Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Antique sink pipes hazardous?

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Jenno
11-08-04, 02:31 PM
Hi. I recently bought an old (probably 1950's) American Standard high back sink at an architectural salvage. I'm going to use it in a bathroom update, but wondered how safe the old fittings are. If I use the original faucet and water handles, is there anything potentially harmful in the them that I should consider? I'd really like to use them since they're original and new wall-mounted faucets are exorbitant, but I didn't want to be neive about rust or corrosion. What do you think? Also, if anyone has a good *cheap* resource on wall-mounted faucets, I could use it, too.

Thank you, thank you, thank you


majakdragon
11-08-04, 02:47 PM
I can't see anything that would be harmful in the faucets. Old ones were usually brass and chrome coated. Built well. You might want to run some bleach through them in case they were stored with anything that might be toxic or for bacteria. Good luck.

Jenno
11-09-04, 04:01 PM
Read FAQ's, I swear.
My toilet clicks. Sometimes faster, sometime slower...sometimes louder, sometimes really darn loud. It's driving me nuts. :eek:
The filler valve seems to be causing the problem because I can press it and the clicking/drumroll sound speeds up or down...but never stops. Should I adjust something? Replace something? I am a super toilet novice, so be patient.


Pilot Dane
11-09-04, 06:00 PM
I think the big hazard many people talk about is the lead used to solder copper pipes together. This was very common and modern copper pipes are soldered with silver, but that's a pretty recent switch.

Majakdragon, do you know when they mandated the switch to silver solder? 5 or 10 years ago?

Plumber2000
11-09-04, 06:07 PM
Read FAQ's, I swear.
My toilet clicks. Sometimes faster, sometime slower...sometimes louder, sometimes really darn loud. It's driving me nuts. :eek:
The filler valve seems to be causing the problem because I can press it and the clicking/drumroll sound speeds up or down...but never stops. Should I adjust something? Replace something? I am a super toilet novice, so be patient.

Install a new toilet fillvalve.

majakdragon
11-09-04, 06:10 PM
It was over 10yrs ago but it wasn't to silver solder it was to lead free solder( different form silver) 95/5 was used for hot water lines. 95/5 is 95% tin and 5% antimony.