(no subject)
Mar. 7th, 2019 09:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
randomdreamsThe 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.
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.
no subject
Date: 2019-03-12 05:23 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2019-03-13 01:51 am (UTC)I have vastly more problems with rodents than with freezing, hence my nervousness.