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JGan · Jan 19, 2008, 06:19 PM

Hi, I would love some help. We recently discovered our bathroom sink was leaking underneath the faucet where the hose attached. We thought it would be a simple fix, and all it needed was to be tightened. We were wrong. Tightening made it worse! We then turned off the water and replace the washer inside the coupling. Still leaking, but slightly better. The more we tighten, the worse it gets. Our next step was to replace the entire faucet, since it was old and corroded. Still leaking. I'm thinking I need to replace the actual water hose and coupling, but I haven't a clue how to do that. For what it's worth, it is a flexible grey hose, with a grey plastic coupling attachment. I would LOVE some help, as this is causing quite the headache. We have no interior shut off for the sink, just the main water shut off valve, which we of course need to leave on or we would be without water. I have tried sealing the leak with electrical tape, but it is not working. Right now I have it rigged with a funnel and a bucket to catch all the leaking water, but it's going to be a long night emptying that bucket every few hours! Please help!

twinkiedooter · Jan 19, 2008, 07:25 PM

You will have to replace the coupling and the grey plastic hose. Have you gone to your local do it yourself store such as Lowe's or Home Depot yet? They know all about what you are talking about and can give you the proper materials to do the replacement. It seems that the plastic coupling is the culprit as plastic tends to get stripped out very easily (that's what happened when you overtightened it).

While you are at the store, may I suggest that you get a shut off valve and put it in at the same time you change out this grey pipe. This will help down the road. Some homes do not have these shut off valves and as you can see, it causes a bit of a bother when something happens like this. The valve costs about $5.00.

Well, at least you got yourself a new faucet! Love your arrangement of the funnel and bucket.

JGan · Jan 19, 2008, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by twinkiedooter

You will have to replace the coupling and the grey plastic hose. Have you gone to your local do it yourself store such as Lowes or Home Depot yet? They know all about what you are talking about and can give you the proper materials to do the replacement. It seems that the plastic coupling is the culprit as plastic tends to get stripped out very easily (that's what happened when you overtightened it).

While you are at the store, may I suggest that you get a shut off valve and put it in at the same time you change out this grey pipe. This will help down the road. Some homes do not have these shut off valves and as you can see, it causes a bit of a bother when something happens like this. The valve costs about $5.00.

Well, at least you got yourself a new faucet! Love your arrangement of the funnel and bucket.

Thank you so very much for your response. We have a trip to Home Depot scheduled tomorrow!

KISS · Jan 19, 2008, 10:25 PM

What you have is a compression fitting.

This reference isn't too bad:

Compression Fittings

Note the use of a tubing sleave. If you don't use a tubing sleave, look for a plastic or nylon ferrule rather than the metal one.

You can sometimes replace the plastic tubing with a braided and/or reinforced hose.

While your at the hardware store, check out retrofit 1/4 turn valves. These make life very easy in the future.