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plumbing
REPAIRS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Kitchen Faucet Repairs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Kitchen Sink and Drain Repairs . . . . . . . 9
Toilet, Tub and Shower Repairs . . . . . . 21
Leak-proof Plumbing Pipe Repairs. . . 41
Main Floor Drain Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Water Softener Repairs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
The Family Handyman is a registered trademark of The Readers Digest Association, Inc.
2011 Home Service Publications Inc., Greendale, WI 53129
EASY PLUMBING REPAIRS
EASY PLUMBING REPAIRS
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Repair an outdoor faucet
3
REMOVE and replace rubber washer
on the stem end. If there are rubber
O-rings on stem, replace these as well.
2
PULL stem out of faucet. For
removal, some stems have to be
turned so a key lines up with a slot;
reattach handle to turn and pull stem.
1
UNSCREW handle and remove pack-
ing nut. Hold faucet steady while
loosening the nut to avoid twisting the
interior pipe. Even hard copper pipe
can be twisted.
4
LUBRICATE working parts
of stem assembly with
heat-proof faucet grease.
Reassemble faucet.
3
USE seat wrench to
remove worn valve seat.
New seat must match old one
exactly in diameter, height
and number of threads.
2
REMOVE worn washer
and replace it with cor-
rect type: flat or beveled. New
washer should fit snugly with-
out being forced.
1
REMOVE screw holding
handle, then loosen and
remove packing nut. Remove
stem assembly.
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PACKING
NUT
SEAT WRENCH
VALVE SEAT
HEAT-PROOF
GREASE
RUBBER
WASHER
PACKING
NUT
Repair a washer-type faucet
KITCHEN FAUCET REPAIRS
REPAI R A WASHER-TYPE FAUCET; REPAI R AN OUTDOOR FAUCET; REPAI R A ROTARY BALL FAUCET
ater fow and tenperature n a rotary ba
faucet are controed by a hoow ba that
rotates n a socket. Deta and Feeress are
two of the na|or brands. Your faucet nay have a brass or
pastc ba. Both work we, athough the ongastng
staness stee ba cones wth nost repar kts. We rec
onnend that you buy a repar kt that ncudes the ba,
sprngs, seats and Orngs for the spout, as we as a sna
repar too, for about Sl5. Wth ths kt, you' be prepared
for anost any repar.
lf water s eakng out around the base of the hande,
you nay be abe to fx the eak by renovng the hande
(Fhoto l) and snpy tghtenng the ad|ustng rng sghty.
Turn t cockwse wth the spanner too ncuded n the
repar kt. lf the faucet drps fron the end of the spout,
repace the seats and sprngs (Fhoto 4). To stop eaks
fron the base of the spout, see "Fepar a eaky faucet
spout," p. 8.
Feassenby s straghtforward. Drop the sprngs n the
recesses and press the rubber seats over the top wth your
fngertp. Then agn the groove n the ba wth the pn n
the socket and drop n the ba. Agn the ug on the pastc
can wth the notch n the vave body and set t over the
ba. Thread on the cap wth the ad|ustng rng and tghten
t wth the sp|ont pers. Now you can turn on the water
to check for eaks. lf water eaks fron around the ba sten,
use the spanner too to tghten the ad|ustng rng unt
the eak stops. Fepace the
hande and you're done.
HANDLE
CAM
PACKING
SEATS
SPRINGS
SPOUT
STAINLESS
STEEL BALL
SCREW
COVER
HANDLE
SCREW
CAP WITH
ADJUSTING
RING
Repair a
rotary ball
faucet
EASY PLUMBING REPAIRS
Follow these basics
for all faucet repairs
4
LIFT out the two rubber seats and springs with a screwdriver.
Make note of the orientation of the tapered spring and install
the new springs and seats the same way. Reassemble the faucet.
3
LIFT off the plastic cam and packing. Lift out the ball and
inspect it. Replace the ball if its scratched, cracked or vis-
ibly worn.
2
UNSCREW the cap by turning it counterclockwise with a
slip-joint pliers. 1
LIFT the handle and pry off the decorative cover to expose
the Allen screw. Turn the screw counterclockwise until its
loose enough to lift the handle up from the stem.
