randomdreams

The bathroom sink was dripping slowly the other day so I figured I'd come home today and tighten down the gland nut and fix it. I figured out how to remove the cold handle, and tried tightening the only big hex nut available, which did nothing. So then I figured I'd have to take it apart and see if the seal and land were damaged and needed to be replaced, which meant turning off the cutoff valve under the sink.
Which promptly started leaking.
I bravely converted a leak going into a drain, into a leak going into the inside wall of the house. Go me.
Thankfully the local home depot had replacement cartridges for the sink valves, once I managed to wrestle one out, and while I was there I bought newer quarter-turn cutoff valves to replace the vile old gate valves.
The replacement cartridges went right in (I replaced both sides, because I know how MTBF seems to work) and then, full of hope and optimism, pulled the handle off the gate valve and tightened the gland nut.
It stopped leaking.
So I'm leaving everything alone. Another day I'll replace everything: the cutoffs, the terrible old hose going up to the faucet, and the faucet. But today, I'm going to stop while nothing is leaking.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

amaebi

You continue to amaze me.

malterre

But today, I'm going to stop while nothing is leaking. you are a wise man-and a handy one!

ranunculus

Perfect timing on the stop.
I have one word for you about plumbing: PEX

randomdreams

Do you have PEX experience?
More specifically, do you have PEX-and-rodent experience?
We have mice. Sometimes we have a lot of them. They chew holes through plywood and drywall to get into the kitchen. I'm worried that PEX would seem like a really great alternative to getting in, compared to having to chew through half an inch of plywood, and then I'd have a huge leak and I'd have a mouse hole.

From what I read, mice can be a problem with PEX which is why I use a PVC outer "shell" in the pastures. There is PEX that is rated for direct ground burial and for use in concrete, but that might not help with rodents.

I've been using PEX for several years now out in the pastures. Since PEX is light sensitive we cover the tubing with PVC above ground. Since installing it we have gone from multiple repairs every winter to virtually none. Occasionally a faucet gets knocked over in a manner that breaks something, usually the PVC the PEX is attached to. I know several people who have it in their homes, and one of my good friends is replacing old and leaking copper with PEX in several of their apartment complexes.
SharkBite makes a lovely line of fittings for PEX including angle stops that are really fast and easy to add to old plumbing. It has been used in Europe for several decades now.
Still, if you have a severe rodent problem it might not be the thing to use. OTOH if your pipes freeze and break regularly it might be worth exploring.