Author Topic: New kitchen faucet install, water under baseplate (escutcheon)  (Read 27777 times)

illy5603

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New kitchen faucet install, water under baseplate (escutcheon)
« on: November 12, 2012, 05:01:20 PM »
I installed a new kitchen faucet over the weekend and it all works except that water is getting under the right side of the base plate and is leaking into one of the unused holes in the top of the sink (1 hole faucet adapted to a 3 hole sink with escutcheon plate.)

The internet is a battleground of putty vs. silicone sealant and I don't know what to do... My base plat has a black plastic piece that looks like a gasket but is just hard plastic and I imagine it is not making a good seal on the right side because the is tightened from the center. I am afraid if I tighten it any more that it will get worse as the center comes down, the sides might lift up.
 
So, putty or silicone?

James

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Re: New kitchen faucet install, water under baseplate (escutcheon)
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2012, 08:28:55 PM »
The option I like best is a bit risky and involves more work, but I like the result.  Take the whole thing apart and carefully bend the metal base plate to put more pressure on the outsides of the plate. (the risk is that you will bend it too much, just be very careful and check frequently.  It should be bent enough to contact on the outsides of the plate just slightly more than in the middle, so when you tighten it the outsides maintain pressure)  It doesn't have to be perfect, you shouldn't be flooding the base of the plate with water that often, close should count.  Putty will work well, either instead of that option or along with it.  Just be generous with the putty, both above and below the plastic plate, and then scrape away the excess.  Plumbers putty won't solve every problem, but it usually won't hurt anything.


Avoid the silicone.  It won't do any better preventing the leak, but it will cause absolute nightmares for the person trying to replace the faucet in the future.

illy5603

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Re: New kitchen faucet install, water under baseplate (escutcheon)
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2012, 10:40:51 AM »
Thanks! I called Moen today just to make sure that putty would work and they said it should be fine as would silicone. They are also sending me a 10% off rebate coupon for registering. So a phone call netted me $20, sweet!


thurston howell iv

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Re: New kitchen faucet install, water under baseplate (escutcheon)
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2012, 06:42:25 AM »
The putty is unsightly and a little harder to work with. I would use some "kitchen and bath" specific caulk. You can find it at any home improvement store for about a buck or so. Clean and dry the surface before applying. The run a small bead around the entire base.  Use a wet finger to chase the bead (ie: press and smooth it) then clean any leftover mess with a wet rag. Once it drys it will be fine. Just pop your head under the sink periodically to make sure there's no leaks. 

Good Luck.

James

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Re: New kitchen faucet install, water under baseplate (escutcheon)
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2012, 07:53:55 AM »
I disagree with the caulk suggestion, I would find that much more unsightly than the putty or silicone.  I'm not sure why the putty would be unsightly, you should not see it at all since it goes underneath the plate and any that is showing should be cleaned off. 

illy5603

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Re: New kitchen faucet install, water under baseplate (escutcheon)
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2012, 09:33:56 AM »
Hi there,

Update! The escutcheon plate has a hard black plastic base plate with a thin foam gasket around it about a quarter of an inch in from the edge and inset into the plastic. The problem was that the foam was distorted and sometimes even compressed past the point of making contact with the sink. We ended up pulling out this foam part and made a ring of plumbers putty around the bottom of the base plate. Actually, we made the ring on the sink and squished the base plate onto it. The putty then filled in the little trench where the foam ring was.

Long story short, it sealed and cleaned up perfectly. Like James said, it squished a bunch out and we peeled it away with a putty knife. You can't see any putty at all from the top and from under the sink you can see where excess squeezed out making a great seal.
 
Also, the Moen help line said either putty or caulk would work so the difference of opinion both here and on the internet at large seems to be more of a matter of personal preference.
 
Thanks again guys!
« Last Edit: November 14, 2012, 09:55:10 AM by illy5603 »

thurston howell iv

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Re: New kitchen faucet install, water under baseplate (escutcheon)
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2012, 11:25:17 AM »
Glad to hear it worked out. I was under the impression the putty was going to be in the outside thus the "unsightly" comment.

paddedhat

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Re: New kitchen faucet install, water under baseplate (escutcheon)
« Reply #7 on: November 15, 2012, 03:56:26 AM »
Glad to hear it worked out. I was under the impression the putty was going to be in the outside thus the "unsightly" comment.
Plumber's putty is pretty good stuff. Cheap, easy to use, and it never hardens. Until recently it was standard procedure to mount all self-rimming sinks, and deck mount faucets, by packing a generous portion of plumbers putty under the rim, and letting it squish out as you tightened the clamps. Now many manufacturers are pushing silicone. As James correctly noted, silicone can be a bitch to remove, and I avoid it for most fixture and sink installs. Plumbers putty is also handy for another slick trick. On occasion the white plastic P-trap fittings under a sink will not stop leaking, no matter how hard you try. I attribute this to the fact that most of these products are now third world garbage, built to very low standards. There are two steps that will eliminate any leak, short of a hole in the pipe. First run hot, hot water through the for a few minutes, now hand tighten all the joints. This solves 99% of the issues as the hot plastic is real pliable and will seal a lot tighter. If that fails, take the offending joint apart and lightly coat the male threads with plumbers putty. Retighten, run the hot and tighten again. The plumbers putty acts as an excellent joint sealant and stops the leak. So far this has never failed me. Good luck. 

 

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