# Plumbing hell (or help)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 11, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816 "2020-08-11T15:17:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/1 "2020-08-11T15:17:38Z")
Do any resident plumbers or plumbing experts have any idea what kind of fittings these are on a bathroom sink? I’m trying to uninstall and the only thing that appears to make any sense is to bend the brass outward, which I’m loathe to do without a better understanding. Does this type of fitting even have a name? Is the name “shitty fitty”?
I’ll note that the hot and cold valves have a screw in the handle, so I’m pretty sure I can get that done. No screw that I can find anywhere on the spout (the middle fitting of the picture).
[https://ibb.co/Dbd6ZCp](https://ibb.co/Dbd6ZCp)
---
### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/2 "2020-08-11T15:26:47Z")
Do you need to reuse this or is it going in the garbage and getting replaced (so destroying it in the process is fine).
In any case, it looks to me like you pull the metal clip out on the hot/cold side the the nylon fitting should come off. The faucet one has a gray part protruding above it, I’ll bet if you push that down, the white part drops off.
The hot and cold brass ‘nuts’ look like they unscrew a little ways and then they’ll fold against the screw and get pulled out through the top (like a toggle bolt). The faucet one I’m not entirely sure. Something might need to be removed first so the ‘nut’ can spin around the threaded bolt that the drain opener/closer goes through.
If it’s not too much work, sometimes it’s a lot easier to remove the counter top, flip it over and work on it with all that stuff facing you and in the light instead of you on your back, working over your head in the dark.
And don’t underestimate the power of a sawzall.
---
### Author:  [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/3 "2020-08-11T15:30:29Z")
Note that your image is on a page that is attempting to download adware on to my computor without my authorisation.
Since I have no idea what it is trying to download I have blocked it and I won’t be able to look at the image
---
### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/4 "2020-08-11T15:33:01Z")
Strange, it didn’t for me, but I also have UBlock Origin and a pihole, either of which could have blocked any problems (but looking, the pi-hole didn’t block anything when I tried loading the picture again).
While not overly common, I think ibb . com, is a normal image hosting site.
---
### Author:  [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/5 "2020-08-11T15:34:35Z")
I don’t typically use image hosts and am using ImgBB. Is there a known issue with them?
---
### Author:  [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/6 "2020-08-11T15:48:30Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#):
>
> The faucet one has a gray part protruding above it, I’ll bet if you push that down, the white part drops off.
Thanks for the assist!
Unfortunately the gray part doesn’t seem to function like that, and even if the white part drops off, I still have that brass piece above it that is holding the faucet securely in place. While I don’t need to save it, I do have to remove it without damaging the countertop and I don’t see a way to get a sawzall in there when the brass fitting that appears to secure it is flush with the bottom of the countertop. I also can’t leave it half finished as it’s my wife’s bathroom. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/7 "2020-08-11T15:59:53Z")
In case **casdave** isn’t the only one this is happening to, here is the image on Google Drive:
> **[IMG\_0078.jpg](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U_JNc7bDYWUNxRF0iHD-CU-hsw_UFhY_/view)**
>
> Google Drive file.
---
### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/8 "2020-08-11T16:02:29Z")
Hard to tell from the picture. Never seen anything like that set up.
I would try to spread that brass ‘keeper’ on the faucet part there seems to be a sort of half moon thing that it may slide over and the brass keeper would slide down. That may give you some wiggle room. I also think the grey part above the white mixer may be a key to this. Perhaps it is threaded into the white mixer.
---
### Author:  [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/9 "2020-08-11T16:06:13Z")
It’s a type of “quick connect” fitting. There are several types, but this should help in searching for information on the type you have. Including the brand name of the faucet may help.
---
### Author:  [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/10 "2020-08-11T16:14:32Z")
I tried quick connect, snap-on, and various other things, but unfortunately I can’t find a brand name anywhere. It’s often on the drain stopper, but that has long since been replaced. I do have a closer picture (not great, but I don’t have an endoscope laying around) of the gray part that is referenced earlier, but it doesn’t appear to move in any way. For reference, it is only about a half inch in diameter.
> **[IMG\_0082.jpg](https://drive.google.com/file/d/106IOBV-NnIqTQjZvMjS1ceLBN8JqZP07/view?usp=sharing)**
>
> Google Drive file.
