, but meh... at least it doesn't leak now, lol.

When something doesn't work reasonably easy, it may be time to stop and try and think of another way. See that piece on top of your faucet? The piece above the blue and red piece? It comes off.

 

[Cuda1447]

Thanks for the words of encouragement Eli! It actually means a lot, I have been so freaking frustrated with this. I feel horribly guilty that I probably cost my wife and I some decent change on these floors.... all because I wanted to be a big shot and learn how to do stuff myself! Expensive lesson learned. I guess next time I'll just be more careful.

Its funny how I can be so damn good with technology but so horrible with handyman stuff. I guess we've all got our skills *shrugs*

 

[Eli]

Thanks for the words of encouragement Eli! It actually means a lot, I have been so freaking frustrated with this. I feel horribly guilty that I probably cost my wife and I some decent change on these floors.... all because I wanted to be a big shot and learn how to do stuff myself! Expensive lesson learned. I guess next time I'll just be more careful.

Its funny how I can be so damn good with technology but so horrible with handyman stuff. I guess we've all got our skills *shrugs*

Heh, yep. Honestly, it sounds like something I would do. I will always remember to have lots of towel's around whenever doing plumbing work near anything of value.

I could be wrong I guess, but that's how our Moen came apart. Once you get the lever off, you can remove the rest. The base chrome piece is a big nut, and screws over the whole asssembly.

Though, my faucet doesn't look ANYTHING like yours from the bottom. The hell is that?! I would follow the other guy's advice. It looks like that nut should come off.

If it won't budge, you need a torch. Heat the nut, trying to avoid the pipe.. It will break free much easier. If you don't already have a torch, invest in one - they're only like 30 bucks for a spiffy electronic ignition one, and can be very useful.

Edit: Also, I don't want to alarm you, but your PVC fix worries me. What exactly did you screw onto what? That piece of PCV is broken.. The only way to fix it is to replace it. It looks like slip joint, but is it threaded? If that's the case, then it would be easy to replace the broken nipple. Otherwise, I'm not sure exactly what you did from your description of the fix... Are you saying that you threaded a new shut off valve onto the stub of broken PVC? Or is the shut off valve slip joint also?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Its funny how I can be so damn good with technology but so horrible with handyman stuff. I guess we've all got our skills *shrugs*

Not making fun of you because your trying and learning the hard way. Being handy around the house changed drastically in the last two generations. In the past homeowners learned how to fix the utilities, drainage and, roofs because they were interested.

Skip forward 40 years and dual income professionals have become the norm. Now, their kids are buying houses and don't even know the right questions to ask let alone the answers. Costs have skyrocketed and shoddy workmanship is rampant.

I recommend using the skills you use to compare and learn about new tech to learn about your house and it's 'old tech.'
This Old House and other DIY sites are a good place to start.

 

[Howard]

I can only shake my head...

Next time you work on a system, make sure you understand how the system works first. Everything will then naturally fall into place.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I can only shake my head...

Next time you work on a system, make sure you understand how the system works first. Everything will then naturally fall into place.

Not everyone understands form follows function. Look at the threads about people returning bikes because they're not adjusted properly for their stance or, the thread about the new homeowner wondering if he had to replace the furnace because his pilot light wouldn't stay lit.

An entire generation thinks that the mechanics of a house are either, so low tech that anyone with a hammer and cordless drill can fix anything in 5 minutes or, so arcane that, only a licensed and bonded card carrying union member should attempt to change a light bulb.

 

[iGas]

Oh man, poor guy.. I really feel for you, that sucks.. LOL.. But don't give up. Unless you feel that this truly isn't your thing and you can't learn, you really should keep trying.

That faucet should be able to be removed from the top. Our faucet started leaking from the base, and it looks similar to yours. We went and bought a new one, but I took the old one all apart, cleaned it up a bit and replaced the O rings. We took the new faucet we bought back.

I did accidentally install the piece inside backwards, so hot is right and cold is left, but meh... at least it doesn't leak now, lol.

When something doesn't work reasonably easy, it may be time to stop and try and think of another way. See that piece on top of your faucet? The piece above the blue and red piece? It comes off.

Not hard to fix.

Switch the hotwater supply tube to cold, and coldwater supply tube to hot.

 

[iGas]

Heh, yep. Honestly, it sounds like something I would do. I will always remember to have lots of towel's around whenever doing plumbing work near anything of value.

