Can't fit any wrenches to under the handle to turn water off in my bathroom sink.

Submitted by Goe_Phaste t3_yhz557 in DIY

EDIT: Solved. A Basin wrench.

I actually don't know what the part is called, the one that is for hot or cold water on each side of the faucet. It's leaking so I either need to replace it or try to fix it. I tried so hard to undo the pipes or that big nut that hold the lever from the underside. No luck. No wrench fits there. Not sure what to do.

https://imgur.com/a/BCpMjZv

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Comments

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rededelk t1_iuggofe wrote

I think you need a basin wrench if I am understanding your question correctly

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rolltododge t1_iuglgs5 wrote

basin wrenches are a god-send

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JWKAtl t1_iuhiv8k wrote

Man, I hate those things. They slip off a lot of the time, and I always seem to get them backwards. But sometimes that's the only tool for the job, and I'm glad to have one.

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EntMe t1_iuhqla8 wrote

Seconded. I prefer using a crowfoot with an extension, and a swivel adapter if necessary. I do a bit of automotive work as well so I have them on hand. Plus, I really despise tools that only have one or so uses. They're dead weight. If I can rent such tools, that's the way to go. We need an Uber for tool sharing.

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duckyd t1_iuhvgdr wrote

Tool libraries are a thing in some places, look for one near you.

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EntMe t1_iuika7b wrote

Thanks for the recommendation. I looked at "The Tool Library" and found it to be a money grab. Paying a membership fee of ~$10/mo is bogus. That's a money grab - not a neighborhood tool sharing program intended to reduce and reuse. It seems some local libraries offer basic tools (tape measures, hammers...) for loan, but it's really the specialty tools or expensive tools that need such a program. I did find a library that offers 3D printers and laser cutter rentals - that's cool and would be useful if I didn't have them at work.

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ninjamike808 t1_iuho2l0 wrote

Try a faucet wrench next time. They’re not usually as long, but they’re much more secure in my experience.

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JWKAtl t1_iuhpi6k wrote

That does look like a nice alternative. But hopefully I'm good on faucet replacements for a while after two this weekend.

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Drackar39 t1_iukbqwv wrote

The slip's a double edged sword. Used as an asset, I've had situations where it saved me a lot of re-positioning. I've also had it cost me the skin of more than one knuckle.

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StepAwayFromTheDuck t1_iuh2ush wrote

Now this is something I’d like to have known 2 years ago when I replaced the faucet in our kitchen

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mai_knee_grows t1_iuj8by7 wrote

"Boy I wish I knew that ___ years ago" is pretty much my entire DIY experience.

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Goe_Phaste OP t1_iughfm9 wrote

Thanks this seems to be what I need

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FuzzyCrocks t1_iuhfggz wrote

Could unmount the sink from the wall, I did that instead of running to the store but then again I'm in the middle of nowhere

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GoldenRamoth t1_iuhza34 wrote

It's always time isn't it?

I'm 5 minutes from a home Depot, so I just get the right tool.

At my friend's house though, she's 60 minutes each way away from a tool store.

The differences in how you try to do the job are so stark.

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garfnodie t1_iugip67 wrote

I know the question has been answered, but here's a good video showing the various wrenches used for tight spaces under a sink.

https://youtu.be/qwaaL6cgvX0

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BDARmech t1_iugj2xl wrote

Although knowing what you need is good, knowing how to use what you need is better. Good call.

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Agouti t1_iui54om wrote

Crowfoot wrenches are what I've used. Much better for corroded nuts.

2

TVLL t1_iugqvjw wrote

Make sure to turn the water off below. The faucet only turns the water on/off at the faucet. You still have water under pressure just below the faucet. If you unscrew the faucet connection water is going to go everywhere.

Follow those lines down from the faucet and shut off the water at the valve they connect to. Then open the faucet to drain out any leftover water. Only then should you disconnect that line/lines from the faucet.

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JWKAtl t1_iuhiygb wrote

And if the water continues to flow then your shutoff valve is dead so you'll need to kill the water to the entire house

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lostarchitect t1_iuhlws1 wrote

And then also replace the faulty valve.

