water leak

Five Most Common Problems With Bathroom Faucets ~ Blog

Ok, today I wanted to show you the five most common problems with vanity bathroom faucets such as the (Price Pfister) one you see here.

One of the most often problems is a leak from the handle. Now if you are seeing a leak from the top of the handle, I am going to take this off just to show you, taking this sort of pretaking this apart with a flat blade knife and than pull the screw out. Just to make it faster.

If it is leaking from the handle it’s usually an O ring inside the top of the cartridge here. That’s one problem.

The next problem is if you have a leak from the spout. If you have a leak from the spout it’s often the bibb washer underneath here.
and that bibb washer needs to be replaced.

Now one nice upgrade you can do is to use a ceramic disc cartridge
which this one has already been done. Converted to a ceramic disc cartridge.

Here is a link https://amzn.to/2GFviej (Amazon Link) to a ceramic disc cartridge that works well for “Price Pfister” two handle bathroom or kitchen faucets.

It’s kind of nice in that it doesn’t have the same squeezing affect as a bibb washer. But anyway the most often cause of a dripping tap is from the bibb washer.

The third most common problem with vanity faucets is low flow or taking a long time to heat and what that most often is is a aerator. Now it doesn’t always appear so, you don’t always see the low flow but a lot of times that’s the cause.

First thing to check when you are having
it take a long time to get hot or you’re seeing low flow at your tap
is to change the aerator.

Fourth most common problem with vanity faucets is a leak from the supply line so looking down underneath here what you want to do is check it at all your fitting connections and feel for any leaks at all the connection points and that way make sure that your supply line is not leaking.

And the fifth most common source of trouble spots for the vanity faucet is the angle stop itself. so you want to feel in between. In between there at all of the fitting connections. You can see there’s a nut here that tightens down here sometimes this can be tightened. you want to use two wrenches if you have got a leak there.

And that is the five most common problems with vanity faucets.

Posted by Kung Fu Maintenance in The KFM Blog, Tips, 0 comments

Seven Smart Steps to Lower Cooling Bills, Improve Air Quality, and Preserve Air Condition Units

Clean Condensor Coils.

First pull the A/C disconnect and discharge the capacitor. Next rinse the coils with a garden hose and hand sprayer (make sure the spray is not too strong to avoid bending the condenser fins) starting from the inside fins thru the lid, spray as much of the dirt to the outside. Avoid getting the fan condenser motor wet but do rinse off the blades as needed. Next clean off the outside of the fins with the spray spraying straight but angle downward. Avoid spraying sideways to prevent bending the fins. Next apply the coil cleaner with a garden sprayer or by following manufacturer’s recommendations. Wait manufacturers recommended time (usually about five minutes) and rinse the coils inside and out thoroughly.

Mechanics and Methods of Air Conditioner Repair

Artwork diagram from the book Kung Fu Maintenance

Clean Evaporator Coils.

A no rinse evaporator coil cleaner is the easiest way to clean the evaporator coil. Spray it on the coils turn on the evaporator coil. Reset the panel door turn on the A/C and wait the manufacturers recommended time (usually between five and thirty minutes).

Replace  Air Filters.

Replace filters every three months and every month if possible during higher use seasons. If you or a family member suffer from allergies use a HEPA filter. HEPA stands for high efficiency particle arrestor. The HEPA filter catches smaller particles so your noses and lungs don’t have to.

Clear Condensate Pans, Drains,  and Lines.

Use a wet dry vacuum to vacuum out the pan and lines. On some systems you may need to hook up a smaller hose to the wet dry suction to get better access to the pan. You can make a quick rig for this with a small length of plastic hose and duct tape. Just insert two to three foot length of hose into wet dry vacuum suction hose end and duct tape in place wrapping the tape around the union covering all gaps (makeshift reducer coupling).

Add Condensate Tablets to Drain Pans.

Good condensate pan tablets contain rust and mold inhibitors. They also contain an anti-coagulant that keeps the dirt from clumping together and clogging your condensate drain. They will help preserve the life of your condensate drain pan as well as help keep the air you and your guests are breathing healthier and better smelling.

Tape all Areas of Air Leakage at Air Handler.

Apply HVAC foil tape or other HVAC rated tape to seal any open joints. Use an old dollar bill or a paper towel to locate any air leakage whether blowing out or sucking in. Hold the dollar bill or paper by one end and see if the other end is affected, either sucked towards or blown away from the air handler when you move it around the system. That is a one dollar or less air leak locator. Seal off any leakages with tape to improve the efficiency of the system.

Check for Fifteen to Twenty Degree Split.

Turn on the system and wait five to ten minutes for the pressures to equalize. Test the temperature going in the intake vent and then test the temperature coming out of one of the registers. If you have two thermometers, set one up at each, and take your readings. If your reading coming out of the register is fifteen to twenty degrees cooler then the air being sucked into the intake then your refrigerant charge is ok. If not then your system will need to be charged and the refrigerant leak located (most often at a Schrader valve, I cover this and many other factors in my book Kung Fu Maintenance). If you are not EPA certified you will need the services of a qualified HVAC technician.

~~~ Stay Cool ~~

~~~~~~ Kung Fu Maintenance ~~~~~

Posted by Kung Fu Maintenance in Air Conditions, The KFM Blog, Tips, 0 comments