Faucet Repair
D A Y T O N D A V I S I N S T R U C T O R
The History of The Faucet
Haveyoueverturnedonthewatertofillyourtubandwonderedaboutthehistoryofyourfaucet?
The History of The Faucet Thefaucethasaninteres8nghistorythattracesbacktoancient8mes.Asearlyas1700B.C.,plumbingandfaucetswerebeingusedtocontrolthewatertofountainsandprivatehomes.TheRomansu8lizedplumbingandfaucetstorunwaterto11publicbaths,856privatebaths,and1,352cisternsandfountains.
The History of The Faucet Faucetsstartedoutwithtwohandlesforhotandcoldwater.Ifyouwererunningabath,youturnedonthehotwaterfaucetandthecold-waterfaucet.However,in1937,AlMoenburnedhishandsinthehotwateranddecidedtodesignasingle-handledfaucet.Hisfirstdesignwasrejectedandbetween1940and1945,hefinallysucceededindesigningafunc8oning,single-handledfaucet.Finally,peoplewouldbeabletoadjustthetemperatureofonestreamofwaterun8ltheyfoundtheirdesiredtemperature.
The History of The Faucet Manyotherscon8nuedtoimproveuponthedesignofthefaucet.In1945,LandisPerrycameupwiththedesignforaballvalveforfaucets.TheDeltasingle-handlefaucetwasthefirstfaucettou8lizetheballvalve.WolverineBrassalsoaddedtothefunc8onalityoffaucetsbydesigningceramicdiscsforwatercontrol.ThediscslastlongerthanrubberandprovidebeWercontrol.
The History of The Faucet As8memarchedon,moreandmoreimprovementsweremadetofaucets.Someoftheseimprovementsincludefilterstoreducecontaminants,sprayhosesthatcanbepulledoutfromthesink,electronicfaucets,andfaucetsdesignedforthehandicapped.Electronicfaucetsarebecomingthenorminpublicbathroomsbecauseusersdonothavetotouchthehandlestoturnthewateron.Theysimplyholdtheirhandsinfrontofasensorandthewaterturnson,makingthesefaucetsmorehygienicthantradi8onalfaucets.
Itwillbeinteres8ngtoseewhatthefutureholdsfortheworldoffaucets.
Background Afaucetisadevicefordeliveringwaterfromaplumbingsystem.Itcanconsistofthefollowingcomponents:spout,handle(s),li]rod,cartridge,aerator,mixingchamber,andwaterinlets.Whenthehandleisturnedon,thevalveopensandcontrolsthewaterflowadjustmentunderanywaterortemperaturecondi8on.Thefaucetbodyisusuallymadeofbrass,thoughdie-castzincandchrome-platedplas8carealsoused.
Background
Themajorityofresiden8alfaucetsaresingleordual-controlcartridgefaucets.Somesingle-controltypesuseametalorplas8ccore,whichoperatesver8cally.Othersuseametalball,withspring-loadedrubbersealsrecessedintothefaucetbody.Thelessexpensivedual-controlfaucetscontainnyloncartridgeswithrubberseals.Somefaucetshaveaceramic-disccartridgethatismuchmoredurable.
Background
Faucetsmustcomplywithwaterconserva8onlaws.IntheUnitedStates,bathbasinfaucetsarenowlimitedto2gal(7.6L)ofwaterperminute,whiletubandshowerfaucetsarelimitedto2.5gal(9.5L).
FaucetsrunanaverageofeightminutesperCapitaPerDay(PCD),accordingtoastudybytheAmericanWaterWorksAssocia8onResearchFounda8oncompletedin1999thatwasbasedonwaterusedatacollectedfrom1,188residences.IndailyPCDuseindoorwaterusewasat69gal(261L),withfaucetusethirdhighestat11gal(41.6L)PCD.Inresidenceswithwater-conservingfixtures,faucetsmoveduptosecondat11gal(41.6L)PCD.Faucetusewasstronglyrelatedtohouseholdsize.Theaddi8onofteensandadultsincreaseswateruse.Faucetuseisalsonega8velyrelatedtothenumberofpersonsworkingoutsidethehomeandislowerforthosewhohaveanautoma8cdishwasher.
