I have not posted much on this thread for awhile, I have been sort of Hibernating inside this winter. Thought you all might enjoy this story on myself. I have never been one to mess with plumbing, when I worked I had a good friend who was a great plumber who I always called when ever something needed fixed. From a leaky commode to a leaking faucet to frozen pipes I just called Mark. Now that I am retired I have more time to mess with things and a lot more time on my hands. So when I saw a leaking faucet the other day I thought to myself " Self, you can fix that yourself " so I went down to the basement and grabbed up all the tool I figured I would need. A couple of screw drivers, a small pipe wrench and a pair of channel lock pliers, and went to fix the faucet. Fist I decided that I should shut off the water, check, next I took off the cap on the plastic handles and unscrewed the Phillips head screw holding it on, check. Next I took the old pipe wrench and started to loosen the nut holding everything together. When the nut finally came loose the water started to shoot to the ceiling.
Oh my goodness, I thought I had the water shut off. I tried to hold the faucet plug in place and refasten the nut, That of course did not work worth a darn, next I tried, while the water is still pouring out like gang buster, to turn the water off under the sink. I tried one, then the other knob and finally got the water to stop shooting everywhere. Now I tried to wipe up the water, clean myself off and take the 2 rubber washers that I saw attached to the faucet and take them to the local hardware store. My thought was that If I had the washers with me they would help me find the right one. I am after all a Dummy about such things. I bought 2 of every thing so I could replace both sides of the faucet, it cost me $2.50. Back home I went, all ready to be a Hero and get everything fixed.
Put both sides of the faucet back together and, nothing, no water at all was coming out. Took everything apart again and saw how the water was supposted to flow and put everything back together the right way.
Got the water flowing, but the darn thing still leaked. Oh Poop !!! Took everything apart again and this time I saw a rubber thing at the bottom of where the water came out. Turns out they call that a seat. So back to the hardware store with my newly found part and he tells me that it is Normally the seat when they leak.
Who Knew, Then he tells me that it could also be the spring. I had not seen a spring when I took out the seat, he assured me that there was one and it might need replaced. So I bought a set with 2 sizes of springs and 2 sizes of seats in it, figuring one of them should work. I again decided to replace both the hot and cold water sides thinking that if one side was worn out the other side couldn't be far behind. Took everything apart for the umteenth time and with a lot of difficulty got the springs to drop in and the rubber seats to press fit into the small hole with my big fingers. Put everything back together and presto, everything worked, the water flowed out, it did not leak, I was indeed a Hero.
I of Course managed to smash my index finger and give myself a painful blood blister in the process. I should not be allowed to own or use tools, it seems that every time I try to use them I hurt myself.
But I saved myself $50, and only drove to the store twice, so I figure I am ahead.
Never doubt that a small group of dedicated people can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has.