Ok guys, though I am 99% done with my current and first rehab (a buy & hold rental) I have one problem that just won’t seem to go away.
I HAVE A LEAKING BATHROOM SINK THAT IS DRIVING ME NUTS!
LOL.
Here is the whole story.
- The 18" round sink had a hole in the bottom of it; I had a plumber replace it along with the PVC piping under the sink
- The plumber said the job was fixed, but later the pipes under the sink began leaking in 2 spots. Hmm. However, the plumber did not restrain the sink in any way — e.g. with caulk — so it’s possible the moving sink caused the leak to reoccur. So I can’t blame the plumber completely.
- Additional leak #1 = fixed. I simply tightened the incoming cold water valve
- Additional leak #2 = NOT fixed. The leak is coming from the new PVC piping. After talking with the plumber by phone, he recommended I replace the metal part underneath. I did that.
- I went back and replaced the metal part under the sink myself (the 2 tubes that connect directly to the bottom of the sink) AND the PVC piping all over again - which I was surprised was easy to do though. Yet the problem remained. Ugh.
- The leak is definitely coming from somewhere near the joint that connects the metal piping to the PVC piping (the part that looks like a U) under the sink…it is not coming from where the PVC piping connects to the wall…so…
Ideas? — Am I the only one to ever have a sink that won’t quit leaking? Would plumbers tape work on PVC piping??? The plumber told me no, but to be honest I think he is an idiot. Are there any secret rubber washers out there I can buy? LOL.
I can buy, and replace all those parts again to eliminate any cause of the issue - assuming that fixes it. But I would like to hear any ideas from you guys too.
Did the plumber put plumber’s putty under the lip of the tailpiece? Did the plumber tighten the tailpiece in the sink (there’s a nut under the sink that tightens against the sink)? Do the connections of the pvc pieces have the appropriate gaskets? Have you studied plumbing installations in a home-improvement book or on the internet? Here’s one site that I found with a quick search: http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/bath/projects/remod_w1/vanity_s/faucet_moen84200.htm
Good Luck,
Mike
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Loosen up all the pieces.
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Are there compression fittings where all the pipes connect?
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Loosly fit all the pieces toghether taking care that nothing is tweaked or forced into place.
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Tighten everything snug but not hamfisted hard.
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Turn water on and look for leak.
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If leaking snug up a little dry with paper towel and run water.
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If leak persists “office space” all pipes with large hammer or whatever is handy and start over from scratch.
If you get real frustrated email me and will send u my number to call me.
Close the stopper and run the water. Check for leaks. Drain the sink. Check for leaks. Be sure all the compression fitting gaskets are facing in the right direction. See the instructions for the proper instalation. If you have them on wrong, replace the gasket. It won’t seal properly after its been screwed on wrong. Also check the sink drain was tightened properly and plumbers putty was used. Good luck.
is it leaking AT a joint or seeping above and running down the pipe so it LOOKS like its leaking at the joint?
redo the plummers putty. water will find a way around even a small gap and seep into places where it looks like its leaking from somewhere else.
All fixed. Thanks for the replies guys!
Just curious, where was the leak?
It was coming from the metal tube that goes down through the middle of the sink; it needed plumbers putty. My “ghetto plumber” didn’t even know he needed that stuff. The only reason I learned about it was from this message thread… =)