faucetplumbing
I'm installing a new faucet and noticed that the instructions call for the faucet water line to be bolted directly onto the shutoff valve. The problem is, my shutoff valves have built-in lines which don't unbolt.
What is the best thing for me to do? Should I install new shutoff valves that have bolt-on connections or somehow connect the existing water line to the faucet's water line?
(shutoff valve at top, faucet line at bottom)
I've dealt with these before. The flex pipe is silver soldered into the valve body, probably a product design of the day to dispense with having a problematic compression fitting that would eventually leak.
If you loosen the nut from the pipe nipple, the valve body and flex supply line pipe will be rotatable to position it for a direct lineup to the faucet inlet.
Even if the other end of the metal flex supply line is compatible with the faucet (sounds like it isn't), brass and copper flex work harden from bending into position and can crack if disturbed for later repairs, so I don't recommend reusing it. The only way to fix this is to replace the shutoff valve with a 1/2" to 3/8" right angle shutoff. The newer ones available are nice quarter turn units. Remove the compression fitting nut and ferrule and the 3/8" supply line should thread right on. They use a neoprene flat washer now that gets rid of the leak problem the original silver-soldered supply line was meant to prevent.
The diverter valve built into your faucet is downstream from the faucet valve that is designed to hold back "line" pressure. The diverter shunts water toward the spray head when you open the spray head valve, and directs it toward the fixed spout otherwise.
The faucet sprayer head/nozzle is not designed to hold back system pressure. They would have to be more robust to the point of being unwieldy to do that. Also, the main valve is where hot and cold are mixed, giving you temperature adjusted water at the sprayer head. If you hook directly to the spray head it will leak.
Best Answer
All faucets now use standardized connectors for the water supply. So yes, you should replace that water shut off valve with a standardized one - might as well do it now and save the frustration.