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jd777 · Jun 20, 2010, 05:10 PM

Bear with me as I searched and found many informative posts about bathroom sinks and several about stoppers and stopper replacement, but I didn't find my particular issue. If I get underneath the sink and shine a flashlight up, I can clearly see the point of my leak. It is a small leak but if I let the water run for a while I will eventually see drips coming off the vertical rod that raises and lowers the stopper. Based on comments on here that suggested using waded tp and moving up until I found moisture, I travelled up the rod and found that the moisture is coming in higher and then travelling down the rod and dripping. The point at which moisture is dripping appears to be a seal of some sort, and it is dirty/gritty (plumbers putty?) The point that is leaking is the hole through which the stopper rod travels up to the outside of the sink. I also found that it continues to drip after the water has been turned off.

My house is 10 years old, and based on other issues we've had, was not very carefully constructed (knocked out very, very quickly). It would be no surprise if my sink wasn't installed properly to begin with.

Thanks!
JD777

afaroo · Jun 20, 2010, 07:01 PM

See the image below if this is what you are talking about, remove the clip and the nut that holds the rod, check the pivot seat and gasket, cleant the ball, if the seat and gasket are OK, install the rod and nut do not over tighten, attach the clip to the starp, try it and see if it is fixed, good luck.

John

speedball1 · Jun 21, 2010, 05:16 AM

Try snugging up the pivot rod nut #RP6132 a bit. Do not over tighten or the stopper will be difficult to operate. That should have stopped your leak. If not click back and tell me about it. Good luck, Tom

jd777 · Jun 24, 2010, 02:10 PM

Thank you speedball1. I got under the sink with a light and really started poking around. I tried the pivot rod nut but as I was working on it, I felt a drip higher. I followed it all the way up. It is leaking at the hole that the vertical rod goes up through, way up near the handles. I have a friend who knows a bit (not a plumber but more handy than I am) who is convinced I have a problem with the valve stem and that I should replace them. Does that sound reasonable? PS. In laws live a little north of you. Sounds like it has been hot. Love your fishing down that way!!

speedball1 · Jun 25, 2010, 07:56 AM

I have a friend who knows a bit (not a plumber but more handy than I am) who is convinced I have a problem with the valve stem and that I should replace them. Does that sound reasonable?

Not to me it doesn't.
Unless this is a leak the never stops, (is it?) then this sounds like water splashing on the lavatory and simply leaking through the push rod opening? Does the leak occur all the time or just w3hen the lavatory's in use? Let me know, Tom

jd777 · Jun 27, 2010, 06:52 PM

Tom,
Thanks for imput. I have not torn anything up as I am not the best home improvement guy so I'm trying to get a better idea of what is up. Does not leak all the time , just when water is in use and for a time afterwards. Not splash over, too much water. Seems to be cold water only. I ran the hot for a long while and went under and found no new water.

hkstroud · Jun 28, 2010, 02:05 AM

I have a friend who knows a bit (not a plumber but more handy than I am) who is convinced I have a problem with the valve stem

Can you post a picture of your faucet? That sounds like the cold water valve is leaking around the valve stem. Should be able to just tighten bonnet nut.

afaroo · Jun 28, 2010, 05:14 AM

I agree with hkstroud please post a picture and we will see, Thanks.

John

jd777 · Jun 28, 2010, 01:50 PM

I have a picture I think will work. It is a bit dark. How does one post up a pic? If it is already on here somewhere, just point me the way (I did look but not terribly hard). Here is another thought. The calking around the faucet wasn't done well and appears to be rotting out. Could a poor calk job lead to this type of leak? It still doesn't feel like that much water would be able to squeeze between the sink and the faucet, but that was an idea.

hkstroud · Jun 28, 2010, 02:05 PM

To post pic.

Upload pic to your computer.
Change to JPEG format if not already JPEG.

Make your post of at least two characters.
Click "Go Advanced" button below answer block.
Scroll down and click on "Manage Attachments.
Browse to find picture.
Click "Open"
Click "Upload"

jd777 · Jun 29, 2010, 08:31 AM

Update. I believe that my leak may indeed be related to poor calking when the sink was installed. Yesterday I sat with 1 hand stretched under the sink and splashed water up onto the area around where the faucet meets the sink and felt moisture. Upon examination, I don't think the seam bewtween the faucet and bowl has any silicone on it. THis would not surprise me as the house has many of these "oversights." Am I OK to just run a small bead of silicone around the faucet/bowl seam? This sure would be an easy fix.