Fittings & Fixtures

Plumbing fittings & fixtures are the means for safely using water in the home. These are the valves, faucets, toilets, shower heads, drain stoppers and basins of your plumbing system. Over time, fittings & fixtures can wear out so they are usually made to be replaceable. They are not buried in the structure so they are much easier to access for repairs, servicing and replacement. This also makes them easier to change, tinker-with and tweak to meet various changes in fashion, needs and budgets.

There are literally millions of different shapes, styles, colors and materials, fixtures and associated trim. Almost, but not quite enough to meet the demands of every consumer.

Porcelain

The fixture parts of fittings & fixtures are the devices we modern humans have developed to hold and use the water that comes into our homes. Most plumbing fixtures are porcelain. Porcelain fixtures are easy to clean, don’t rust and are attractive looking. Fixtures made of porcelain enamel are brittle and can be damaged with a sharp blow from a heavy object. Porcelain enamel can also be scratched by abrasives, so care is needed when cleaning it.

An HPS client once accidentally dropped a make up jar into their bathroom vanity and it went completely through the bottom and into the cabinet below. Never stand in a bathtub wearing shoes unless you have placed a protective layer of newspaper over the bottom of the tub. Tiny particles of dirt on the soles can permanently scratch the enamel. When performing any repair or construction working around fixtures, be sure that you protect them from impacts or paint drips. Clean splattered paint off any porcelain enamel surface by wiping it up immediately. If a spot dries before you notice it… don’t scrape it off with razor blades or sandpaper. Instead use a recommended solvent.

Fixture types

Types of fixtures include toilets, sinks, bathtubs, showers and bidets. Fixtures are intended for long, durable use exposed to water on a constant basis, so they tend to be made of materials that resist rust, erosion and water staining. Porcelain is such a material as is plastic, fiberglass, tile, marble, glass and stainless steel or copper. Fixtures have drains in the bottom for the water to evacuate and stoppers to hold the water in place if desired.

Except for toilets, most fixtures are relatively free of moving parts, so the main requirement is to keep the stoppers working and drains clear and free flowing.

Recommended maintenance is listed individually for each type below.

In this section: Toilets; Sinks; Bathtubs; Bidets; Caulking; Faucets and Fittings; Exterior Faucets (hose bibs)

Infinity edge master bathtub fittings and fixtures — **Bathtub with infinity edge**

A general guide for the care of porcelain fixtures

To-Do

Do not drop or allow heavy items to impact onto the porcelain or tile.

Frequent good housekeeping practices should prevent most stains so you can avoid using abrasive cleaners.

Gently use a razor blade to remove paint

Do not use abrasive cleaners on the porcelain or the metal fixtures.

Toilets

The basic design of a toilet is quite ingenious. It consists of a water holding tank mounted above the toilet bowl which has a large diameter curved drain in the bottom. The toilet itself is mounted to the floor with its drain hole positioned over the sewer drain pipe in the bathroom floor. The joint between the toilet and the sewer pipe is made water tight with a “wax ring” seal (a thick gasket device). If the toilet becomes loose this gasket can leak invisibly and cause serious damage.

The mechanical genius of a toilet is how it works.

Under normal circumstances water will sit trapped in the bottom of the bowl. When water from the tank is allowed into the bowl, it pushes the contents into the curved drain pipe at the bottom. This creates a siphon which pulls all the contents out of the bowl and into the sloping sewer drain and on to the septic system. When the bowl is finally empty, air is sucked into the drain which breaks the syphon and stops the suction. The remainder of the water from the tank slowly refills the bowl ready for the next use. All this happens almost magically using nothing but a flick of the handle and some gravity.

Some of the newer toilets have selectable flush, water-saving features. This mean you can select a small flush for liquids and a big flush for solids. And bye the way, toilets are designed to handle human waste and toilet paper only. Anything else placed in the toilet will cause problems either with the toilet directly or worse it may clog the waste piping system somewhere downstream. See our cautions on wipes and other so called “flushables”.

The key mechanical parts of a toilet are the float valve, the flapper valve and the handle. The float and flapper will need replacement every couple of years. When they break or wear out, the toilet will “run” and waste water. A water-saving regulation went into effect in 1993, prohibiting the manufacture of toilets that use more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush.

Yes there is government regulation on toilet flushing

After much research and public debate to find a balance between comfort, convenience, and sensible use of natural resources, our government concluded that a 1.6- gallon per flush toilet would be the size that overall consistently saves water yet still functions, marginally. The actual result of this standard is that flushing twice is necessary to completely empty the toilet bowl many times. It has been reported that even if you flush twice now and then overall you are still saving water and have at least complied with the law. I’m not a math expert but I have trouble understanding how flushing twice at 1.6 gallons is better than flushing once at 2.0 or even 2.5 gallons. Oh well! That’s the law.

Toilet and lid — Square shaped toilet and lid

Common Problems and Troubleshootingo

To stop a running toilet, check the shut-off float in the tank. You will likely find it has lifted too high in the tank, preventing the valve from shutting off completely. In this case, gently bend the float rod down until it stops the water at the correct level or simply turn the adjustment screw. The float should be free and not rub the side of the tank or any other parts.

If you hear the toilet flush on its own or if you hear the tank refill without having been used, then the tank flapper valve is leaking and should be replaced.

The main causes of toilet clogs are domestic items such as disposable diapers, excessive amounts of toilet paper, sanitary supplies, Q-tips, dental floss, and children’s toys. Keep these things OUT of your toilet.

Maintenance

2x per year: operate the angle stop valve that feeds water to the toilet to keep operating freely and help prevent corrosion build-up. If you notice any leaks around this valve or the water line, a repair should be made, or the valve and water line should be replaced.

1x per year: Also check the chain on the flush handle. If it is too tight, it will prevent the rubber stopper at the bottom of the tank from sealing, resulting in running water.

1x per year: nudge the toilet to see if it is firmly secured to the floor. Toilets that “rock” or move, are not mounted securely and should be repaired immediately and the wax seal replaced./li>

Every 2 years: replace the inner flapper and float valves

Sinks

Plumbing sinks are bowls or basins used to hold water for use in washing, shaving or whatever. Like most fixtures, sinks are usually made of porcelain, but I have also seen them in copper, glass, ceramic, stainless, or even fiberglass.

Kitchen and utility sinks are equipped with larger drain holes to accommodate disposers or basket strainers. This helps to prevent things (like diamond rings) from being washed into the drains that might clog them up. Bathroom sinks have smaller drains with stoppers that will allow the sink to hold water for washing and shaving. Bath sinks with stoppers are equipped with an overflow located at the upper lip of the sink to prevent accidental flooding. The stopper mechanism is usually operated by a small lever at the back of the faucet. These can sometimes come loose or go out of adjustment making the stopper inoperable. These are repairable by accessing the lever connections under the sink.

Traps

All sinks and other fixtures have drains equipped with some form of P-trap. The P-trap is a curved piece of drain pipe directly under the sink that retains a small amount of water in it when the water is turned off. This small amount of water is enough to trap and block air the drain pipe so that foul smelling air from the drain system cannot come back up through sink and into the home.

Bathroom with exotic countertop material and stonework

To-Do

Look under your sink and identify the P-traps and the angle stops.

Test the angle stops by operating them and note any functional difficulty or leakage for repair.

Common Problems and Troubleshootingo

The P-trap can sometimes become clogged with debris and cause the sink to either drain slow or not at all. These can easily be removed and cleaned, or a plumber snake can be inserted into the drain to clear out the debris.

If not used often, P-traps can also dry out to a point that they no longer function to block out the bad smelling sewer gases. If this happens just run some water down the drains.

Maintenance

1x per year: Test P-trap connections, they should be easily loosened by hand for servicing. If not, a repair is needed.

1x per year: Clean the plunger drain stopper (usually found in bathroom sinks) by loosening the nut under the sink at the back, pulling out the rod attached to the plunger, and lifting the stopper. When clean, return the mechanism to its original position.

Every 2 years: caulk the sink edges as they should be tightly sealed to the adjacent countertop to prevent water from seeping into areas where it can cause damage.

Bathtubs

Bathtubs have been around a long time. The Romans really liked them and spent so much time indulging in them that their empire eventually fell apart. So, bathtubs were one reason for the fall of the Roman empire. I can understand that. Bathtubs are so important that after long cattle drives, cowboys would actually stop drinking, line up, and pay exorbitant fees to use the only tub in whatever desperate little town was nearby to the stockyards. (Smart cowboys would always keep their pistol handy during the bath. Tip: never place your six-shooter out of reach when bathing and especially do not hang it up right by the door.)

More bathtub advice

Bathtubs have gone from being simply pools in a stream, to wooden barrels, to exotic smooth porcelain. The original soaking tub has evolved to now incorporate spa jets that provide an invigorating massage as well. The basic design of the bathtub is a bowl-like basin large enough for a human to recline in and deep enough to soak his weary bones. It should not be so big that you can slip underwater if you fall asleep or pass out. Each tub is equipped with a spout for the water source, valves to control the incoming water and a drain. Some have a handheld spray device. They also have an overflow drain to prevent accidentally over-filling the tub and flooding the house.

To-Do

Definitely avoid allowing any clogging material to go down the drain of your bathtub. It is much more difficult to clear a tub drain and you will likely have to call a plumber.

Get a screen and place it over the drain when you use the tub to prevent hair and things from getting down the drain.

Maintenance

4x per year: Clean any drain screen to keep it clear and free flowing.

1x per year: Check the operation of the stopper and adjust as needed

1x per year: Inspect and repair and missing or damaged caulking.

4x per year: Inspect for leakage around any enclosure and make repairs before permanent damage occurs.

Bidets

I have not confirmed this, but it is commonly agreed that the French came up with this device and gave it the name Bidet, which is pronounced b’day and in French means “butt washer” or something like that. Wikipedia describes the fixture as follows: A bidet is a plumbing fixture or type of sink intended for washing the genitalia, perineum, inner buttocks, and anus of the human body, and is typically installed in a bathroom. I should hope!

The French are certainly innovators, but as you might have predicted, they became so engrossed with Jerry Lewis movies that they have lost control of their Bidet monopoly and now the Japanese have assumed leadership in the advancement and marketing of this wonderfully useful appliance.

The Washlet

The company Toto has cleverly created a bidet seat and mated it to a toilet creating a single, all in one, Swiss army knife, fixture called a “washlet”. This new “washlet” uses all the normal connections to the house plumbing as a regular toilet but requires an electrical outlet in order to power its warm seat, water heater, exhaust fan and air dryer. In fact the washlet does just about everything…except open cans 🙁

This all makes for an exciting bathroom experience and I highly recommend it.

To-Do

Get one ASAP here

Caulking

Caulking and sealants are generic terms for any material used to fill the inevitable joints between two other materials. Certainly use caulking can be for cosmetic purposes, but it is especially important for leak-proofing a joint where water could cause a lot of damage. Caulking technology has advanced quite a bit over the years through modern chemistry. The durability and quality of the modern caulking products are impressive. A wide variety of caulking materials and applicators are available at paint or hardware stores everywhere.

Time and exposure can shrink and dry caulking. When that happens it no longer provides a good seal. When installing or replacing caulk, be certain that you select an appropriate material for the intended purpose. Colored caulking is available and with any colored material, dye lots can vary. For areas that require painting only use Latex caulk. For instance where wood trim meets the wall. Silicone caulking will not accept paint. So it works best at wet locations, like splashes showers, tubs or where a sink meets a countertop.

To-Do

Inspect the joints where your sinks, tubs and showers meet with other materials see if the caulking is beginning to fail.

Inspect joints between your windows, baseboards and door trim where it meets the walls to see if any open joints are visible and need caulking.

Record the caulk type for each location.

Applying caulk can be tricky. Before doing any caulking, practice applying it to something…disposable.

Faucets and Fittings

Plumbing fittings and “trim” items are the controls for water flow, temperature adjustments and the delivery apparatus for your indoor water system. They include sink faucets, various water mixers, water valves, gas valves, tub spouts, shower heads, spray hoses, angle stops and connector lines.

The job of the faucet is to dispense water in both hot and cold temperatures. In the old days, at every sink and tub, there was both a hot, and a cold-water faucet available. Some recent designs connect the hot and cold-water lines in an unseen fashion to the base of the faucet so that only a single (joystick-type) handle is needed. Moving the single handle around deftly turns the water on or off, mixes the hot and cold temperature to the user’s desire, and adjusts the flow of the water as well.

Angle stops

Just out of view (usually hidden in the cabinets below), feeding every faucet, there are individual hot and cold-water lines connected to valves just under the fixture. These valves will require maintenance because they must be reliable when used to turn off the water

supply to the faucet. If these valves fail, the leak tends to go unnoticed for long periods of time. Failure of these valves can be damaging. In fact, these valves are so important that plumbers have given them the special name of “angle stop” which describes their ability to control and direct the water from the water pipe in the wall to the fixture located at a 90-degree angle directly above.

Ceramic cartridges

Modern faucets, hot/cold valves and shower/tub mixer valves have all done away with rubber washers. They now have ceramic cartridges for shutting water flow on and off, and for precisely mixing hot and cold water to the desired temperature. These ceramic cartridge devices operate with close tolerances. If you feel the faucet is not working properly please refer to manufacture s recommendations for proper repair or replacement of the cartridge. A common remedy to a dripping faucet is to remove and rinse the cartridge. Frequent use can wear them out over time and sediment in the water will also cause premature wear and damage. Homeowners will need to replace worn cartridges at least every 5-10 years to keep them functioning properly and at their full design spec.

Housekeeping

Hard water and harsh cleaning materials can cause havoc with plumbing trim finishes. Inspect and operate all valves frequently. Note any corrosion or leakage and make repairs immediately. The little angle-stop valves facilitate repairs or replacements of any defective faucet or fixture.

Faucet spouts and hand-held wands are fitted with small, screw-in “aerators” that soften the spray of water coming out. These aerators (as well as shower heads and hand-held sprayers) are easily clogged by sediment and corrosion so they should be removed and cleaned regularly.

To-Do

Locate and inspect your faucet water lines and operate the little valves “angle stops” under the sinks. Include the valves and lines for the washing machine.

Watch for water leaks or weeping as you operate the angle stops and have a plumber make any repairs. Don’t delay making repairs as these leaks can do a lot of damage.

Follow manufacturer’s directions for cleaning fixtures.

Avoid abrasive cleansers. They remove the shiny finish and leave behind a porous surface that is difficult to keep clean.

Maintenance

1x per week: Clean plumbing fixtures with a soft sponge and soapy water (a nonabrasive cleaner or a liquid detergent is usually recommended by manufacturers). Then polish the fixtures with a dry cloth to prevent water spots. Care for brass fixtures with a good-quality brass cleaner, available at most hardware stores.

1x per year: Clean the faucet aerators, wands and shower heads. These have screens in them that can clog with sediment over time and lower the flow of water. Soak corroded items with CLR. If corrosion is left unattended it will build up on itself and eventually make the fixture unusable.

1x per year: Check the tightness of all handles and mountings and tighten securely as needed. Many faucets are mounted directly on the surface of the tile or stone and secured by a nut from the underside. These can be difficult to work on without special tools.

Exterior Faucets (hose bibs)

In order for freeze-proof hose bibs to be effective, disconnect all garden hoses during cold weather. Water left in an attached hose can freeze and expand back into the fitting and break in the line. Repairing a broken line that feeds an exterior faucet can be an expensive fix as the piping usually breaks inside the wall necessitating the removal and replacement of siding and trim in order to gain access to the broken pipe. If the pipe breaks when the homeowner is away, it could also cause some serious water damage.

To-Do

Prior to the first freeze of the year, disconnect all garden hoses from the outdoor faucets.

Install insulated protectors over any hose bibs not rated for outdoor use.