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PleaseBeginReplyWith t1_iuhopjf wrote

My shutoff valve at the curb is shitty and I lived in this house for 35 years before I realized there is shutoff valve IN. THE. HOUSE.

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JWKAtl t1_iuhp9uf wrote

Easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for.

We had to get a new whole house shutoff recently. I definitely had a pro do that one!

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GoldenRamoth t1_iuhzy4j wrote

I've never used a curb shutoff. Damn

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PleaseBeginReplyWith t1_iui0fkc wrote

One of those things that might be worth trying so you know how to do it so you can when shtf

Also natural gas if you've got that

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GoldenRamoth t1_iui0juq wrote

This is fair. I've got 3-4 mail water cutoffs in the basment at various points, but adding a #5 wouldn't be bad.

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JWKAtl t1_iuhpb6f wrote

Yep. I did that twice this weekend.

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Sluisifer t1_iujlmof wrote

And make sure it's the quarter-turn kind.

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BDARmech t1_iuggqfl wrote

Not sure which line your going for, but crows foot wrenches work in some tight places, harbor freight has them pretty cheap normally. There are basin wrenches too.

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Iron-Octopus t1_iugpgio wrote

Dude. Apparently a basin wrench is what I've been looking for all this time. A $20 tool just save me a $500 plumber bill. Thank you so much.

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BDARmech t1_iuguj7s wrote

Happy to help. Good luck, you got this.

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dfinberg t1_iuj0yld wrote

It won't work in all circumstances, but the "EZ change faucet wrench" or one of the many knockoffs is much easier to use than a basin wrench for weekenders. And for many simple sink jobs it's enough.

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Goe_Phaste OP t1_iughsn6 wrote

Thank you

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BartholomewBandy t1_iugn3kk wrote

There’s a reason harbor freight stuff is cheap…

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nsgiad t1_iugqda4 wrote

If it's some tool that you're only gonna use a few times, then HF is fine. If you break a HF tool, well you know that tool gets enough use to justify getting a more quality version.

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BDARmech t1_iuiduxi wrote

Their 1" earthquake impact worked better than the CP and IR impacts we had in our shop. Outlasted the others and no hassles or rebuilds when they failed. The earthquakes were normally about 350$ while the Ingersol's were over 1k each.

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nsgiad t1_iuilf3u wrote

The Torque Test Channel seems to have favorable reviews of their performance. For how little I would need an impact, I'd get a HF hands down.

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BDARmech t1_iuinu68 wrote

We had around 20 mechanics at any given time in our shop. Working on tractor trailers, and doing alot of tires. We would have a a few hundred a week delivered. With 10 lugs per tire, we ate through impacts and had more out of service waiting to be rebuilt or returned than serviceable.

That is until one of us bought our own, which was an earthquake that was on sale. Instead of having 5 or 6 Ingersol or Chicago pneumatic on the floor being used, we all wound up sharing that one. It self destructed at some point, but it impressed all of us. The company made up keep the overpriced Ingersol's on the floor, but we had 4 or so earthquakes and solely used those for a few years.

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azuth89 t1_iugo4m9 wrote

At the torque level most water fittings use it's fine for a one - three time job around the house even if no pro should touch them.

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ClitusLickus t1_iuh5for wrote

Meh. They get the job done and cheaply. Cheap enough that I have some more expensive stuff that's barely used.

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Controllerpleb t1_iuhqguf wrote

Honestly, they've been doing really good job lately. I wouldn't buy a bearing press or a trailer from them, but stuff like wrenches and sockets and even some other power tools are just fine these days

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Z0mbiejay t1_iui0rgx wrote

I beat the ever living shit out of one of their combo screwdrivers for years working outside a lot. Figured I didn't want to spend $20 on a good name brand just to lose it in the snow knowing my luck.

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4_jacks t1_iui8vhz wrote

The older I get the more I become a fan of "the right tool for the job" kinda guy.

I've installed and fixed probably 30 faucets in my life and just this year spent the $12 on a basin wrench instead of tinking around with a crescent wrench turning it 1/12th of a rotation and repositioning it.

