Troubleshooting and replacing faucet

[NDman]

The faucet in the bathroom sink is leaking. I've done some basica troubleshooting and it looks like it's from near the top top of the faucet, which I can't quite get a clean view on from the bottom. I know it's not from the pipes below, or the drainage. Basically I need to change the faucet.

I've never done it so I need some suggestions/instructions. I tried to turn off the main tap from the basement to stop the water. However, the water was still slowly dripping for a long while (over half an hour). I tried to disconnect the pipes underneath the sink to detach the faucet. But water was still kind of gushing out from it so I had to screw it back in and put the project on hold.

Question is, what have I done wrong, so far? And what should have I done otherwise? The main water tap was turned off and it's tight but still there was some small amount of water running. Should I be draining it for hours first? I couldn't find any other tap that controls the water for that bathroom specifically so I could only do the main tap. Need some hlep here. TIA

[deep]

Well, if it's leaking from the top, it's likely that one of the washers (plastic or rubber) in the stem (how old is the faucet?) or one of the seals in the cartridge is no longer working. These are easily replaceable, once you pop the unit open. If you like the faucet, I would go that route.

To replace it, if you have no nearby cutoff valve, turn off the master, and run the faucet on full until it stops completely. If it doesn't ever stop, you're not turning the water off correctly. Removal of the old faucet should be relatively straightforward at that point, while the new one may actually require you to RTFM during installation :)

Good luck!

[NDman]

It could be a from the o-ring of sort. But the problem right now is I can't see it. I don't know how to pop the faucet open. I can't see the top from the bottom of it because it.

This is what I see from the bottom, there are only 3 holes through the marble sink so I can't see it to the top, where it leaks

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3208/faucet2qn.jpg

This is the actual tap. Those are the only 2 screws on the entire tap. Did you mean that I can unscrew them and I should be able to see the guts and access it after I remove that plate? I tried but I couldn't. The screws are pretty much set in by the rust and calcium deposit. The faucet is about 18 years old, AT LEAST, as far as I know

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/3416/faucet25pw.jpg

[CSK'sMom]

If you have shut off valves at the set of taps in question you only need to turn the water off to them. Shutoffs should be between where the pipe comes out of the wall and where the supply lines to the taps connect. If not and you turn everything off at the main and hot water heater open a set of taps on the lowest level of the house (maybe your laundry) to drain the system. Then proceed to switch out the taps...

edit: now that I can see the pic of the taps... use a screwdriver to pop the plate on the top of the taps (on the plastic knob). The cartridge will be accessible from there, not underneath by the spigot.

[NDman]

Thanks CSK'sMom. There might be a cutoff valve for that tap, but there's a backing of the cabinet built in front of that. I have no intention to take the entire backing/wall out just to find out. I'll give it a shot to dissemble the faucet from the top. Thanks for the pointers on running a bigger tap downstairs to drain the pipe. I'll see what I can do tonight.

[vtachy]

NDman just open a drain above and below your sink after shutting the main. That should drain the lines enough to reduce the water spillage. For the prices of faucets today it might be easier to replace the entire faucet. Looks like yours is a mixer head like some of the old american standards (pull on and turn for temp?). From the shot beneath looks like their might be some plumbers putty that might have been used. If the faucet has been leaking for a while be ready for some rust when you take the faucet out. It might be goot to hunt for a replacement faucet with a large enought foot print to cover up any rust under the old one. Remember to clean the sink well so that any old plumbers putty is off. You need a smoot clean surface for any new faucet. Looks like you'll also need to purchase new lines to feed from the compression fittings to the faucet. They have easy flexible stainles sttel braid lines at the hardware stores that really make it easy (at least easier than trying to bend some copper line...)

[NDman]

I didn't get around to give it a shot last night. But yeah, it's one of those old pull-and-turn mixer type taps. Where the arrows are pointing at are 2 metal plates to hold the pipe lines. I don't think it has any putty on it. I could unscrew that one without problem. But I still can't really see through the holes. It's a washroom in for a guest bedroom that hasn't been used for few years. JUst figured that one out couple of days ago when we were preparing for a guest for next week. A new faucet might be in the book too. Hopefully it's only the cartridge. That seems easier to do.