I could be wrong I guess, but that's how our Moen came apart. Once you get the lever off, you can remove the rest. The base chrome piece is a big nut, and screws over the whole asssembly.

Though, my faucet doesn't look ANYTHING like yours from the bottom. The hell is that?! I would follow the other guy's advice. It looks like that nut should come off.

If it won't budge, you need a torch. Heat the nut, trying to avoid the pipe.. It will break free much easier. If you don't already have a torch, invest in one - they're only like 30 bucks for a spiffy electronic ignition one, and can be very useful.

Edit: Also, I don't want to alarm you, but your PVC fix worries me. What exactly did you screw onto what? That piece of PCV is broken.. The only way to fix it is to replace it. It looks like slip joint, but is it threaded? If that's the case, then it would be easy to replace the broken nipple. Otherwise, I'm not sure exactly what you did from your description of the fix... Are you saying that you threaded a new shut off valve onto the stub of broken PVC? Or is the shut off valve slip joint also?

You don't need torch on brass fittings.

It should come off easily. And the cup shape thing is called escutcheon plate (use this term at the plumbing store to get proper help).

 

[iGas]

Thanks for the words of encouragement Eli! It actually means a lot, I have been so freaking frustrated with this. I feel horribly guilty that I probably cost my wife and I some decent change on these floors.... all because I wanted to be a big shot and learn how to do stuff myself! Expensive lesson learned. I guess next time I'll just be more careful.

Its funny how I can be so damn good with technology but so horrible with handyman stuff. I guess we've all got our skills *shrugs*

Fly me down to the US in the spring when I have some vacation time and I'll get your plumbing & floor done in 1 day for free. As long as I have a bed to sleep in, foods, and beers. And, maybe hook me up with the wife or sis for the night

 

[Cuda1447]

Alright guys, I'm at it again. Round 2 *ding*.... I'm going at it from the top this time. Its supposed to be a LOT easier. I'm stuck on this one part though. I'm supposed to remove the nut from the faucet but I can't get anything to come loose. Maybe I'm twisting on the wrong part? Here's a picture, hopefully someone can point out what exactly I should be twisting/turning to get this faucet loose.

 

[PottedMeat]

the faucet and that chrome base should be a single assembly - you're supposed to unscrew the big nuts under the sink in the back holding it to the sink.

looks like a generic base model faucet - any manufacturer's instructions should help like these:

http://www.deltafaucet.com/kitchen/details/120.html

 

[Cuda1447]

According to this: http://www.ehow.com/how_5050184_remove-moen-faucet.html

I am supposed to remove it from the top and pull the faucet up.

"Remove the single bonnet nut that surrounds the top of the faucet in a counterclockwise direction with a pair of adjustable pliers.
5
Pull the faucet straight up with the pliers to complete the removal process."

 

[highland145]

See the flat sides on the black threaded nut right at the top? Put a wrench on it and turn counter clock wise.

 

[Cuda1447]

See the flat sides on the black threaded nut right at the top? Put a wrench on it and turn counter clock wise.

That's what I figured. I've been trying with a plumbers wrench but it just won't turn. I keep slipping off of it. I'm also a little nervous of cracking it. It seems to be plastic and little black pieces are flaking off.... is it going to be horrible if it cracks?

 

[Drako]

According to this: http://www.ehow.com/how_5050184_remove-moen-faucet.html

I am supposed to remove it from the top and pull the faucet up.

"Remove the single bonnet nut that surrounds the top of the faucet in a counterclockwise direction with a pair of adjustable pliers.
5
Pull the faucet straight up with the pliers to complete the removal process."

I believe that is what I told you to do a month ago . See post #17.

Anyway, can you jimmy the spout assembly up and off? It might make it easier for you.

 

[Cuda1447]

I believe that is what I told you to do a month ago .

Anyway, can you jimmy the spout assembly up and off? It might make it easier for you.

Haha, I know! I'm taking your advice. And no, can't seem to get the spout assembly to move at all.

After trying a bit more, I'm almost positive that nut is plastic, when I tighten the plumbers wrench on it and try to turn it flexes a bit. It's not turning one damn bit though.

 

[highland145]

That's what I figured. I've been trying with a plumbers wrench but it just won't turn. I keep slipping off of it. I'm also a little nervous of cracking it. It seems to be plastic and little black pieces are flaking off.... is it going to be horrible if it cracks?

with a pair of adjustable pliers.