Thread: Any idea what this triple gismo is?

These three thin plastic tubes or rods coming together at the black triple coupler behind the tailpiece have me baffled, and I'm hoping that someone on the forum can tell me what their function is. They were present under two of the bathroom sinks in yesterday's inspection - a 31 year old higher end home.

Thanks a lot for any help you can provide with this.

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Looks like some kind of water line tap.

Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell

Looks like some kind of water line tap.

Other than this strange contraption, the faucets looked like any others from above and at the water supply line areas below. There was too much stuff in the cabinets to get my head in far enough to see where the rods or tube went. I wish now that I'd stuck my camera back there and taken a couple of shots.

On both hot and cold, cold only, or hot only?

Was there a hand held sprayer nearby?

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

On both hot and cold, cold only, or hot only?

Was there a hand held sprayer nearby?

The faucet assemblies had two separate controls, one for each for hot and cold, and then a central spigot. This mechanism appeared to have its three long components extending up to the area of the lower portions of each of the controls and the central spigot area. Another odd thing was that this mechanism did not appear to be rigidly attached, but was easily moved back and forth. The one in the photo was interfering with the stopper bracket movement, and I easily moved it out of the way to allow the stopper to fully open.

There was no hand held sprayer. From the top these appeared to be just standard bathroom sink faucets like we see every day.

In that case ... I have no idea why it is there.

Is it a two handle (two valves) faucet set (3 totally separate pieces) for 8" centers?

Or a two handle faucet set (one piece) for 4" centers?

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

In that case ... I have no idea why it is there.

Is it a two handle (two valves) faucet set (3 totally separate pieces) for 8" centers?

Or a two handle faucet set (one piece) for 4" centers?

Three separate pieces, two valves and a central spigot.

Originally Posted by Michael Chambers

Three separate pieces, two valves and a central spigot.

If three separate piece underneath also, then each valve would have two lines - one supply to the valve and one from the valve to the central faucet.

But they would not be connected like that, at least not as I can envision it.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

If three separate piece underneath also, then each valve would have two lines - one supply to the valve and one from the valve to the central faucet.

But they would not be connected like that, at least not as I can envision it.

Those tubes or rods are not much more than a 1/4 inch in outside diameter - much too small to carry any significant volume of water. I'm wondering if this might be some kind of mixing arrangement to make sure there is at least some amount of cold water mixed in with the hot as a safety measure, but I'd think they'd do that much higher under the faucet assembly to save material, and to avoid interference with the stopper movement.

I'll email the photo to a plumber friend to see if he knows what it is.

Maybe some type of under sink filtration system:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Perfect-W...2?N=5yc1vZaqv5

It is simply the hot, cold, and outlet to the spout. I just came across one like that today. I'll try and post photos later.

Originally Posted by Jim Luttrall

It is simply the hot, cold, and outlet to the spout. I just came across one like that today. I'll try and post photos later.

That males perfect sense being as the faucet set if three separate pieces.

Cold from the cold water valve, hot from the hot water valve, they mix and go to the faucet spout above.

Photos from yesterdays inspection.RIMG8347.jpgRIMG8341.jpg

Originally Posted by Jim Luttrall

Photos from yesterdays inspection.

As has been pointed out by others - one would think they would design it so that it was not interfering with the pop-up drain mechanism.

Looks to be a cheap (inexpensive) design without much forethought.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

As has been pointed out by others - one would think they would design it so that it was not interfering with the pop-up drain mechanism.

Looks to be a cheap (inexpensive) design without much forethought.

That's the beauty of the parker style fittings, just cut them to size and push in, but the installer needs not to be too lazy as in this case.

Is there an instant hot water pump at the water heater
You would see that under sinks when there is one

They look like air lines. I'm going to take a guess and say water hammer reducer/prevention. Make Sense?

Originally Posted by mary theresa craig

They look like air lines. I'm going to take a guess and say water hammer reducer/prevention. Make Sense?

No.
Did you see my post and photos?

Looks like part of the faucet assembly to me. I have installed a few faucets with similar types of mixing valve/connectors.

I recognize the fittings as copies commonly used in industrial hydraulics when there is a need to disassemble quickly. They will work with any material having the same O.D.. I recently had a plumber install an icemaker in my house and he used these materials.

I have never seen this tubing or fitting any larger than 3/8". Most likely will have greatly reduced flow to the fixture.

I would write this up as a material defect in materials.

Originally Posted by Michael Chambers

These three thin plastic tubes or rods coming together at the black triple coupler behind the tailpiece have me baffled, and I'm hoping that someone on the forum can tell me what their function is. They were present under two of the bathroom sinks in yesterday's inspection - a 31 year old higher end home.

Thanks a lot for any help you can provide with this.

Originally Posted by Frank Smith

I recognize the fittings as copies commonly used in industrial hydraulics when there is a need to disassemble quickly. They will work with any material having the same O.D.. I recently had a plumber install an icemaker in my house and he used these materials.

I have never seen this tubing or fitting any larger than 3/8". Most likely will have greatly reduced flow to the fixture.

I would write this up as a material defect in materials.

No, not a material defect.
This is a listed new assembly with manufacturers supplied connections.
Just because it is an unfamiliar product does not mean it is defective.
And just because it is allowed to be installed by the manufacturer does not mean it is a good product, just allowed.
RIMG8341.jpgRIMG8347.jpg

Were you able to determine the manufacturer of the faucet assembly? They usually have a name on them somewhere. As the piping extends into the valves it appears that it was included with the device.

- - - Updated - - -

Were you able to determine the manufacturer of the faucet assembly? They usually have a name on them somewhere. As the piping extends into the valves it appears that it was included with the device.

Originally Posted by Jim Luttrall

It is simply the hot, cold, and outlet to the spout. I just came across one like that today. I'll try and post photos later.

I've never seen one of these either, anyone know what purpose this serves ?

Originally Posted by Joe Klampfer

I've never seen one of these either, anyone know what purpose this serves ?

Just as the post you quoted said:

Originally Posted by Jim Luttrall[/quote

It is simply the hot, cold, and outlet to the spout.

The hot water from the hot supply goes to the hot faucet valve.

The cold water from the cold supply goes to the cold faucet valve.

The hot water from the hot faucet valve goes to that connector.

The cold water from the cold faucet valve goes to that connector.

The hot and cold water are joined together in that connector (mixed together) and the outgoing water from that connector goes to the spigot of the faucet set.

That connector just combines the hot and cold water from the valves to the spigot where it is used.

Oh, Duuuh! I've just never seen one and just figured the discharge was handled internal within the assembly. So this is probably one of those where each faucet & the spigot are all separate detached pieces. Now I get it, thanks Jerry

Originally Posted by Joe Klampfer

Oh, Duuuh!

Joe,

I had the same DUH! moment when Jim made his post. ... I have never seen one either.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Joe,

I had the same DUH! moment when Jim made his post. ... I have never seen one either.

I've seen similar throughout Europe, so I wonder if the faucet set came from Ikea?