Quality Control Faucetsmustalsopassseveralenvironmentalregula8ons.TheNa8onalSanita8onFounda8on61regula8on,whichlimitscontaminantsindrinkingwater(leadisppb[partsperbillion]inwaterfromendpointdevices),appliestokitchenfaucets,lavatoryfaucetsanddrinkingwaterdispensers.Otherlawsaremorestrict—California'sProposi8on65limitstheallowableleadto5ppbforaconsumerfaucet.Therearealsoplumbingcodestodealwith,whichcanvaryfromcitytocity.Manynowrequirean8scaldtubandshowerfaucets.
ToreceiveNSFCer8fica8onofafaucet,manufacturersfirstsubmitalistofallmaterialsincludingtheformula8onusedintheproduct.NSFToxicologiststhenreviewthematerialformula8onstodeterminepoten8alcontaminantsthatmayextractfromthefaucetandintothedrinkingwater.NSFthenconductsaninspec8onofthemanufacturingfacilitytoverifymaterialformula8ons,materialsuppliers,qualitycontrolproceduresandopera8ons.Productsamplesarerandomlyselectedfortes8ngatNSFlaboratories.
Faucetsundergoarigorousthree-weektes8ngsequence,wheretheyarefilledwithanextractantwaterspecifiedintheStandard.Selectedwatersamplesareanalyzedforcontaminants.NSFtoxicologistscomparethecontaminantlevelstothemaximumallowablelevelsestablishedinANSI/NSFStandard61.IfallcontaminantlevelsoftheproductmeettherequirementsoftheStandard,theproductcanbecer8fied.OnlythenisthemanufacturerallowedtodisplaytheNSFMarkontheproductsignifyingNSFCer8fica8on.Tobecomecer8fied,somemanufacturershavehadtocompletelymodifytheirmanufacturingprocess,suchasswitchingtoapurerbrassmaterialoraddingafinishingrinseprocess.
Maintenance and Troubleshooting Faucets
• Thissec8onwillexplainthebasicsoffaucetrepair,toolsandmaterialneeded.Therearemanydifferenttypesoffaucetsandrepairkitsavailable.Knowingwhatstylewillassistinorderingandkeepingpartstokeeponhandfortheserepairs.
Beforeyoucanstartthinkingaboutmakingrepairstoyourfaucet,youneedtofirstdeterminewhatkindoffaucetyouaredealingwith.TherearefourtypesoffaucetsincommonuseinAmericatoday:Compressionfaucets,andtheso-called"washerlessfaucets"-cartridgefaucets,ballfaucetsanddiscfaucets.
Stem Identification Faucetstemiden8fica8oncanbefoundon-line.Thereareseveralon-lineavenuessuchasBrassCra]thatoffersacompletePDFlistofstems,handles,splineID.131pagesthatshouldassistyouiniden8fyinganystemavailable.KISSLERalsohasa172pagePDFthatiden8fiesnumerouskits,stemcomponents,andcompressionitems.Thereisgreatvarietyofaidstoassistiniden8fyinganystemthat’savailable,alsoyourplumbingrepresenta8veshouldhaveasourceofstemiden8fica8on.
FaucetStems,Compression,Washerless,&Ceramic.Akitchenorbathroomfaucetcanleakfromthespoutforavarietyofreasons.Oneofthemostcommonreasonsisthefaucetstemiswornordamaged.
Compressionfaucetsarethetradi8onaloldstylefaucetswithtwohandles,oneeachforcoldandhot.Insideeachhandleisavalvethatopenstoallowwatertoflowandclosetoblocktheflow.Arubberwasheronthebaseofthevalvegets"compressed"toblockanysmallamountsofwaterfromflowingandcausingdrips.
Replacing a Faulty Washer
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FixingCompression-typeFaucetLeaksRequiredTools:• Wrench,screwdriverRequiredMaterials:• Washer–flatorbeveled
iden8caltooldwasher
Cartridgefaucetscanbeeithersinglehandledortwohandled.Theinsideofthefaucethasastemcartridgethatmovesupanddowntocontrolwaterflow.Singlehandledcartridgefaucetsoperateupanddowntoregulatewaterflow,andle]andrighttocontroltemperature.Twohandledcartridgefaucetslooksimilartocompressionfaucets,butfeeldifferentsincetheystopwaterflowwithoutyouhavingtoactually"turnoff"orcompressawasher.
