I have a bathroom sink that has very slow water flow coming out of the faucet. It has the old school valves (see picture below). The sink has a very slow flow of water, hot or cold, when turned on. The valves are open all the way, and when I try to close the valves, they minimally slow the flow of water. I'm thinking I need to replace the valves and tubing and get the more modern shut off valves. When I remove these old valves, how do I connect to the water pipe? Do I use the nut coming off the water pipe to secure the new valve? (I know I'll need to shut off water to the house when replacing the valves) Thanks!!

Copper or brass nut will remove the entire old valve- silver parts, add pipe dope or silicon tape to threads and screw on new valve. Hoses will screw on as well. Might not need new hoses, change your aerator too.

You can if the new valve (with 1/2" compression connection) has same threads, etc.
I'd wrap the old ferrule & pipe w/ teflon tape before re-assembling.

If threads are different, cut copper pipe at ferrule , debur, and re-assemble with new nut/ferrule.


I like replacing with the new 1/4 turn ball-type valves - they seem to holdup better than those oldschool ones.

What's funny, is I thought those were all braised on. I have a few that need replacing and I've been putting it off because braising is not my favorite activity. I just went and double checked mine and... what do you know..they have screw on fittings! Halleluiah!

Be sure to use two wrenches - you don't want to put any torque on the copper pipe (and bust/weaken the solder-joint back in the wall).

Awesome!! Thank you guys!!

If you haven’t already be sure to check the
filter on the faucet spout if there is one.
They can get clogged and cause loss of flow.

Very common for the aerator to get plugged up, restricting flow. I make a habit about once a year of taking them off all faucets, knocking out the debris, and maybe even soaking in vinegar for an hour or two. They are really susceptible to sand, if you are on a well system. If you do replace the valve, use a quality, made in USA, all brass one. BrassCraft, Kingston, or Dahl are all good, and the new 1/4 valves are great. Flush the line with the aerator off and check flow. Make sure you don't have excess teflon tape blocking the inside of the valve

I'd bet it's not the valve...I bet it's the aerator or faucet...those typically either work or they don't and when they don't, more times than not it's a big mess rather than a flow restriction. In my experience and I'm not a plumber or GC type.

I periodically will soak the faucet aerator in CLR. I've even tied baggies of CLR to shower heads to clean them up.

Good luck Chad.

Yea, we have a lot of mineral buildup here in SGP and have to clean out all the aerators on a regular basis. CLR works great, especially on shower heads.

Areator plugged. Prolly not valves.

I pulled off the aerator, and no change. It still flowed very slow. When I turn the valves below, nothing is happening. Water flow will slightly decrease when closed, but no much. It's a slow trickle of water. I think the valves and lines will need to be replaced. I'll start there. Thanks for all the help guys!!

It is possible that the rubber in the valve under the cabinet deteriorated and broke up and is clogging the flow to the valve at the sink. If it were me, I would replace the valve under the sink (this one)


, and then disassemble and replace the innards of the valve at the sink. (This one)


I would doubt that the lines themselves are clogged.

I don't know. It is the sink in our guest bedroom, so it hardly ever gets used. This project is a honey-do I just need to work on and figure out.

Before you pull the shut off, look at brand name on handle. You may be able to find a rebuild kit.

Rebuild kits saved me a lot of work.

Those built on metal flexes are the worst. Very popular in the 2000's.

In extreme cases, I have seen mineral build-up in the plumbing lines that reduce the diameter to less than a pencil but that was on old building construction.

After having one of those metal flexes break and flood the bathroom in our old home, I only use braided hoses now on all sinks and appliances.

Smart! Also a good idea to use stainless braided hoses on Washer Machine (and dishwasher) too, while you're at it!