Plumber or handyman?

toadette · March 2011

I want to have my kitchen faucet "tightened" to make sure it can continue to handle the backflow pressure from my portable dishwasher. Is this something I need a full fledged plumber for or just a skilled handyman?

Recommendations either way also welcome!

whyfi · March 2011

You shouldn't need a full-fledged plumber. I don't think that I'd both with a plumber unless it involved rerouting copper piping, at a minimum. Even if you were to replace your entire faucet, we're only talking about someone that's reasonably handy + teflon tape.

whynot_31 · March 2011

I'm kinda confused re: the task at hand.

The portable dishwashers I've seen that hook up to faucets have a backflow preventer built into the connection.

Is the faucet lose at the base, where it rests on the sink? If so, that is just a matter of tightening the nuts from underneath.

Step 1 clear out crap from under sink

step 2 while holding flash light and adjustable wrench, lie on back.

step 3 turn nut 1/16th turn due to space constraints. repeat 12x while cursing. Faucet should now be tight

whyfi · March 2011

I'm operating under the assumption that she's got a little leak that only manifests when the faucet is on and the water pressure, post-valve, is high because it's got nowhere to go.

whynot_31 · March 2011

hmmm, so if she has that problem, it likely occurs right where dishwasher hose connects to the faucet spout.

Sounds like something as simple as a washer, or some teflon tape, or that white plumbers goop for threads.

fancy · March 2011

You must call: OLIVER ROBINSON 718.778.8200 (OFFICE)

(CELL) 347.405.4851 Tell Dorothy from 167 St Queens referred you.

Good luck

whyfi · March 2011

^^^ how much is your cut? :-)

toadette · March 2011

WhyFi said:

I'm operating under the assumption that she's got a little leak that only manifests when the faucet is on and the water pressure, post-valve, is high because it's got nowhere to go.

Yeah, it is this, but the water is coming out from where the faucet spout meets the base. There is also occasionally a tiny bit of water (maybe a tablespoon or two) that winds up below the sink - though this might just be from the above leak dripping back down.

The base itself is a little loose, too, so I'll give whynot's instructions a go as well (with the addition of a "Step 4 Pour a drink to ease back pain").

whyfi · March 2011

Tightening the faucet base isn't going to hurt, but it doesn't sound like it's going to address the problem. As Whynot mentions, you'll likely need to replace a washer (¢)

whynot_31 · March 2011

One could also have the drink first, REMOVE the faucet and take it to a helpful hardware store for said washer

modsquad2.0 · March 2011

Don't bother calling a licensed person. The Code, not to mention their liability would prevent them from working on this. I guess they would do it for cash. If this is a swiveling kitchen faucet don't bother with teflon. O ring washers are the only prevention from leaks in the base of spout and generally they're not good at holding line pressure not to mention any warranty would be void in case of a catastrophic failure. A backflow might help, depends on what causes the leak, extra pressure from the machine (opening and closing of solenoids) or simply pressurizing the spout. What I do is connect to the bathroom sink faucet for washing my dogs. The standard fixed, 4" faucet is safe to hold the pressure with the snap on hose bib.

Drinking doing plumbing and/or washing dogs? Well that's a given

Plumber or handyman?

Comments

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories