haha i think i've asked for plumbing help before (but can't find the thread).

i have a tap at the sink, the kind where the lever pushes back and pulls forward to turn on/off the water. well the mechanism that allows the ball to push/pull snapped in two and it needs to be replaced.

i suppose i can manage to buy a new piece, turn off the water, but have no idea how to remove the existing tap. i think it's glued down to the counter and i can't see any screws at all (i guess they are under the plate).

is this something i can manage by myself (haha, i'm even laughing at that one) or do i have to call a plumber to install a new one?

Depends on how handy you are, and what kind of tools you have. Replacing a faucet isn't too difficult.

Most likely you will just need a ratchet wrench with a deep-socket set.

The nuts, holding the faucet, are accessed from underneath. You'll have to crawl under and have a look with a flashlight

When you go to Home Depot, or Lowe's or wherever, stop by the book/magazine rack and look for a how-to book on plumbing. You don't necessarily have to buy it, just page thru and find your particular task. You'll know by reading it, wheter it is simple enough for you, or not. Those books are about $20, but I've found them to be invaluable when working on a home project. So if you plan on doing it yourself, it may be worth the extra $20. Still cheaper than a plumber.

Eureka!!!!

that helps a lot

i was thinking about taking a photo of the faucet and bringing that into lowe's or home depot as i'm not sure if there's a particular size that i have to replace it with.

handy? hahahahahhahahahaahah. i'm utterly useless.

They may have to actually SEE the old faucet in their hand, but I think they are all pretty standard, so just a picture might work.

well thank you lewis, i appreciate the help. even that much put me in a better position than i was.

By the way, if you have a Home Depot, I have found them to be a little more helpful. They will usually employee an actual plumber in their plumbing department that you can run stuff by. Yeah, there's the usual young dumb kids that don't know anything, too, but if you specifically ask for a plumber, they might have one.

Our local Ace Hardware is good for that too. He hires a bunch of old, retired handymen, that seem to know everything.

No problem.

Not the thread I was expecting to find in the Recipe forum.

He does have a wonderful recipe for Hashbrown Casserole....

Haha. You know it, bro. You cannot go wrong with it. In fact, I just made it tonight, so I can put it in the oven tomorrow morning, for a pot-luck, at work.

hey, it says 'home' & garden too.

i suppose i could have said 'f@cking faucet' and put in the sex thread.

I have a feeling you would have got an entirely different response...

Yeah, your right. I guess I always just come her for the recipes.

Apparently my short attention span doesn't even allow me to read an entire title.

Guessing Robin isn't a plumber?

I'm not a plumber, Lisa, but you do not have to remove the whole body.

Just above the base, there is a (i'm assuming) chrome bell housing?

The handle is usually held in place with an allen srew. (set screw)

Loosen that and remove the handle (after you've turned off the water)

Once the handle is gone, you will need to remove the bell. I recommend wrapping it with a wet cloth, (preferably a rag) and using a pair of Channel lock pliers, turn the bell counter clockwise. Remove the divertor (ball). (paying attn to the placement). Underneath that, you will see three rubber "o" rings. (the replacement kit for your faucet will come with all the springs and rings. Just pay attn to the order you remove them, installation is the reverse of removal.

That is your cheapest way out. If you want to replace the entire faucet, i recommend a plumber, or someone that has experience. Those lines are high above the back of the basin, and require a special crowfoot wrench to remove and replace.

(and hi to Robin!)

thanks mark, i'm hoping that's all it is. however, when i try to turn off the water, it doesn't work. there's only one valve that i see underneath, should there be two?

i was hoping i could go and buy the parts and have a friend install it when he drops off his daughter for my kid's birthday party on the weekend.

yes there should be two shut off valves, one for hot and one for cold, it's actually code to have them, and you should install one for cases such as these, now you'll have to trace the lines in the basement and shut them off from there, in some older houses you'll need to shut the main valve off (all the water in the house) because they aren't up to code...Everyone thus far has given you the correct info, they also make a special tool that removes the nuts from underneath the faucet hardware, but if the hardware is newer, the nuts may or should be hard plastoc, however Mark gave you the easy way out. Personally I'd teplace the entire piece, because once it goes bad, it's bad......the newer ones are so easy to install even a dummy like me can do it, and I'm and old school plumber

trace the pipes? Good Lord!!

i went to buy a faucet and was told that Moen has a lifetime warranty so i might just go ahead and call them and see what they say.

or, i might just as easy take up my friend's offer of coming by with one he has and letting him install it.