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by blincoln 1294 days ago
Sinks are one of the few areas that I don't think one can get out of using threaded connections on the supply lines (haven't seen push-to-connect for that last leg yet). A lot of them use NPT threads, and NPT is very easy to put together in a way that will have a slow leak. Even a single drop every few minutes can cause big problems if left unattended for long enough. Also, a lot of the connections are in locations that are a headache to reach, even with a basin wrench.

Getting a good seal on a sink drain can be a little tricky the first time too.
1 comments
sokoloff 1294 days ago
The sink supply connections (usually from a shutoff valve) are compression threads (a parallel/straight thread).

If the valve itself is threaded on, that inlet might be NPT (or might be compression), but the valve outlet will be compression, which uses a tapered ferrule to provide the seal and straight threads.

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mindslight 1293 days ago
The faucets I've seen are generally NPS where the supply lines attach to the faucet, often with the retaining nuts (or whatever they're called) using the same threads and going on first.

To answer GGP's question, what's difficult about faucets is getting up behind the sink, with your back straddling the corner of the cabinet, reaching up with some sort of basin wrench that inevitably won't grip those bespoke retaining nuts well. Especially removing the old faucet where the retaining nuts are a bit seized.

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blincoln 1293 days ago
> The sink supply connections (usually from a shutoff valve) are compression threads

I've seen both compression and NPT. I only have three faucet-replacement data points to work from, but I haven't developed a feeling for why manufacturers will choose NPT in some cases.

Compression fittings are pretty straightforward, IMO. No complaints from me about those.

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