[andyhome]

Hi,
I noticed a leak underneath my kitchen sink. Single hole Faucet was installed in my 3 hole sink 15 years ago. When I looked underneath I noticed that one of the covers that covered the LEFT hole had corroded and was basically gone.

You can see from the picture that the cover/plug on the left is gone, but the one on the right is still there in all its glory. I think the plug blocks water from leaking down AND also secures the faucet tight to the sink.

Can I buy another plug to replace the missing one?

Also, obviously the leak is coming from where the plug is missing but should there be water in that interior space anyway? Is something else also wrong?

Hopefully my photos help.
Thanks,
Andy

 

[RRH]

First that looks like a 3 hole faucet. It may have had the option without the base plate to convert to a single hole.

I would just replace at 15 years old Kitchen faucet. Or did you fix the slow leak you have that is running under the base plate?
That could be a easy fix with the Orings taking off the spout.

The hole you asked about. Hard part is getting the nut off and cleaning the rusted threads. So a nut screws on.
Then just buy a couple washers. Large one first. But the hole in that washer will be to big. So another smaller washer on top of that.

May need to match up a new nut if needed. can use any nut that fits. Brass or stainless is better for no rust

 

[b.rooster4321]

Yes ditto


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[andyhome]

Ugh. Do you think the leak is from the faucet itself (the orings you mentioned) or from the caulking around the base. I'm not sure what you meant.

I think I will be able to figure out how to get that nut off (lots of wd40 and one of those special vertical plumbing wrenches) and then I think i understand the point of the washers -- put a bunch on to close the hole.

But if there's an internal leak then that will still continue and build up above the washers, no?

 

[carpdad]

At 4:52, the youtuber calls it deck plate gasket, white plastic piece. The gasket keeps sink spills out of the bolt and nut hole. Better if there's plumbers putty inside and outside the gasket since the factory gasket rarely work as a complete water seal. Your water leak is common because of the faulty seal or loose cover from missing the nut. That should not be any plumbing pipes leak. Plumbing pipes are in the middle.



You could try a repair by removing the faucet and reassembling with putty both inside and outside, around the bolt and water connections. Or, stuff the putty into that hole from underneath, have somebody press the faucet cover from above while you're pulling from underneath with a locking wrench and put a sacrificial small locking wrench on the bolt with a big enough washer to cover the hole and a smaller washer to hold the wrench.


The putty should be enough so there's a squeeze out. Peel away the putty and clean the stain with soap. Search for plumbers putty and how it's used. If above video doesn't show putty, keep looking at other videos.

 

[DexterII]

In the pictures it looks like a fair amount of water on the faucet, and you didn't mention any spray from the neck of it, so presumably it's from the sprayer, maybe inadvertently squeezing it when it is taken in or out, or from splash. Either way, I would tend to agree with carpdad that the water is probably getting through or around the gasket. But I don't think that pushing putty through that hole is going to do anything for you because you won't be able to get it where it belongs so at best you'll just stop it from coming through that hole and it will come out one of the other ones. I think the only right way to correct it is take the faucet off and reinstall it, and if I were doing so on a 15 year old faucet no doubt at all that I would replace it. Most likely you won't need anything, but, since you mentioned WD40, I will add that you can spray all of that you want at the threads and it won't do a single thing for you. They might be snug at first, but you should be able to loosen them with nothing. If you find that you do want to spray them with anything, PB Blaster or Break-Away are good choices, and one or the other or both are available at your local hardware store, auto parts store, or big box. The WD in WD40 stands for water dispersant, and it's fine for that, wiping it on tools, etc. to prevent or at least minimize rust, but it is not a very good lubricant, and does nothing to break down existing rust and corrosion. Why do so many people use it that way? I don't know, other than probably good name recognition from good advertising. Not knocking it, just saying it has a purpose just like any product, and there are not too many that do it all.

 

[RRH]

Ugh. Do you think the leak is from the faucet itself (the orings you mentioned) or from the caulking around the base. I'm not sure what you meant.

I think I will be able to figure out how to get that nut off (lots of wd40 and one of those special vertical plumbing wrenches) and then I think i understand the point of the washers -- put a bunch on to close the hole.

But if there's an internal leak then that will still continue and build up above the washers, no?

Dont know just have to guess. And the o rings the only thing fixable. besides tightening the dome shaped nut under the handle. You really just have to look real good. Try moving the spout up and down a little.

Dont think it is caulking or the gasket. Would not get bad enough to completely rust out the missing washer.

Last one that did that on me had a small internal leak where the copper lines go into the body.

Does not always drip straight down the center hole. Check level. Sink maybe a little low on that side.

And yes if still a leak will happen again. But stainless washers cant rust. Any try for a stainless nut if you can find.

If fix. Paper towel directly under the faucet or tissue paper. On floor of cabinet. Both show a water drop good. Check after a week.

 

[bruceb3]

That was an inexpensive faucet to begin with. If you're going to remove it to fix the leak, just replace the faucet. To remove the faucet, find a nut that fits and reinstalling a 15 year old faucet just doesnt make sense.