Loose kitchen faucet

sz...@hotmail.com

unread,

Nov 13, 2014, 6:12:38 AM11/13/14

to

Hi,

We have a Delta kitchen faucet that is very loose.

It looks a lot like this one:

http://media.photobucket.com/user/cozykat/media/house/decor/DSC02162.jpg.html

When I try to swivel the faucet left to right the base is moving along with the faucet. The entire base if very loose.

I looked underneath the sink and was hard to get a look at the underside of the faucet from the cabinet so I took a photo with my iphone. I can see that there are some screws that may be loose.

Also the faucet doesn't move back and forth very easily now. It seems like the hose and the hot and cold water feeds are not sitting right and it is not moving freely.

Can a person with very little plumbing skills fix this? It's going to be hard to get at those screws because there isn't much room to work with under that cabinet. I am reasonably handy and can snake drains and take traps apart and fix broken toilet bowl valves and easy things like that but I've never done any big plumbing jobs.

I would appreciate any suggestions on how to fix this and if I should just get a plumber in to do the job.

Thanks in advance.

Steve

philo

unread,

Nov 13, 2014, 7:57:35 AM11/13/14

to

I'm sure you can fix it yourself. why not post the photo you took with
your iphone.

David L. Martel

unread,

Nov 13, 2014, 8:08:30 AM11/13/14

to

Steve,

Delta has really good customer service. Installing these kitchen faucets
is often an easy DIY job though sometimes space, under the sink, may be
limiting. If you need small hands get one of the kids to do it.

If you need immediate assistance, call the Delta Help Line at
1-800-345-DELTA (3358).

The Delta Help Line is available:
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. EST
Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. EST

It sounds to me as if you need the manual for your faucet, which is a
"Debonair", I think. The manual will have the installation instructions.

Dave M.

trader_4

unread,

Nov 13, 2014, 9:25:49 AM11/13/14

to

Single hole faucets like that are held on by a large nut on the threaded
shaft that goes into the sink. Never seen one held on by screws. If
you look underneath and have someone wiggle it, what's going on should be
obvious. Just tighten the nut with pliers.

Terry Coombs

unread,

Nov 13, 2014, 11:37:47 AM11/13/14

to

Gotta disagree here , trader . Most every single lever faucet I've ever
worked on had a pair of studs coming thru the sink holes where the supply
lines would be on a 2 handle unit . Often all that is needed is a deep
socket to fit the nuts and enough extensions on the ratchet handle to get
below the sink bottom . OP may want to loosen them first and work some more
plumbers putty under the faucet base , it's probably mostly been worked out
by the movement . Not good to have water getting past the base , can cause
real problems in the sink cabinet ... and damage to the countertop if it's
formica-clad particle board .
--
Snag

Hellena Ismara Haikbanh

unread,

Nov 13, 2014, 11:50:49 AM11/13/14

to

Harry K

unread,

Nov 13, 2014, 11:56:14 AM11/13/14

to

A "basin wrench" may do it but I don't think they close down enough for small nuts. It should be an item in every DIY tool box.

Harry K

nestork

unread,

Nov 13, 2014, 12:17:19 PM11/13/14

to

sz...@hotmail.com;3308054 Wrote:
>
> We have a Delta kitchen faucet that is very loose.
> It looks a lot like this one:
>

Instead of showing us what your faucet looks like, if you could post a
picture of the underside of the faucet behind the sink, that would be
better.

As was noted earlier, single hole faucets like that normally just have a
bolt and nut that tightens up under the counter top to secure the faucet
in place.

Generally, one would tighten that nut with a socket wrench with an
extension bar on it.

--
nestork

Ameri...@sbcglobal.net

unread,

Nov 14, 2014, 12:35:58 AM11/14/14

to

If installed as in the photo, without the escutcheon plate, the faucet is attached underneath with a single nut that is hand tightened. Then, there are two Phillips locking screws to tighten. Link to the Delta faucet, page 3:
http://www.deltafaucet.com/customersupport/documentation/16927-sd-dst.html?document=mi&documentIndex=0#flashWrapper
This is a small job if you can get under the sink. Reach up to hand tighten then use a flashlight to find the screws.

TimR

unread,

Nov 14, 2014, 8:29:35 AM11/14/14

to

It's not a hard job. Older faucets like mine had tiny nuts holding it on, I replaced it with a much easier large nylon nut. Those little ones always rust.

You need good light. I use a headlamp. And one of those bendy Nite-Eze
gumbies.

Little tiny screws and bits of metal will fall out. They will land in your eye. Remain calm. Your natural reaction will be a reflexive jerk that will bash your face into the drain pipe.

Do not allow your children near by. You will say bad words that they will gleefully post on youtube.

Harry K

unread,

Nov 14, 2014, 11:01:45 AM11/14/14

to

On Friday, November 14, 2014 5:29:35 AM UTC-8, TimR wrote:
> It's not a hard job. Older faucets like mine had tiny nuts holding it on, I replaced it with a much easier large nylon nut. Those little ones always rust.

