EZ access to kitchen faucet supply fittings

[thewayneo]

At one time or another, all my RV's have developed leaks where the hot and cold supply lines connect to the bathroom or kitchen faucet. My TM kitchen faucet fittings had been leaking for the last couple years but since I always keep rags wrapped around those fittings (just in case), it was no emergency but it was getting worse. Access to TM kitchen faucet fittings usually means (according to my dealer) removing the sink and/or the water heater. Last year I discovered that the water heater was about to fall out, due to really poor installation, so I remounted and resealed it, and I was not anxious to take it out again.

So, I drilled 4” diameter holes thru the outside wall at each fitting. I purchased 5” diameter plastic "doorknob damage concealers" to which I glued the Styrofoam plug that came out of my holesaw. Now I can stick my hand thru a hole and hand tighten the fitting, then use long irrigation pliers to lightly snug. I can also easily reach the hand-tight nuts that hold the faucet to the counter top, so it will be easy to install a new faucet when the time comes. Easy to re-wrap my old pipe-rag too! The whole project took less than an hour.

wayne

[TrailManorMan]

Interesting solution, don't have a need but .......I'll try to remember

[scrubjaysnest]

A good idea to keep in mind.

[Redtail Cruiser]

Originally Posted by thewayneo

So, I drilled 4” diameter holes thru the outside wall at each fitting. I purchased 5” diameter plastic "doorknob damage concealers" to which I glued the Styrofoam plug that came out of my holesaw.

wayne

So Wayne, how did you determine exactly where to drill your 4 inch holes? What did you use as a referance point to measure and transfer that measurment to the outside? Bet you really needed to "measure twice and cut once" on this project.

[thewayneo]

Originally Posted by Redtail Cruiser

So Wayne, how did you determine exactly where to drill your 4 inch holes? What did you use as a referance point to measure and transfer that measurment to the outside? Bet you really needed to "measure twice and cut once" on this project.

Hi Tim:
I slid a flat ruler past the bag seal between the shells, in line with the cold water knob. This gave me a good location outside for left-to-right. Then I measured from the backsplash down (plus some guestimating). Went outside, drilled a 1/16" hole and left the drill bit in the hole. Went inside, snaked my arm around the p-trap and felt the drill bit to be sure it was centered on the pipe nut. This ended up being 5-3/4" down from the bottom edge of the rear shell, with the shells fully up. That 1/16" hole became the pilot hole for the hole saw. The hot water pipe is 8" from the cold pipe.

I should have mentioned in the first post that the plastic hole cover had some double-sided tape on it that I removed with a chisel.

wayne

[Redtail Cruiser]

Thanks Wayne, now if I ever need to get to those valves I will have options.