I'd appreciate some feedback about whether I'm doing about this the right way. Normally I'd just look up the manufacturer's diagram, but I can't find a brand name or model number anywhere on this thing (it was installed when we bought the place).
Yesterday my bathroom faucet came apart when I tried to turn it. The 'goose-neck' top detached and water started shooting everywhere. Upon close inspection it seems this is exactly what it was designed to do, and the faucet head could be re-attached by tightening the allen-head tension screw in the back (in other words, it was just loose).
Easy enough - but now I have a secondary problem... the water now leaks around the base where the collar/trim ring sits on the tile. It never leaked before.
So I took that off (another simple allen-screw) and saw three things
1) the o-ring at the very base (around the brass base near pencil in photo) looks a bit pushed into the seam.
2) instead of silicone caulk there's some weird plasticy membrane that's looks past its prime (see the pencil)
3) there is no o-ring around the outside of the collar/trim ring even though it looks like there's a channel for one.
here's what I'm thinking...
option 1) tear out that plastic membrane, lay down some bath caulk in its place and be done with it. This might make it a bit harder to remove later, but I have no plans on changing the faucet. One worry I have about this is what happens if moisture slowly drips past that seam into the enclosed space housing the tub. It would only happen when the faucet was on, so maybe a few drips each time... but I'm not even sure how moisture would ever get out of there.... is there weep holes someplace or a drain?
option 2) pull out the o-ring that got pushed down into the seam. I'lll probably have to replace it since I don't think I can pull it out without damaging it somewhat. Add an o-ring around the outer-channel of the collar (is it supposed to have one? It looks like it, but it was definitely not there before). Tear out the plastic membrane .... maybe still caulk it?
Photos attached for clarification