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jet_heller t1_iugi3cq wrote

Wait. You can't turn the water off? That's done at the shutoff that should be easy to get to and have a nice knob/lever thing on it. If you don't have that, you need to turn the water off elsewhere before you can take the pipes off.

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Goe_Phaste OP t1_iugvoe1 wrote

There is another valve but the faucet lever is leaking so when I close the water, it doesn't close all the way.

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jet_heller t1_iuhjyqy wrote

You may have to close both water shutoffs before you unscrew any pipes behind them.

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SchwiftyMpls t1_iugiprm wrote

This doesn't have a shut off valve.

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jet_heller t1_iugivho wrote

We don't SEE a shutoff valve.

But regardless, before anyone uses a wrench on anything we do see, the water needs to be shutoff.

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SchwiftyMpls t1_iugj9v6 wrote

Well yes likely the whole unit will need to be shut off. It's best practice to shut off the main. I've had two stubouts break off in the wall while trying to shut off valves in the last two years.

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tucci007 t1_iugq4ij wrote

I remember when I discovered the basin wrench and my world exploded with possibilities

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v0nz1973 t1_iuggq6f wrote

Look up faucet wrench

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Background-Ad-343 t1_iui8tp4 wrote

That's one thing that has never changed in the 30 years that I have been doing contracting.Accessing taps have always been a huge pain in the ass lol.I just quit messing around from underneath and opt to pull the sinks off the vanities instead, unless it's an outdated home and they still have copper.

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Kinggambit90 t1_iugmiye wrote

Wow ive had the same issue for so long. Thanks for posting your solution

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Jsm0520 t1_iuh8j57 wrote

Yup does the job

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chocki305 t1_iui6q1w wrote

Maybe a crowfoot wrench.

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sonofnom t1_iuiin4v wrote

Ridgid makes a decent one I used often as a plumber.

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childofgod_zilla t1_iuita9l wrote

If you have a set of cowbells you can disconnect the supply line and run it up the line. Cowbells are stackable so you should be able to get it far enough down the line to get purchase with a wrench

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hereforthn t1_iuix693 wrote

I’ve learned there is usually a tool for the job. Nothing should be as complicated as it seems. Just gotta take a step and think. Also, people often forget that Ridgid tools started / has a specialty in plumbing tools. Most are now offered at Home Depot as Ridgid (hi end) or Husky (consumer grade).

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northcaliman t1_iukasjs wrote

Isn’t the water shut off right by your camera?

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Haywood_jablowmeeee t1_iuiu65b wrote

Engineers who design this stuff should be pushed off a cliff.

0

[deleted] t1_iugroc6 wrote

I don't know why you guys don't use stop taps. So much easier.

https://www.reece.com.au/search/valves-c231/mini-stops-c928

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3-2-1-backup t1_iugy9el wrote

Not sure, but that just looks like a standard shutoff valve. That's the thing that the hoses for the sink attach to, yeah? If so then they're common. (Not sure if they're required, but almost always are present.)

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[deleted] t1_iugyia7 wrote

Not required, but so much easier when the are.

In Australia, they are wall mounted directly into the 1/2" brass connection.

Into the stop tap the flexible hose is connected that does to the actual tap on the basin.

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rvgoingtohavefun t1_iuhzsex wrote

These are pretty common under sinks and for toilets here. I can't say I've encountered a sink or toilet without them.

The older ones are all gate valves; they leak if you close them and open them again, much like a regular seldom-used gate valve would do. I don't trust them.

To avoid hassle I turn off the nearest inline ball valve. If there is a threaded gate valve at the fixture, I'll replace it with a ball valve style. Generally if I'm replacing some at-fixture plumbing I'm not interested in having to sweat anything to get the job done.

Every time I shut off a gate valve it ends up leaking when I turn it back on and I have to replace it. I have an couple extra ball valves laying around in case I decide I'm a fucking idiot and turn one of the gate valves off.

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Frittzy1960 t1_iugua5k wrote

Been saying this for the 2 decades I've been here - had these in the UK but we called them Penny Valves coz you turned them on and off with a penny. $14 for a pair of valves and it makes life SO much easier.

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Pinktail t1_iuh0ef6 wrote

For a moment I read wenches...was totally confused 😅

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