<snip>

Yes they do. About 2 years ago I turned on (or tried to) the kitchen faucet and the whole thing came right off the sink. All the parts that held it down had rusted away.

Yes, I called a plumber. At my age I am past laying on my back under a sink :).

Harry K

larrymo...@my-deja.com

unread,

Nov 16, 2014, 6:49:27 AM11/16/14

to

On Thursday, November 13, 2014 4:12:38 AM UTC-7, sz...@hotmail.com wrote:

> We have a Delta kitchen faucet that is very loose.

> http://media.photobucket.com/user/cozykat/media/house/decor/DSC02162.jpg.html

> When I try to swivel the faucet left to right the base is moving along with the faucet. The entire base if very loose.

http://www.deltafaucet.com/customersupport/documentation/16927-sssd-dst.html?document=mi&fromDetailArea=kitchen&documentIndex=0#flashWrapper

There's a big nut under the sink that holds the faucet in place.
It has to be tightened, but first you have to loosen two lock
screws that hold it in place. Retighten them after you tighten the
big nut.

I noticed some photos of Moen faucets. They're good unless they
leak because repair normally requires removing their cylindrical
cartridge, and it often becomes stuck because of mineral build-up.
Google "stuck Moen" to see how difficult it can be to remove and
how the factory recommendations and usual removal tools are often
completely useless. Because of this, I'd choose one of these
Moen faucets only where the whole faucet can be replaced fairly
easily, like a sink, and definitely not in a shower or bathtub, where
the faucet is installed in a wall. However some of the newer Moen
designs dispense with the cylindrical cartridge and use a much easier
to remove ceramic cartridge.

trader_4

unread,

Nov 16, 2014, 8:03:58 AM11/16/14

to

I guess it depends on your definition of "single hole". To me,
that means a real single hole sink. There are no holes where traditional
faucets would be. The whole purpose is for a clean look. What you're
talking about are retrofit schemes where it has a wide base plate that
covers the no longer used holes. In that case, I guess they do use the
old holes to secure it. But you then could not use that faucet in a true
one hole sink. I have a one hole sink, there is no base plate, just the
faucet coming directly out of the one hole. I'd call the other type a
"single hole look".

In any case, what's holding it, what's loose should be obvious by crawling
underneath with a flashlight.

trader_4

unread,

Nov 16, 2014, 8:06:24 AM11/16/14

to

PS: After posting this, I went back and looked at the pic the OP posted
of what he's talking about. That is indeed a one hole faucet, like I have,
and there is no baseplate, holes, studs where the traditional faucets would
go. It's held on by one big nut.

nestork

unread,

Nov 16, 2014, 2:17:15 PM11/16/14

to

'Terry Coombs[_2_ Wrote:
> ;3308223']

> Gotta disagree here , trader . Most every single lever faucet I've ever
>
> worked on had a pair of studs coming thru the sink holes where the
> supply
> lines would be on a 2 handle unit .

I expect every single lever faucet will come with a wide 8" C-C base as
an accessory so that it can be retrofitted to counter tops or sinks with
existing two handle faucets. Otherwise, people wouldn't buy that single
lever faucet because it would leave two wide open gaping holes in their
counter top or kitchen sink.

Terry, I expect what you've seen are those accessories for covering
those 8" C-C holes, but the faucet can be installed without that base
accessory.

--
nestork

trader_4

unread,

Nov 16, 2014, 5:41:38 PM11/16/14

to

Makes sense. I also should correct something I said. I said the
faucet the OP has is held on by a large nut on the faucet where it
goes through the one hole. I'm not sure it's actually a large nut
that larger than the hole itself. It's been a long time since I put
mine in. And now I vaguely recall that maybe there is a piece that
goes underneath and then a smaller nut tightens up against it to hold
it. That would also be easier to deal with than a large nut.

But in any case, as I said before, if he crawls under with a flashlight
and takes a look, it should be obvious what holds it and what needs to
be tightened. Also, if the exact faucet can be indentified, there are
likely install intructions and/or parts diagrams that show what's going on.

nestork

unread,

Nov 16, 2014, 10:17:13 PM11/16/14

to

trader_4;3309385 Wrote:
>
> I also should correct something I said. I said the
> faucet the OP has is held on by a large nut on the faucet where it
> goes through the one hole. I'm not sure it's actually a large nut

> that's (sic) larger than the hole itself.

No, my sister's has a steel bracket that goes across a hole about 1 1/2
inches in diameter, and a small stainless steel nut (about a 9/16 inch
nut IIRC) that clamps the bracket onto the counter top or sink.

That's because a smaller nut can be tightened with a socket wrench and
enough extension bars to reach the nut, but a large nut would require
using something like channel lock pliers in confined space of poor
accessibility where using such a tool would be difficult. It's simply
easier to install the faucet with a bracket and small nut.

--
nestork

Harry K

unread,

Nov 17, 2014, 2:49:09 PM11/17/14

to

A 'basin wrench' deals with those large nuts quite easily.