---
### Author:  [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/11 "2020-08-11T16:19:01Z")
Spreading that brass part seems to be my only option (but not an ideal one) and I’m not sure how to do it since I don’t have any actual tools that would make a good spreader, but I’m unsure of what you mean by half moon thing.
---
### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/12 "2020-08-11T16:31:52Z")
There appears to be a pin that the brass part is hanging on to. That’s the half moon thing.
Do you have a socket set? Perhaps just forcing in a say 1/2 inch socket (or whatever size) sideways into the brass part might spread it and give you a little mechanical advantage.
Or anything that is wider than thick. Stick it in and twist.
There ARE shut off valves on that sink right?
---
### Author:  [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/13 "2020-08-11T19:29:45Z")
Looking at the lack of valves or disconnects between the hot and cold and the faucet suggest to me that this faucet is not designed to be removed (without force).
I would remove what you can and just go for the bending of the brass; however, it is not clear that will remove the parts you need easily. So have a new sink and faucet on standby.
Moen and Kohler have gotten very good at minimizing their disconnect mechanisms, but as this is an unbranded faucet, I just don’t see that technology moving to this situation. This a cheap/disposable faucet solution.
---
### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/14 "2020-08-11T19:46:13Z")
IANAP, bit I’ve used some strange fittings made by the sharkbite company, they’re pretty popular.
[Sharkbite fittings](https://www.sharkbite.com/products/brass-push)
---
### Author:  [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/15 "2020-08-11T21:34:52Z")
My, somewhat educated, eye thinks some of those parts that are being identified as brass are actually ‘cadmium electroplated’ steel… so it ain’t gonna bend like brass if you try to bend it!
CMC
---
### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2020, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/16 "2020-08-11T22:25:19Z")
It looks like you can pop the snap rings that resemble gingerbread men off by prying with a small screwdriver at the “head” and the gray parts with ears will drop off. You may need to disconnect the supply lines first.
Overall, I can’t tell if this is the latest and greatest time saver for professional plumbers, or terrible junk aimed at the DIY market. I’m definitely leaning to the latter.
Why are you trying to remove it?
---
### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2020, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/17 "2020-08-12T12:43:21Z")
I’ve installed faucets like this more than once.
You do NOT need to bend or break anything to remove the whole assembly. Assuming of course it isn’t too corroded to come apart as it was put together. But overall I don’t see evidence of that.
It’s a combo of quick disconnects for the water supply.
Once you have the feeds disconnected there’ll be just 2 long verticals hanging out of the bottom of the faucet assembly. You’ll then see that one of those two narrow verticals is threaded and can be unthreaded with a very long socket-like device. Which is a standard plumber’s tool.
Once that’s done the brass u-shaped bar that’s transverse across the underside of the faucet hole in the countertop will pivot down to vertical. Then the faucet assembly lifts out easily from above.
---
### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2020, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/18 "2020-08-12T13:29:07Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> You’ll then see that one of those two narrow verticals is threaded and can be unthreaded with a very long socket-like device. Which is a standard plumber’s tool.
A [basin wrench.](https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-WRN92002-Telescoping-Capacity-10-Inch/dp/B01D4ZF0MA?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1)
---
### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/19 "2020-08-12T17:22:52Z")
That’s not the tool I meant, but yeah, that’s another must-have tool for the DIY plumber’s tool kit.
What I was thinking of is [Plumber’s sockets](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00065DMHC). Essentially a set of double-ended sockets about 6" long in sizes ranging from about 1/2" to 1". You can slide the socket up over a long threaded rod until the hex opening at the top engages with whatever hex nut is hiding up inside whatever cavity. Then using either a cross-rod, a crescent wrench on the outside of the other end’s socket, or even a channelock-type pliers on the socket barrel, you can turn the socket enough to get the nut at least moving.
This kind of socket tool will fit into a space that a basin wrench won’t.
---
### Author:  [@vbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vbob)
#### Post date: [August 12, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816/20 "2020-08-12T23:28:42Z")
MIGHT be Pfister - check out their chatty instructions here: [https://www.pfisterfaucets.com/parts-support/troubleshooting/support-articles/need-help-uninstalling-faucet-removing-quick-connector](https://www.pfisterfaucets.com/parts-support/troubleshooting/support-articles/need-help-uninstalling-faucet-removing-quick-connector)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-hell-or-help/917816.md?page=2)