PACKING
BALL
CAM
CAP WITH
ADJUSTING
RING
LARGE SLIP-JOINT
PLIERS (TAPE PROTECTS
FAUCET FINISH)
AERATOR
ALLEN
WRENCH
SEAT SPRING
ALLEN
SCREW
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REPAI R A ROTARY BALL FAUCET; REPAI R A CARTRI DGE-STYLE FAUCET
any faucet brands
use a cartr dge of
sone type. We show
how to repace a Moen cartrdge,
but the process s snar for other
brands. To stop drps at the spout
or correct probens wth hot and
cod nxng, renove the cartrdge
and ether repace the Orngs on
the cartrdge f they're worn or
repace the entre cartrdge. Take
the cartrdge to the hone center or
hardware store to fnd a repace
nent (Sl0 to Sl5).
Fhotos l - 6 show how to renove
the cartrdge. Fepacenent car
trdges for Moen faucets ncude a
pastc spanner cap that aows you
to twst and oosen the cartrdge to
nake t easer to pu out (Fhoto 5).
Don't be surprsed f the car
trdge seens stuck.
lt nay take consderabe force to pu
t out. Feay stubborn cartrdges
nay requre the use of a speca
cartrdgepung too. Moen's ver
son costs about Sl5 and s avaabe
at nost hone centers.
Feassenbe the faucet n the
reverse order. Fu the sten up
before nsertng the cartrdge. You
nay have to twst the cartrdge
sghty to ne t up for the brass
retaner cp. Use the pastc span
ner cap or the tps of a needenose
pers to rotate the cartrdge. 8de
the brass cp nto the sots n the
vave body to hod the cartrdge n
pace. Look for the sna notch on
top of the sten and rotate the sten
unt the notch faces you (Fhoto
4). lnsta the renanng parts and
reattach the han
de. The drectons
that cone wth the
sten w hep or
ent you here. Then
test the faucet. lf the hot and cod
water are reversed, snpy renove
the hande, done assenby and
hande adapter and rotate the
sten l80 degrees.
HANDLE
CAP
HANDLE
SCREW
HANDLE
DOME
ASSEMBLY
SCREW
HANDLE
ADAPTER
PIVOT STOP
RETAINER
NUT
WASHER
RETAINER CLIP
CARTRIDGE
SPOUT
TEMPERATURE
INDICATOR
O-RINGS
Repair a
cartridge-
style faucet
EASY PLUMBING REPAIRS
5
LOOSEN the cartridge by slipping the
plastic spanner cap (included with
the new cartridge) over the cartridge and
twisting it back and forth.
4
PRY out the brass retainer clip with
the tip of a screwdriver. Grab the clip
with a pliers and pull it the rest of the
way out to avoid losing it.
3
REMOVE the retainer nut by turning
it counterclockwise with a large slip-
joint pliers.
2
UNSCREW the dome assembly under
the handle. Then unscrew the metal
handle adapter and lift it off. Lift off the
plastic pivot stop.
1
PRY off the handle cap (gently) with
a knife. Turn the Allen screw coun-
terclockwise to remove it and lift off the
handle.
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Find the right replacement parts
6
GRAB the cartridge stem with a pli-
ers and pull it straight up and out.
Replace worn parts and reassemble the
faucet in the reverse order.
SPANNER
CAP (TWIST
BACK AND
FORTH)
NOTCH
RETAINER
CLIP
CARTRIDGE
HANDLE
ADAPTER
PHILLIPS
SCREWDRIVER
ALLEN
WRENCH
SET
RETAINER NUT
HANDLE
CAP
ALLEN
SCREW
PIVOT STOP
DOME ASSEMBLY
REPAI R A CARTRI DGE-STYLE FAUCET; REPAI R A CERAMI C DI SK FAUCET
eranc dsc vaves are snpy another type of
cartrdge. Dscs nsde the cartrdge contro
the water fow. Ths type of vave s sturdy and
reabe and rarey needs fxng. ln fact, nany nanufactur
ers offer a fetne guarantee on the cartrdge. lf yours
s danaged, check wth the nanufacturer to see f t's
covered by a warranty. Leaks can resut fron fauty rub
ber seas or a cracked dsc nsde the cartrdge. 8nce t's
dffcut to spot a cracked dsc, and dsc cartrdge repace
nents are very expensve (S20 to S50), t's best to start
by repacng the seas and reassenbng the faucet. Then
f the faucet st eaks, renove the dsc cartrdge and take
t to the store to order a repacenent.