Cartridge Faucet Repairs
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Ballfaucetsareeasytoiden8fysincetheyhaveasinglehandlethataWachestothefaucetbasewitharoundbase.Theballshapedcontrolhaschambersbuiltintoittocontrolwatervolumeandmixhotandcold.
Ball Faucet Repairs
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MajorbrandsincludeDelta,MoenandPeerlessRequiredTools:• AllenWrench,channellocksRequiredMaterials:• Repairkitthatincludesball,springs,seatsandO-
ringsforthespout
Discfaucetsarethemostrecentdevelopmentinfaucettechnology.Onceagaintheyaresinglehandledwithacylindricalshapedbody.Insidethefaucetareceramicdiscsthatslideovereachother,controllingflowandtemperature.
FaucetRepairBasics
NomaWerwhatkindoffaucetyouaredealingwith,therearesomebasicswhenitcomestorepairinganyofthem.
• Firstturnoffthewatertothefaucet.Theremaybeindividualwatershut-offvalvesunderthesinkoryoumayneedtoshutoffthemainwatersupplyforthehouse.
• Opentapsandletanywaterinthepipedrainout.
• Putthedrainstopperoratowelinthesink(incaseyoudropanythingyoudon'twantitgoingdownthedrain).
• Tomakesureyougettherightreplacementparts,takeanypartsyouremovefromthefaucetwithyoutotheplumbingsupplystore.Thatwayyou'llbesuretogetanexactmatch.
Replacing O-Rings
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LeaksAroundBaseofSpout
RequiredTools:screwdriver,ChannelLocksRequiredMaterials:O-rings,plumber’sgrease
Replacing a Faucet
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RequiredTools:• BasinWrench• CrescentWrenchRequiredMaterials:• Plumbers’puWyorgasket(if
suppliedwithnewfaucet)• ThreadSealant
Repairing a Spray Hose
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AsprayhoseisaCachedunderthesinkatthebaseofthespoutassembly.TheenEresprayassemblycanberemovedfromthetopofthesinkbyunscrewingitandpullingitoutthroughthehoseguide.
Repairing a Bathtub Faucet
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RequiredTools:• Adjustablewrench• U8lityknife• Handlepuller• Bathsocketwrench,Seat
wrenchRequiredMaterials:• Stemvalverepairparts• Plumber’sgrease
Compression Tub/Shower Stem
How to Fix a Leaky SHOWER Faucet Waterfaucetleakscanbeannoyingtosaytheleast,buttheycanalsocausecorrosiononfixturesifrelentlessdrippinggoesunrepaired.Cheaperbuilders'gradefaucetsaregenerallyballstylespigotswhichfeatureaballjointthatisrockedbackandforthforhotorcoldwater.Withballstylespigots,theusualculpritforaleakyfaucetistheinletseatspring.Thesespringswilllosetheirtensionover8meandstarttowearandcompress.Althoughtheyarenotaspronetoleaksascompressionfaucets,leakscanhappenduetosedimentbuildupandwornspringsandseals
Compression Tub/Shower Faucet
Single-Lever Tub/Shower Faucet
Steps for Repairing a Single-Lever Faucet
Step1-ShutOfftheWaterSourceMakesurethewateristurnedoffbyshunngoffboththehotandcoldvalvesunderneaththesinkarea.A]erclosingthevalves,it'salwaysagoodideatoverifythatthewaterisindeedoffbyturningthehandleofthefaucet.
Step2-RemovetheFaucetHeadRemovethefrontcapontheballbypryingitoffgentlywithascrewdrivertoaccessthescrewonthefaucethandle.UnscrewtheroundfaucethandleandrevealtheballjointbyusingyourPhillipsheadscrewdriver.
