There can be lots of places for leaks to develop under bathroom sinks. One of the most common places is where the pop-up stopper arm enters the drain. If the nut that holds this arm in place is too tight, it will be very difficult to move the control arm up and down. If the nut is too loose the stopper won’t stay in the down position, making it difficult for water to stay in the sink, and small amounts of leaking can be expected.
When the attachment nut becomes completely detached, as in the following picture, a great deal of leaking can occur.
Charles Buell
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Great tip! It seems like a problem area on a older homes in My area!
Brent, it is hard to believe how people put up with stoppers that won't stay in the down position when a simple twist of the lock nut makes everything better.
Ha!!
I think you just saved me a call to the plumber!! right on!
Paul, cool, I think this little hint will be useful to a great many people here in the rain:)
Charles - I wish I had known you when I bought my house over two years ago. My kitchen (not bathroom) sink was clogged to the point of no turning back. I worked up quite the sweat (literally) plunging my heart away... but to no avail. I even wrote a post about it back in the day, tongue in cheek of course:)
I must say, I just love being subscribed to a Home Inspector... I've already learned a heck of a lot!
Jason, did you like the title? Remember that movie "Airplane?"
Loved it:) And here's my favorite character from "Airplane".
Good tip Charles. Every once in a while I have a seller that will follow me around on an inspection. that is one thing that always get the "that has leaked for forever" phrase. Twist it back on and good as new a lot of times.
Jason, I think one would have to be pretty much "crashed" to watch that move without laughing:)
Ian, sometimes they can be tightened easier than they can be written up----unless they have been leaking of course:)
Charles - Leak? I don't see no leak...
Isn't there a wish bone in there somewhere?
Jay, you got your "no leak" glasses on again?:)
Really good picture Charles. See that all the time.
Oops, you mean you're supposed to screw that thing on?
Jack, I agree----very common defect.
Jim, yup:)
"If the nut that holds this arm in place is too tight"
Mr Charles,
Is that a reference to you when you have been imbibing.
Your curious friend, Nutsy
It was fine before you got there... you must have broke it... that darn inspector.
The house was in mint condition before the inspector got here, it says so right there in the listing sheet. :)
Charles, All you need to do is spray Acme's new product, "NO LEAK" on the fitting and Voila! all your drips are history! Don't know if the stopper will close or not but then, what are wash clothes for?
Your building consultant in Brentwood, TN ~~ Michael.
Nutsy, whenever the word "nut" is used in any post of mine please imediately defer to your own mirror.
Jim----too true:)
Michael, will you send me a can of that stuff? Send the bill to Nutsy----he owes me.
as always, thanks for the education-I like learning new to me stuff- cw
Thanks Cheryl (my favorite student) Willis-----where you been hiding lately?
Oh fun -- I think the one on my bathroom sink is too tight! I'm going to figure it out based on this post!
Mr Charles,
I resemble that comment.
Your closest bud, Nutsy
Alexsandra----I hope there is going to be a bucket involved:)
Nutsy---you sure do.
Or the drain lever could be installed in such a way it self-taps its own hole in the drainpipe.
Joshua---nice----too funny!
Loose nuts can cause all sorts of leaks.