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Haha! I am the wife! My husband just isn't a very handy man despite his best efforts. Everytime he hangs something (curtains, baby gate, etc.), there are two holes in the wall instead of one. It is a running joke.
I called my dad in FL and sent him pics. He thinks he can talk us through it.
Great idea on the youtube videos! Maybe between all this help, we can really do this ourselves. Thanks!!
Last leaky faucet I had I simply replaced the entire faucet for $150. Yes I "could" have done it for MUCH cheaper but I wanted to upgrade anyway and i used the leak as my excuse to myself.
Took me about 2 hours as I had to remove all the crap that accumulated under the sink, did not have the proper faucet wrench and don't exactly fit easily inside the cabinet. But otherwise painless and easy.
I have gotten replacement parts for my American Standard faucets free of charge, they have a lifetime guarantee. I'm thinking Kohler is the same. If the plumber is charging for these parts, he may be ripping you off.
OK ...... call your local Home Depot/ Lowes..........ask to speak to someone who is knowledgeable in the Plumbing Dept. explain your situation, if they feel they can help you ,Take a pic of your faucet, The make and model # pay them a visit. if they don't have the part , they can order it, also you can call the Mfg. and they can tell you how to fix it... and last, but not least, People in the box stores can recommend someone who is good and reasonable. Sometimes they make house calls themsleves, Also it is an easy job , for someone who has the knowledge.
Good Luck
Last edited by classic1956cars; 01-12-2012 at 06:22 AM..
Having both repaired and replaced many of these faucets, I agree that it's much better to do it yourself. However, if you really don't have a clue how to do it, you can get into a lot of trouble quickly.
Sometimes trying to install repair parts (cartridges, balls, o-rings, seats and springs, etc.) just isn't worth it, and you can swap out the whole unit with a shiny new fixture, especially if it has seen better days and is loaded with encrusted mineral deposits from hard water.
I'm also not convinced that the more expensive designer units from the supply houses last any longer than the consumer models in the home centers. Stick with Delta, American Standard, Kohler or Moen and you can't go too wrong. They are easier to install then then used to be, primarily because they got smart and replaced those annoying brass nuts (that required a special basin wrench) with plastic nuts that can be tightened by hand. However, you still need a basic comfort with connections, basic tools, patience, and a willingness to read and follow the directions.
You also need to be willing to climb into a very tight space, get on your back, and look up with a light, tools, etc., which not everyone is comfortable doing. If so, I'd talk to a few other local plumbers. There's a pretty good chance you'll need to call him or her back afterwards, or need them for something else down the road. Buy the fixtures you want and get a price just to install them.
It is a bit much to fix a faucet, but a plumber needs to be paid for their labor. But for something that simple, I would do it myself.
I had replaced my kitchen faucet myself. I first checked how the old faucet connected to the water system. I bought a faucet for $120 and a basin wrench for $15. It was tough and uncomfortable being under the sink. I made sure to wear goggles and used a pillow for my back.
It depends on what you want. If you don't mind spending an afternoon working on it. There are plenty of books and info on the web that tell you how to fix a leaky faucet.
I would only call a plumber for major problems like if a pipe bursts or the sewage line backs up.
I had this issue with one of my faucets. I used the information on the link below and did it myself. The $300 is not outrageous. he is probably charging you a day rate even though the work will take only an hour or so. PS Service magic charges $75 just to show up and appraise the situation, then parts , then labor.
ditto, this is the first thing i fixed myself as a landlord. Also used a youtube video then went to home depot and bought the replacement parts for $10. It was easy 10 min work and i am not handy at all.
You also need to be willing to climb into a very tight space, get on your back, and look up with a light, tools, etc., which not everyone is comfortable doing. If so, I'd talk to a few other local plumbers. There's a pretty good chance you'll need to call him or her back afterwards, or need them for something else down the road. Buy the fixtures you want and get a price just to install them.
Rhys
Yes. I love tinkering but my husband and I are getting up in years and not as slim as we used to be.
We moved to a condo.
For an easy job we also looked for people advertising as Handyman rather than plumbers. They usually charge less and there seem to be more of them around with the economy so bad.
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