Log in

View Full Version : Lavatory - new drain leak


cjnobile
Dec 6, 2006, 05:11 PM
Hello All,

I'm on my 2nd bathroom Moen installation. The first bathroom was a success. This lavatory has a slight leak at the new drainpipe [tail piece] at the top [at the bottom of the 'cultured marble?' bowl.] After loosely reinstalling “J” trap and rotating it out of the way, I used a 2cm 'rope' of plumbers' putty on the lip and placed in hole of bowl [after cleaning and drying area, including the over-flow channel encircling hole.] I then shimmied the black tapered rubber-feeling O-ring up the pipe, moved the brass 'washer' up pipe and screwed up the nut as tight as I did the first bathroom [which squeezed the O-ring out of shape by about 2mm]. I then rotated trap back and finished connecting it to my newly installed tail piece. Note: the pop-up casket, ball-rod & nut are correct. The leak is at the top. I tested by filling bowl to the over-flow guard and watched the water level, but it did not settle at guard, it gradually continued to drain with no external leaks as I recall, so I slowly tightened nut further until I heard no more trickle and water level only drained about an inch in an hour [squeezing O-ring about another 1mm.] At that point I opened up stopper and cleaned-up. But about an hour later, I notice the slight leak and felt for any other leaks, including connections to mesh feeder hoses. All seems to be okay. What is going on? I would like to think there are no undetected fresh water rivulets, or remaining water inside bowl over-flow channel. Did I use enough putty? When I installed, the putty pressed out over all but about a 1cm section of the lip of the drainpipe in the bowl. Did I crack the 'cultured marble?' bowl? But it is puzzling me, for an hour after the first hour when I noticed and dried the leak water and assuming all original test water had drained and dried, the leak had reformed. Since it is at top, I didn't think the trap water had any thing to do with it. Do I need to replace the new O-ring or use more putty or tighten the assembly a little bit more? At this point, I've turned off fresh water valves to feeder hose assembly and will wait a day.

speedball1
Dec 7, 2006, 04:34 PM
When I installed, the putty pressed out over all but about a 1cm section of the lip of the drainpipe in the bowl Did I use enough putty?

It doesn't sound like you did. If you did it correctly putty would have squeezed out all the way around. Loosen the nut and do it over. Regards, tom,