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water faucets

See also aerators on kitchen faucets

On kitchen sinks, the centers of the pipes to faucets are usually 8 inches apart. On lavatories, the pipes are on 4-inch centers.

In the past almost all faucets were the compression type, which shut off the water by pressing a rubber washer against a seat with a hole in the middle. Now there are many other types that, though they require much less maintenance, require proprietary parts when they do need repair.

Washers in compression faucets

In compression faucets, the seal is made by a bibb washer which is usually neoprene. Bibb washers come in three styles:

• flat
• beveled
• swivel-head

The first two types are held to the stem by a brass or monel machine screw, anywhere from ¼ to ½ inch long. Some have a 6-32 thread and some 8-32, but if the hole is #10 use caution! Three different #10 threads have been used in faucets: 10-24, 10-28, and 10-32.

*Sources differ on this value: 55/64, 58/64, 60/64.

Fiber washers, which some prefer if the seat is worn, come in 00, 0, ¼S, ¼, ¼L and 3/8, with the same actual OD's as neoprene washers.

Because householders almost always buy washers in a pack of assorted sizes and fit them by cut-and-try, the main purpose of these lists is to let you know whether there is a larger or smaller size you don't have, when the size you've got doesn't fit.

Swivelhead washers are held to the stem by two prongs instead of screws. They are an emergency repair when the screw has broken off (a new, unthreaded hole is drilled), or when the rim around the bottom of the faucet stem has been worn away.

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Last revised: 2 June 2018.