Harry K

Harry K

unread,

Nov 17, 2014, 2:50:29 PM11/17/14

to

Two words "basin wrench"

Harry K

nestork

unread,

Nov 17, 2014, 5:17:13 PM11/17/14

to

Harry K;3309703 Wrote:
>
> Two words "basin wrench"
> Harry K

Harry:
Two words:
"Don't talk."

You can't use a basin wrench to tighten the 9/16" nut on my sister's
faucet because the copper water supply pipes are in the way. You can't
even get a basin wrench onto that nut.

You have to use a socket (with extensions). That's about the only
practical way to do it. You don't even have room to turn a small box
end wrench between the sink and the wall behind the sink.

--
nestork

Moe DeLoughan

unread,

Nov 17, 2014, 5:24:06 PM11/17/14

to

I replaced my kitchen faucet a couple of weeks ago. Before tackling
the job, I looked online for advice, since everybody has ideas that I
haven't thought of. The first suggestion was brilliant: make sure the
local hardware store is open when you start the job, since you may
have to run to the store for stuff. Good advice for any home DIY task.

It was also (correctly) pointed out that installing the new faucet is
the easier part of the job; getting the old faucet out is often much
more of a challenge.

TimR

unread,

Nov 18, 2014, 11:24:01 AM11/18/14

to

On Monday, November 17, 2014 5:24:06 PM UTC-5, Moe DeLoughan wrote:
> On 11/14/2014 10:01 AM, Harry K wrote:
> > On Friday, November 14, 2014 5:29:35 AM UTC-8, TimR wrote:
> >> It's not a hard job. Older faucets like mine had tiny nuts holding it on, I replaced it with a much easier large nylon nut. Those little ones always rust.
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> > Yes they do. About 2 years ago I turned on (or tried to) the kitchen faucet and the whole thing came right off the sink. All the parts that held it down had rusted away.
> >
> > Yes, I called a plumber. At my age I am past laying on my back under a sink :).
> >
>
> I replaced my kitchen faucet a couple of weeks ago. Before tackling
> the job, I looked online for advice, since everybody has ideas that I
> haven't thought of. The first suggestion was brilliant: make sure the
> local hardware store is open when you start the job, since you may
> have to run to the store for stuff. Good advice for any home DIY task.

May? You gotta be kidding.

The MINIMUM trips for a DIY plumbing job is 3: one to buy the parts you think you need, the next one to buy the parts it turns out you really need, the next one to replace the parts you broke or dropped somewhere you can't get them out of.

There IS NO maximum number of trips.

PS. The pros are laughing, but they shouldn't. They do the same thing, except they've got more parts on their truck and don't have to go to the store.

trader_4

unread,

Nov 18, 2014, 3:21:45 PM11/18/14

to

On Sunday, November 16, 2014 6:49:27 AM UTC-5, larrymo...@my-deja.com wrote:
> On Thursday, November 13, 2014 4:12:38 AM UTC-7, sz...@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> > We have a Delta kitchen faucet that is very loose.
>
> > http://media.photobucket.com/user/cozykat/media/house/decor/DSC02162.jpg.html
>
> > When I try to swivel the faucet left to right the base is moving along with the faucet. The entire base if very loose.
>
> http://www.deltafaucet.com/customersupport/documentation/16927-sssd-dst.html?document=mi&fromDetailArea=kitchen&documentIndex=0#flashWrapper
>
> There's a big nut under the sink that holds the faucet in place.
> It has to be tightened, but first you have to loosen two lock
> screws that hold it in place. Retighten them after you tighten the
> big nut.
>

A big nut and then two lock screws to hold the nut. Is this a faucet
or the landing gear on a 777?

larrymo...@my-deja.com

unread,

Nov 19, 2014, 12:57:53 AM11/19/14

to

I'm guessing Moen did that because the big nut can't be tightened
enough by hand, there may not be enough room to turn slip joint
pliers in the narrow space between the back of the sink and the
kitchen cabinet, and few homeowners have a big flare nut socket
or crow's foot socket for the nut. OTOH almost everybody has a
screwdriver to tighten a couple of smaller screws.

trader_4

unread,

Nov 19, 2014, 6:29:31 AM11/19/14

to

I'm having a hard time visualizing this. If the large nut can't be
tightened enough, then how are two lock nuts that hold that nut going
to secure it? If it's loose and you lock it, it's still loose.

I think the one hole faucets I've seen have been like Nestor says,
ie they use a metal part that's cup like, larger than the hole, that goes over
the part of the faucet that comes through the sink and then they use a
smaller 5/8" or so nut to tighten that up.

Ameri...@sbcglobal.net

unread,

Nov 19, 2014, 9:39:21 AM11/19/14

to

After all these posts is Steve, the OP, still paying attention? By now the job is either finished or he has decided to call a plumber.

Harry K

unread,

Nov 20, 2014, 1:03:45 AM11/20/14

to

I already mentioned that one won't work on small nuts. My last post was in reply to a "big nut" problem.

Harry K

rak...@gmail.com

unread,

Jan 6, 2018, 7:27:10 PM1/6/18

to

If the nut is about one inch in size, try this Delta RP60924 Wrench.