Sink issues

[shanks]

I had my new-to-me Fleetwood E2 out this last weekend for its maiden voyage. The weather was a little cool but all-in-all we faired well. I discovered 2 problems with my sink that I hope someone here has answers for.

1. The faucet has a slow leak when turned off with the water pump on. It only drips about once every couple of seconds but caused the water pump to cycle on a couple of times during the night.

2. I have a leak around the sink drain. Is there supposed to be a rubber gasket between the lip of the drain and the sink bottom? IT looks like there is some silicone sealant around it now that has deteriorated enough to leak. I ended up with a wet cabinet under the sink after using it to wash hands/dishes.

Thanks for any help.

Shanks

[wayner]

Not sure about one.... maybe a washer or something somewhere...  

but two gave me problems last spring when I set up for the first time.   just carefully loosen that nut under the sink and get some plumbers putty around the edge of the sink drain, sit the drain pipe back in it and tighten that nut up again good and snug... just becareful, too tight and (if it's plastic, mine was) it will snap...


have fun

[austinado16]

Sounds like you need to replace the washers in the faucet.

Yes, plumber's putty goes under the sink drain flange.  My suggestion would be to completely remove that center drain piece, clean the underside and the mating surface on the sink basin, and then apply a thin (1/4") "rope" of plumber's putty.  Once the big nut underneath is snugged down, and the putty has squished out, take a butter knife, or similar dull tool and remove the excess.  You might get more excess in the next few weeks as the drain flange settles more into the putty....but that's no big deal, just peel it off.

[shanks]

Thanks for the help. I'll pick up some plumber's putty and take care of the drain this weekend. Does anyone know how to take the faucet apart and where to get the washers for it?

Shanks

[PattieAM]

The faucets on the PUP's are pretty much plastic, and easy to re-seat.  If you uncap the handle, unscrew the handle and lift out the cartridge, you will most likely see a spring with a black rubber washer-like thing which might have some scum on it.  Clean that, reseat it with the spring, clean the cartridge (light rinse), and re-seat that, put the handle back on and screw it down, and then try your faucet with the pump - should be okay now.  I have to do this periodically with both the sink faucet (hot and cold) as well as my shower faucet.  I do now use a water filter on my hose (city hookup), and drain my fresh water tank periodically to hopefully eliminate the scum that seems to build up.

Plumbers putty is the best solution for your sink drain.

[wavery]

You can pick up a sink drain seal at Home Depot. It's best to take the sink drain out completely. Clean both surfaces and put a new (rubber) seal on it. Put the drain back in and snug up the nut.

If you don't remove all of the old silicone (or whatever is under there) you may soon be leaking again.