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Author Topic: *EXPLETIVE* plumbing  (Read 2520 times)

AmbulanceDriver

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*EXPLETIVE* plumbing
« on: December 13, 2013, 11:12:41 AM »
To start with.   No flooding, no burst pipes, no major issues.

Just......   frustrations........

Started off innocuously enough.  Water pressure dropping in a couple of the faucets.  More so on one side (hot or cold) than the other.   Started with the bathroom shower.  Mostly got that one taken care of without any major fanfare, although I still need to disassemble the mixer valve and replace the seats and springs and clean out any accumulated gunk in the mixer valve. 

But now onto the kitchen sink.   It's a Price Fister Pfister with the mixer valve separate from the actual spout.  It's got a short supply line connection that ends with a male 1/2" FIP connection.  Then you have your own supply line that connects between that and the shutoff valve.   Between the supply line and that short stub, you need a washer.  The washers on mine were pretty mangled so I figured I'd just run over to Lowe's Depot to get a couple....   Start perusing the wall 'o' washers.....   Hrm....  Nothing looks even remotely like what the mangled remains I have are supposed to look like....

Time to find an orange-apron-wearing plumber......  15 minutes later, I'm trying to explain to him what I'm looking for.   5 minutes of really stumbling descriptions later (my fault) he goes, "AH!  You need a cone washer!  We don't carry those anymore."

What. The. [censored]!?!?!?!?!?

"Yeah, not sure why corporate made this call, but apparently we weren't selling enough of them.  You could try [names a couple local hardware stores].  Or you can buy a couple new supply lines."

Blankety blank blankblankblankyblankblank. I can wait a couple hours and try to hope that they have them.  Or I can try a couple of strictly plumbing places in 3 hours. 

Or I can pay 15 bucks for 1.50 worth of washers.











Guess it was time to replace those supply lines anyways.   Bastages.
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220_SWIFT

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Re: *EXPLETIVE* plumbing
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2013, 11:20:51 AM »
It has been my experience, that if the washers need replacing the supply lines need to go as well.  Costs more up front, but saves time, money, and frustration in the long run.
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brimic

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Re: *EXPLETIVE* plumbing
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2013, 11:39:50 AM »
Contact the manufacturer, they are almost certain to keep them in stock.
I had a Kohler faucet fail in my kitchen sink once, they sent me a brand new unit free of charge.
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Brad Johnson

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Re: *EXPLETIVE* plumbing
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2013, 11:44:24 AM »
Quote from: brimic on December 13, 2013, 11:39:50 AM
Contact the manufacturer, they are almost certain to keep them in stock.
I had a Kohler faucet fail in my kitchen sink once, they sent me a brand new unit free of charge.

This.  Chances are Price Pfister uses the same part on multiple faucet assemblies, and keeps plenty 'o spares in the closet.

Brad
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Harold Tuttle

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Re: *EXPLETIVE* plumbing
« Reply #4 on: December 13, 2013, 12:17:46 PM »
amazon has everything
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Harold Tuttle

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Re: *EXPLETIVE* plumbing
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2013, 12:18:57 PM »
« Last Edit: December 13, 2013, 12:22:34 PM by Harold Tuttle »
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"The true mad scientist does not make public appearances! He does not wear the "Hello, my name is.." badge!
He strikes from below like a viper or on high like a penny dropped from the tallest building around!
He only has one purpose--Do bad things to good people! Mit science! What good is science if no one gets hurt?!"

AmbulanceDriver

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Re: *EXPLETIVE* plumbing
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2013, 12:52:29 PM »
Yup, I have one of those random washer (I think when I bought it it was called the "Faucet Repair Kit") sets.   Those don't have the washers I needed.   Oh well, it's all done now.   My shower handle, on the other hand, is raising my blood pressure.   Turns out the problem is that there is a "mixer cone" that is not actually accessible from the front of the faucet, even with the inner cartridge removed.   I've got a feeling I'm gonna have to replace the whole shower valve. 

I swear one of these days, my wife is gonna come home to find me under the house with a couple of rolls of PEX sticking out of the crawlspace entrance.......   *really* starting to hate on the 44 year old galvanized pipe in this place.....
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Sawdust

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Re: *EXPLETIVE* plumbing
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2013, 12:57:20 PM »
Quote from: AmbulanceDriver on December 13, 2013, 12:52:29 PM
<snip> *really* starting to hate on the 44 year old galvanized pipe in this place.....</snip>

Ouch.   =(

Sawdust
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fifth_column

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Re: *EXPLETIVE* plumbing
« Reply #8 on: December 13, 2013, 01:30:48 PM »
The thread title mirrors my sentiments exactly . . .
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lupinus

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Re: *EXPLETIVE* plumbing
« Reply #9 on: December 13, 2013, 03:14:33 PM »
Quote from: AmbulanceDriver on December 13, 2013, 12:52:29 PM
  *really* starting to hate on the 44 year old galvanized pipe in this place.....
BTDT

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That is all. *expletive deleted*ck you all, eat *expletive deleted*it, and die in a fire. I have considered writing here a long parting section dedicated to each poster, but I have decided, at length, against it. *expletive deleted*ck you all and Hail Satan.

Azrael256

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Re: *EXPLETIVE* plumbing
« Reply #10 on: December 13, 2013, 03:26:26 PM »
Just my $.02...

When I plumb in anything, I operate under the assumption that I will replace from $fixture to the wall.  

New disposer?  Tailpiece kit, trap, nylon washer thingies where the sink drains connect.

New dishwasher?  Hammer arrester, angle stop.

Toilet?  Same as above.

I ended up with a small stock of parts I never used, so I keep them for next time.  Inexpensive, and I have a spare X that I can't buy at 0230 when I wake up hearing a drip or some such thing.  I'm also never stymied rummaging around for a mini mount flare washer and adapter when I just pull the stop off and sweat on one with the right fitting.

I am also *quick* to say "eff it" and go scorched earth.  One repair kit on a faucet, and then out comes the torch.  Go for warranty replacement if you can, but it's rarely difficult to convince The Wife to let me "fix" a fixture by just installing a nicer one with some feature she likes.


Oh, and another thing...

ALL flexible lines are considered disposable.  Replacement < Deductible.  If it's my washer hose and I just moved, inspect and reuse.  If it's time to replace the washer itself, the hoses are trash.  Same for faucets, etc.

Schedule a three day weekend with your two skinniest friends and PEX your heart out ASAP.
« Last Edit: December 13, 2013, 03:50:09 PM by Azrael256 »
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Headless Thompson Gunner

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Re:
« Reply #11 on: December 13, 2013, 04:42:14 PM »
Yeah, with plumbing the materials are cheap enough, and the potential risk and  aggravation high enough, that it often doesn't make sense to repair anything.  Just replace it.
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