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Macdp · Oct 1, 2012, 09:57 PM

I have two new sink faucets installed and noticed water in the drawers under each sink. Discovered leaking around push rod opening in both faucets just with everyday use and cleaning of faucets - any suggestions?

ma0641 · Oct 2, 2012, 04:45 AM

Sounds like the faucets were not sealed to the sink with either a gasket or putty. If water is coming down the pull rod hole you are splashing too much water.

speedball1 · Oct 2, 2012, 05:57 AM

Doe this water leak past the rod all the time or only when you run water? Was the faucet installed by a plumber or by the home owner.
Was the plastic gasket installed under the faucet? Back to you. Tom

Macdp · Oct 2, 2012, 06:03 PM

It leaks any time water is slpashed on the area. It was installed by plumber. Last question I don't know but would assume so. I have tested all levels - first putting water on sink ledge to see if leak was around the spout or tap base, then filled the sink and opened and closed the drain several times - all with no leak. When I simply splash some water on the control rod it tracks down under the sink. This is both sinks - did they install this properly?

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 2, 2012, 06:16 PM

There is no water proof seal on the plunger rod on any sink faucet I have seen. Basically, they are not designed to have water actually splashed up on top of the faucet. If you can pour water around the base of the faucet (where it meets the sink) and it doesn't leak, it was installed correctly. Also, if it doesn't leak when normally running the water with no splashing, the faucet is fine. Just keep the heavy splashing to a minimum. Don't get me wrong. There may be some mystery leak happening here, but it really sounds more like the fixture is simply not being used correctly.

speedball1 · Oct 3, 2012, 06:45 AM

Back in the old days , before plastic gaskets we ran a ring of plumbers putty around the base f the faucet before installing. That stopped the water seepage that you describe.
Good luck, Tom

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 3, 2012, 04:06 PM

I agree Tom. However, plumbers putty won't stop water from running down the plunger rod if water is entering on the top of the faucet where the plunger rod goes down. If you are splashing water on the top of the faucet, water will follow the plunger rod down. Even if you puttied the complete hole it wouldn't hold due to the rod going up and down. Maybe Im looking at this wrong. What do you think?

speedball1 · Oct 3, 2012, 04:14 PM

I agree Lee,
If the leak were under the tap I addressed it but you can't protect the valve if people don't have enough sense not to splash water all over when washing their hands. Tom

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 3, 2012, 04:25 PM

Ha, yep. Post #4 was what got me to thinking they may just not be using the fixture correctly. If they happen to be using it to wash their hair, or something like that, the only solution I could see would be to pull the plunger rod, get a pop in filler for the hole and silicone it in. This should make the complete faucet waterproof, but eliminates the plunger. So they would have to either change out the pop up assembly to a grid strainer or simply remove the plunger and use a hand plug to stop up the water. Just throwing out options.

speedball1 · Oct 4, 2012, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by mygirlsdad77

Ha, yep. Post #4 was what got me to thinking they may just not be using the fixture correctly. If they happen to be using it to wash their hair, or something like that, the only solution I could see would be to pull the plunger rod, get a pop in filler for the hole and silicone it in. This should make the complete faucet waterproof, but eliminates the plunger. So they would have to either change out the pop up assembly to a grid strainer or simply remove the plunger and use a hand plug to stop up the water. Just throwing out options.

Seems like a lot of trouble to go through just because the OP was sloppy. You say

Just throwing out options

I say let's through out the OP. Cheers, Tom

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 4, 2012, 03:39 PM

Sounds good.

Macdp · Oct 4, 2012, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by speedball1

Seems like a lot of trouble to go through just because the OP was sloppy. You say I say let's through out the OP. Cheers, Tom

Thanks for the not so helpful reply Tom. Incidentally The faucet was used correctly - no hair washing, bathing, pool parties or dog washing in the sink, just simple everyday use. The rep for the product came to the house and said they have had other customers with the same issue. The profile of the mount and control rod is very low and does not sit on a metal base so water easily gets onto the rod and tracks down. They recommended replacing the faucet or do what mygirlsdaddy suggested and silicone the hole and use a push/pop up drain. Nicely done solving the problem without actually seeing the faucet set mygirlsdaddy - I'm impressed!

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 4, 2012, 06:59 PM

Pool parties, Id pay to see that. Ha.
Did the rep say they would supply you with a new faucet? Sounds like he/she admitted a design flaw. I would look a little further into that, or simply buy a different brand. Moen makes a lot of good products, fyi.