Step3-RemoveBallJointAssemblyUsingyourAllenheadwrench,loosenuptheballjointheadanditshouldslideoffofthemountforyou.Whenunscrewinganyoftheparts,paycarefulaWen8onnottoscratchthefinishofyourfaucet.UsingyourAllenwrenchagain,loosenthebasecamassemblytoremovetheen8reballjoint.
Step4-RemoveInletSeatandSpringOncetheballjointisremoved,youcannowaccesstheinletseatsprings.Usingyourneedlenosepliers,prytheseatspringoffoftheinlet.Placeinsideyourpartsbagandtakethespecificsizespringtothehardwarestoretomatchupwhatpartsyouwillneedinordertocompletetherepair.
Step5-InstallNewInletSpringPlaceyournewinletspringbackinsidetheseatanduseyourneedlenosepliersoryourhandtoworktheseatbackintoholes.Makesuretheyareseatedproperlyandarenotkinkedorcrookedinanywaytoavoidanypossiblefutureleaks.
Step6-ReinstallBallJointReinstallyourballjointbytakingadabofplumbersgreaseandworkingitovertheopeningsontheballbase.Placeyourballjointbackintotheinletbyfindingthegrooveontheballjointbaseandmakesureitgetsseatedovertopoftheinletpinontheoneside.
Step7-ReinstallCamAssemblyFindthegrooveonthesideofyournewcamassemblyandalignthecamassemblydownovertheballjointbaseofthegroove.It'simportanttoapplypressureandmakesurethisstaysalignedwhilescrewingitdownoverthesinkheadoryouwillhaveproblemswithyoursinknotsealingproperly.Oncescrewedon,8ghtenupthecamassemblyusingyouradjustablewrench.Step8-ReinstallBallJointMountUsingyourAllenwrench,reinstalltheballjointmountbyslidingitdownovertheballjointand8ghtenuptheballjointheadbyturningitclockwise.
Step8-ReinstallBallJointMountUsingyourAllenwrench,reinstalltheballjointmountbyslidingitdownovertheballjointand8ghtenuptheballjointheadbyturningitclockwise.
Step9-ReinstallFaucetHandleandSinkCapReplacetheroundfaucethandleovertopoftheballjointmountandreinsertscrew.TightenwithyourPhillipsheadscrewdriver.Replacefrontsinkcapbysnappingitbackinplace.
Step10-ReinstallAeratorandTurnWaterBackOn
Turnyourwatervalvesbackonunderneathyoursinkandreplacethetapaeratorontotheundersidefaucet8pbyhand8ghteningcounterclockwise.A]erturningthewaterbackon,letyourfaucetrunonhotandcoldinordertoflushoutanygreaseresiduethatmays8llbele]behind.
• Allstemsfordrinkingwaterapplica8onsshouldbe100%compliantwiththenew
No-LeadLegislaEon.
• StemsareorganizedbyLengthorManufacturerofthefaucet.
• Ifyouknowordon’tknowthemanufacturerofyourfaucet,youcansearchforyourstemonlineorincatalogs.
• Moststemphotosareactualsizeandincludethefaucetmanufacturer’sname,plusacompletebreakdownofallthecomponentspartswiththerelatedpartnumbers.
No-leadlegisla8on:whatisit?Thenewno-leadlegisla8on,FederalPublicLaw111-380,prohibitsthesaleofplumbingfixtureswithaweWedsurfaceareacontainingmorethanaweightedaverageof0.25%lead.Thislawvirtuallyeliminatestheleadcontentofpipes,pipefinngsandfixturesintendedtoconveyordispensewaterfordrinkingorcooking.
Whatdoesthismeanyou?Yourcurrentinventoryofanynon-compliantbrassproductsbecameobsoleteonJanuary4,2014.ANon-compliantproductisnotgrandfatheredforcon8nuoususeandcannotbesold.
Whichproductsareexemptedfromtheno-leadproducts?Thoseusedexclusivelyfornon-potableservicessuchasmanufacturing,industrialprocessing,irriga8on,outdoorwatering,oranyotheruseswherethewaterisnotan8cipatedtobeforhumanconsump8onarenotpartoftheno-leadlaw.
Questions??
This Concludes this Session
ThankyouforyouraWendance
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