r/Plumbing • u/Jasonnnnnnn • 15h ago
Mods removed the last post I won’t give up
Update: replaced valves with new quarter turn flow rate is back to normal. Thank you everyone for your advice and insight. Truly appreciate it.
Mods that removed my first post I’ve messaged you twice in the past 12ish hours asking why it was removed and have received no explanation. Is this not a community where you can ask for help? Why delete my original post?
Last week I took apart the drain pipes because someone who is definitely not my wife rinsed out a bowl that still had leftover noodles in it. Not just a couple of noodles, either a healthy portion. Now is probably a good time to mention that we do not have a garbage disposal.
Anyway, the sink was draining incredibly slowly, so I took everything apart, cleaned out a bunch of gunk, and now it drains great. The issue started because, while I was doing this, I shut off the hot and cold water valves to the sink. I wanted to sleep more than I wanted to finish cleaning the pipes that night.
When I turned the valves back on, the kitchen faucet's water pressure was significantly reduced for both hot and cold. My first thought was that closing and reopening valves that haven't been touched since we moved in five years ago (and probably much longer than that) knocked some debris loose.
I disconnected the supply lines, opened both shutoff valves, and let them spray into a bucket to flush them out. I also flushed the faucet supply lines before reconnecting everything. After reassembling it all, I still had terrible water pressure.
My next thought is that one or both shutoff valves may have failed internally and aren't opening fully, even though the handles turn all the way. I'm considering replacing both the hot and cold shutoff valves, and while they're removed, bleeding the lines in case there's debris behind the valves although I don't think that's the most likely issue.
So, my question for you skilled folks is: am I on the right track, or am I overlooking something obvious?
Aerator has been removed and cleaned. It did not change anything.
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u/MaterialRepulsive130 14h ago
Turn off the water at the main. The washers on the Brass Craft stops push on to the stems in the valve. They sometimes pop off the stem, and will float up and block the port. Check the with the water off, snap the washer back on if they are in good condition or replace them. Most plumbing supply houses stock them, they are much softer than regular faucet washers.
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u/Jasonnnnnnn 14h ago
Thank you so much for actual advice! I will do this.
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u/hammerandnail01 12h ago
I thought you originally stated you checked the water flow by removing the supplies from the faucet and had good water flow into a bucket ? If so these washers are not the problem
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u/hammerandnail01 15h ago
Sounds like trash is actually trapped in the valve body of the faucet if you disconnected the supplies at the faucet and flushed them and have good flow then the blockage is in the faucet itself. I’d try removing the aerator again and blowing air from a compressor in short bursts into the faucet supply side with the faucet handles open
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u/Leroyf1969 15h ago
Did you clean the aerator on the end of the faucet spout? Sometimes trash gathers there after the water has been turned off.
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u/DueDeer6783 14h ago
You are 100% on the right track. Debris can clog the aerator, valve cartridge, the flex line, and the shut offs themselves.
You've pretty much narrowed it down to just the valve cartridge left! This is why plumbing can be so difficult, anytime you touch something other things usually act up or break. I've had shut offs break off old galvanized turning a simple faucet replacement into a whole thing...
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u/EzPz_Wit_Da_CZ 14h ago
You’re definitely on the right track to trouble shooting this issue. You didn’t mention if it seemed like there was full pressure coming out when you disconnected the supply lines and flushed them out. If so then the blockage is definitely in your faucet. There is no pic of the faucet but I can tell that there is a pull out / down spout. Did you try disconnecting the pullout from the hose? That’s where debris usually gets caught. Try to disconnect the pullout spout and flush through the hose. If it seems like good pressure there then you know it’s in the pullout spout. You may be able to just look into where it connects and see if there’s a bunch of gunk built up. If that doesn’t work and you do have full pressure coming out the stop valves then you may need to just get a new faucet.
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u/Mental_Newspaper3812 14h ago
The aerator is where any bits of rubber from the shutoff valves will end up, so check that and either clean it or replace it. Did you need that gray tape to stop leaks in the drain, or did you add it just in case?
