[rs1971]

I have very little experience with plumbing and I am about to replace a bathroom faucet with one that a friend had lying around (new, still in the box). It's a bottom of the line American Standard Covina two handle model. I have a couple of questions.

I meant to buy some putty the last time I was at Lowe's but forgot. I notice on the package that it says that it 'seals completely - no plumbers putty required.' Do you think that I can trust that? The obvious solution is to just use the putty as there is no down side - unfortunately the nearest hardware store is a 45 minute drive. On the other hand, I don't want to have to do the job twice. How likely is it not to leak if I don't use putty?

My other question has to do with the included pop-up. It's very strange. Rather than the standard mechanism, there is thin flexible hose which comes off of the faucet and connect to the popup via some kind of proprietary connection. It looks like it will be a snap to install but I'm a little dubious. Does anyone have any experience with these things? How do they hold up?

Thanks in advance and apologies for what are I realize pretty basic questions.

 

[jaydevries]

hook it up as is and it will be fine i like the cable pop up. if still worried about leaking you can use silicone instead of putty if you have it

 

[joeplumber85]

If it says no putty needed, then assuming you follow the manufacturer's instructions, you should be ok.

Secondly, the American Standard "Quick Connect" faucet pop-up system is garbage. They are great for builders and new-construction plumbers because I can slap an entire AM faucet in under 4 minutes and move onto the one. I've found if that pop-up lasts 2-3 years, consider yourself lucky, and unfortunately if it does break, it means replacing the entire drain assembly. Where the cable connects to the drain assembly there is a little plastic gear-like mechanism which is connected to a small hex key within the drain which rotates lifting up the sink plug. The problem is that they are connected to each other by what appears to be a small drop of glue, which when the pop-up gets resistance by hair or whatnot the glue will snap, and then your hooped.

Never the less though, it'll still only take 2 minutes to swap in a new one after you give american standard some more money.:no:

 

[rs1971]

If it says no putty needed, then assuming you follow the manufacturer's instructions, you should be ok.

Secondly, the American Standard "Quick Connect" faucet pop-up system is garbage. They are great for builders and new-construction plumbers because I can slap an entire AM faucet in under 4 minutes and move onto the one. I've found if that pop-up lasts 2-3 years, consider yourself lucky, and unfortunately if it does break, it means replacing the entire drain assembly. Where the cable connects to the drain assembly there is a little plastic gear-like mechanism which is connected to a small hex key within the drain which rotates lifting up the sink plug. The problem is that they are connected to each other by what appears to be a small drop of glue, which when the pop-up gets resistance by hair or whatnot the glue will snap, and then your hooped.

Never the less though, it'll still only take 2 minutes to swap in a new one after you give american standard some more money.:no:

Thanks for your thoughts. That's kind of what I figured about the pop up. Still, I didn't pay anything for the faucet so I guess that I shouldn't complain. This is really just my ignorance but is it standard for new faucets to come with the pop up? I've always thought of those as two separate items.

 

[joecaption]

The pop up comes with them.
Your also going to need to pick up a basin wrench to get at the nut that holds it to the sink.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...B427A962E4D2A12E2B71D773D7C1C7B2136DE&first=1

 

[rs1971]

Your also going to need to pick up a basin wrench to get at the nut that holds it to the sink.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...B427A962E4D2A12E2B71D773D7C1C7B2136DE&first=1

Now you tell me? LOL. I did manage to get the old ones (I actually replaced two) off without a basin wrench but it involved a lot of cursing and I'm not sure that my back will ever be the same. What would have taken a competent plumber 40 minutes to do, took me about 6 hours. But I saved myself $100!.

One snafu I did hit was that the connection hoses I bought fit the faucet on one end but not the cutoff valve on the other. I think that the cutoff valve was probably 3/8 inch just like the faucet, but the hoses I bought were 3/8 inch on one end and smaller on the other. I would have expected this stuff to be more standard. It worked out well enough though as I just reused the old hoses and I'll return the ones I bought. So I'm actually up $20 on the deal.

 

[Alan]

Faucet end is usually 1/2" MIP, and your angle stop can vary greatly. We only stock one style of faucet supplies (1/2" FIP x 3/8 compression)

So, when we come across an oddball angle stop like you describe, we replace it to match our supplies.

Sounds like you did ok, but if those supplies leak, go for a 3/8 comp outlet angle stop.

 

[jagans]

I never use a Basin wrench. I ALWAYS pull off the sink, clean everything up, Install my drain, popup, tailpiece, and supplies then re-set and re-caulk the sink with color match silicone. I HATE BASIN WRENCHES :laughing:

Oh and I would not use an AS Fixture even if it was given to me, I would not trust a fixture without Plumbers Putty, and I think that anyone that uses SILICONE OR ANY OTHER ADHESIVE SEALANT TO SET A FIXTURE OR A SINK SHOULD BE WHIPPED! WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT GUY????

 

[TheEplumber]

I never use a Basin wrench. I ALWAYS pull off the sink, clean everything up, Install my drain, popup, tailpiece, and supplies then re-set and re-caulk the sink with color match silicone. I HATE BASIN WRENCHES :laughing:

Oh and I would not use an AS Fixture even if it was given to me, I would not trust a fixture without Plumbers Putty, and I think that anyone that uses SILICONE OR ANY OTHER ADHESIVE SEALANT TO SET A FIXTURE OR A SINK SHOULD BE WHIPPED! WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT GUY????

Why pull a sink to change a faucet? Oh yea, because you hate basin wrenches:whistling2:
No need to pull a sink for most faucets. why risk the laminate surface to save the inconvenience of laying on your back for 10 minutes? O'well- to each his own I guess

 

[Alan]

Why pull a sink to change a faucet? Oh yea, because you hate basin wrenches:whistling2:
No need to pull a sink for most faucets. why risk the laminate surface to save the inconvenience of laying on your back for 10 minutes? O'well- to each his own I guess

Had a call the other day where a faucet needed replaced.

Moen Monticello widespread lav faucet. The handyman had been there first and tried to take apart the faucet to stop a drip, but he couldn't figure out how to get the handles off. So he yanked the sink out of the hole, busted a bunch of tiles in the process and then just left it and called it quits. :laughing::laughing:

"WTF do you want me to do with this? I'm not a tile guy."

 

[jagans]

Didnt say I wouldnt use a basin wrench, just said I prefer not to use one. There are of course times when you have to use one. Ripping the sink out because you cant figure out how to remove the handles is pretty crude. By the way, what ever happened to American Standard? They really were once the standard by which others were judged. Just another American tragedy ruined by Bean Counters I guess.

 

[Alan]

Didnt say I wouldnt use a basin wrench, just said I prefer not to use one. There are of course times when you have to use one. Ripping the sink out because you cant figure out how to remove the handles is pretty crude. By the way, what ever happened to American Standard? They really were once the standard by which others were judged. Just another American tragedy ruined by Bean Counters I guess.

Some of their basic faucets (Colony soft line) are still very very heavy faucets with the 1/2" brass shanks to mount it to the sink. Don't really care for their cartridges though.

Moen is easier to work on, but even their cheapest stuff is turning into all plastic garbage.

Kohler still makes some nice stuff, but the new style of shower valves in the past few years have been disappointing the way the trim goes together. You also pay the price for the kohler name.

I'm leaning more toward delta these days, but everyone is going the same direction as far as quality.