My bathroom faucet was leaking for a couple weeks. Getting worse and worse so last night it was a slow stream, almost like the sink is on part way. I've always thought it was the hot water knob, so I turned the left-hand source off under the sink. The leak went away. Here's the problem: when I turn the source knob back on (underneath the sink) neither the hot or the cold faucet work. Like, no water comes out anymore?! Could turning off the hot water at the source beneath the sink suddenly cause no water to now make it to the sink?? One clue (it didn't help me, of course) is that now and again, especially if we're out of town for a while, the sink spits out dark brown water for 5 seconds before returning to normal. When I was messing with the source valve, I saw the brown water again briefly, then nothing. No more water. That's where I am now. The sink is sitting there with the hot water source valve off, the cold source valve on, and no water will come out of the darn thing. What the heck do I do now?? Any ideas/advice is greatly appreciated.

-Woostah

 

Turn all the water off under the sink and remove the screw on aerator from the faucer[where the water comes out]and see what happens Plug up the sink in case something comes out so you won't lose it. If you take the aerator apart remember how it goes back it ain't always easy.

 

If you have galvanized water lines, you may have broke loose some sediment in the line and it is plugging the supply lines. Turn off the valves under the sink and disconnect the supply lines that go up to the faucet. Hold a rag over the end of the valve(s) and turn the water on and off two or three times. This should clear out any debis there. Unscrew the aerator from the end of the spout reattach the supply lines and turn the water supply valves back on and turn on the faucet. If this does not work, you may have to take the faucet apart. Good luck.

 

Thanks, Majak and Joneq. So, are either of your ideas DIY projects? This is my first house and first leaky faucet, so I'm having visions of exploding pipes and stuff. The faucet itself is a cheap-charlie 1980's thing with gold and fake wood trim. If I'm just replacing that, I might be able to handle it. BUT, what about the galvanized pipe theory? Would I then have to hire a pro and switch to copper and rip out all the pipes in my basement and spend tens of thousands of dollars? (Sorry, I'm just coming off a pretty expense reno job, and wasn't expecting plumbming issues.)

-Woostah

 

Both are very DIY.Check [unscrew] the aerator first before you get all worked up. Then do like Majak said then get back. Do you have glavanized water pipes?

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I have galvanized pipes. Galvanized are silver in color and pretty thick, right? Unfortunatley, I'm doing this from memory. We're living at a friend's house right now because we have contractors in for new doors, windows, painting, and a new add'n. Of course, I decided to mess with the sink at 11:00pm the night before we moved out. I can hopefully check it out again on Monday. I'll have to get back then.

-Woostah

 

YUP, sounds like galvanized. Get back to us when you try our suggestions and let us know what happened. By posting a reply after solving a problem, it helps other members.

 

Alright ch'all. The good news is my sink is fisxed. The bad news is, I skipped a DIY attempt and called in a pro. He told me my faucet was shot, he replaced it, and charged me $150. Problem gone. But, now my drain is very slow. Seems like he cleaned out the sediment from the galvanized pipes and left it in "catch pipe" under the sink. Sucks. But, that seems like an eaiser DIY job than the damn faucet. That thing was on its last leg - I swear!

Thanks,

Woostah

 

you may have to adjust the stopper at the bottom of the sink. If it is just a little low the water will drain slow. Try filling the sink and then releasing the drain and holding it up with your fingers or spoon or something and see if the water drains normal. If it does get the plumber back to adjust the linkage under the sink.

$150 ---is that with the faucet?

 

Thanks, Jonesy. I'll check out the drainage as you suggest. Yep $150 total - labor and faucet.

-Woostah