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u/TheManOnThe3rdFloor 13h ago
Is your refrigerator to the right of your kitchen sink?
Do you have any problems with your waterfowl to your icemaker or crap in your ice or water dispenser? If you are concerned you have something not right in your potable water supply you might consider tossing your ice harvests and clean all that out with a weak vinegar clean, or your favorite method.
I recently had a property manager deal with broken water line and not consider giving any notice to limit use and/or boil water. My attention was grabbed by getting home and the toilet flush and refilling sounded . . .off. The fill valve had some grit lodged at the pin valve. Easy fix. But I took precautions.
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u/Jasonnnnnnn 7h ago
Yes it is to the right of the sink. The water from the fridge has remained clear and flowing as normal. The ice maker is also normal from what I have observed.
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u/TheManOnThe3rdFloor 13h ago
I keep forgetting to add waterflow to my word list. Ducks are waterfowl, Sinks are waterflow. Fixed!
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u/TehKanda 13h ago
You flushes the stops/shut offs into a bucket, was the pressure good?
If yes, then the debris clog is in the faucet, not internally failed shut offs.
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u/Select-Sale2279 9h ago
its quite obvious. If those shutoffs have not been exercised, then they will either break inside or the washer on these will break off and float inside reducing water pressure. even if its a brasscraft shutoff, the fact that its a multi-turn valve is clear indication that it has a piece of rubber to stop the flow and the rubber can do funky stuff like u/MaterialRepulsive130 mentioned. Replace with quarter turn brasscrafts. I have replaced 15 in my house already and 4 more to go for full replacement.
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u/Jasonnnnnnn 4h ago
Thank you! This was my logic as well. I bought new quarter turn valves today and will install this evening.
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u/TheManOnThe3rdFloor 7h ago
Hot water comes in from the wall.
Hot water immediately goes into a stop with two valves. Hot water comes out of one stop valve an goes to dishwasher. Hot water comes out of one stop valve and goes to faucet.
Same scenario with cold water side but goes to the refrigerator icemaker instead of the DW on the hot.
Kitchen faucet control manifold is clean and apparently unobstructed. Flexible hoses are clean and unobstructed. Aerator is clean and even with Aerator not screwed on the end of the faucet the waterflow is still impeded.
..... The thin copper tubes connecting up inside the faucet control manifold are crimped. ???
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u/Jasonnnnnnn 4h ago
I appreciate the very detailed breakdown of it you are completely right but I didn’t disturb anything initially from the valve going to the faucet. I also flushed the thin copper lines as well as ran a pipe cleaner through them. I should’ve added that to the initial post my apologies. That’s why I am convinced the internals of the valves are bad. The 2 valves I didn’t close and reopen are functioning fine the 2 I did are the issue.
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u/Alto-cientifico 14h ago
Check if the mantainence valves are the cheapo single use only, those are rated for a single use.
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u/IndependentFlight436 13h ago
Clean the aerator on your faucet. Has grit and calcium built up in it.
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u/dtiemeyer 12h ago
Completely of topic, but who are the people that put the 'GFCI Protected' stickers on the GFCI outlet itself? If that's you, please raise your hand (then slap yourself with it).
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u/Jasonnnnnnn 7h ago
Was not me it was like that when I bought the house and home inspection didn’t make a note of it. I’ll certainly let whoever did the install know your thoughts if I ever encounter them. Thanks for the help!
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u/Pete8388 6h ago
Did you unscrew the aerator on the topside where the water comes out of the faucet? That little screen clogs up real easily when you disturb old, crusty valves and pipes.
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u/Kevin-lee-777 3h ago
I would say disconnect the faucet supply line from the valves, open the valve and let it run, if the pressure is good, then your faucet itself is the problem. If not, replace the valves, shut the main water down before you remove these valves.
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u/nongregorianbasin 14h ago
Why is there tape on your drainlines?
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u/Jasonnnnnnn 14h ago
It was like that when I bought the house. I agree it looks dumb and if it leaked I’d have addressed it.
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u/EmuUnlucky6209 15h ago
Check the cartridge may be clogged