Eary versons
of ceranc dsc
faucets nay
be nore frage
and can crack f sub|ected to a bast of
pressurzed ar. That's why t's nportant to eave
the faucet open as you turn the water back on. Ths aows
ar trapped n the nes to escape. When the water runs
snoothy, t's safe to turn the faucet off. Manufacturers
have nproved the strength of ceranc dscs on newer
faucets to wthstand ar basts, as we as abrasve debrs
that nay get dsodged fron the nsde of ppes.
HANDLE
CAP
SCREW
COVER
CARTRIDGE
SCREWS
CERAMIC DISC
CARTRIDGE
CARTRIDGE
SEALS
PLASTIC
PLATE
O-RINGS
CAP CLIPS
SPOUT
ALLEN
SCREW
Repair a
ceramic
disc
faucet
EASY PLUMBING REPAIRS
Leaks around the base of the spout are
caused by worn Orngs ocated under
the spout. A that's usuay requred to
access these Orngs for repacenent
s to wgge and pu up on the spout
to renove t (Fhoto l). Dependng on
your faucet, you' aso have to renove
the hande and other parts to access
the spout. Be persstent. The spout
nay be a tte stubborn. 8pout Orng
kts are avaabe for nany faucets,
or you can take the od Orngs to the
hardware store or punbng suppy
store and natch then up wth new
ones. Fenenber to pck up a sna
toothpastetype tube of punber's
grease whe you're there.
ln Fhoto l, you can see the dverter
vave, whch contros water to the
sprayer. Ther appearance vares con
sderaby anong brands, but you' usu
ay fnd then under the spout. lf your
sprayer sn't workng propery, frst
cean t n vnegar or snpy repace
t (S5 S22). lf ths doesn't work, the
dverter vave nay be cogged. lf t
doesn't snpy pu out, contact the
nanufacturer or ask a knowedgeabe
saesperson for hep wth ceanng t.
1
REMOVE the handle and cartridge.
Twist and pull up on the spout to
remove it and expose the O-ring seals.
2
SLIP the tip of a screwdriver under
the O-rings to slide them out of
the groove. Install the new O-rings,
lubricate them with plumbers grease
and reinstall the spout.
NEW
O-RINGS
4
LIFT out the plastic plate (on some faucets) and replace the
O-rings under it. Inspect the holes in the faucet body and
clean them out if theyre clogged.
3
INSPECT the cartridge for mineral buildup and carefully
clean it out. Then replace the rubber seals on the underside.
2
REMOVE the screws that hold the disc cartridge to the fau-
cet body and lift out the cartridge. 1
PRY off the decorative screw cover with your fingernail or
the tip of a knife. Unscrew the handle screw by turning
it counterclockwise with an Allen wrench. Lift off the handle.
Unscrew or unclip the cap.
CAP
ALLEN
WRENCH
SET
CERAMIC DISC
CARTRIDGE
CERAMIC DISC
CARTRIDGE
RUBBER
SEALS
O-RING
SEALS
ALLEN
SCREW
Repair a leaky faucet spout
DIVERTER
VALVE
SPOUT
O-RINGS
REPAIR A CERAMIC DISK FAUCET; REPAIR A LEAKY FAUCENT SPOUT; REPLACE THE DRAIN ASSEMBLY FOR A KITCHEN SINK
3
HOLD the waste tee alongside the tail-
piece about 1-1/2 in. below the top of
the trap. Mark the tailpiece 1/2 in. below
the top of the tee. Cut both tailpieces to
the same length and install them.
2
SLIDE the trap arm into the adapter.
Then attach the trap and slide the
arm in or out to position the trap directly
under the tailpiece. You may need to cut
the arm or add an extender.
1
ATTACH the tailpiece to the basket
strainer, but dont fully tighten it
yet; youll have to remove and cut it later.
one eaks can't be stopped
wth straghtenng or tght
enng. 8trpped nuts won't
tghten and od washers won't sea
because they're stff and dstorted.
You coud get new nuts, washers
or dran parts. 8nce pastc ppe s
so nexpensve and easy to nsta,
the snart, reabe fx s a whoe
new dran assenby. You can buy
everythng you need at hone cen
ters for Sl0 to Sl5. Kts for sde out
et assenbes (ke the one shown
here) or center outet assenbes
(where the trap s beneath the center
of the snk) contan nost of the essen
ta parts. But you nght aso need: