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need advice on fixing leaky shower faucet

punkabilly136

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2006
Messages
313
Location
northwest ohio
the shower faucet is leaking and i have NO CLUE as to how to stop it, its not a huge leak more like dribbling but its still costing me. the valves are as far as they go shut but the faucet still leaks...how do i/should i go about fixing this...thanks everyone for the input

lol the only thing im glad about a leaky faucet is that it is probably helping my pipes from not freezing, since for the last week or so we've been in single digits and lower

BOB
 
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Junkman

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Dec 18, 2006
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6,626
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Northeastern CT
Post a picture of the valve and we may be able to hone in on the brand, etc. Different types of valves have different types of repairs. If it is really old, then it will have rubber washers behind the valves that have worn out, and will need to be replaced. If it is a newer one handle valve, then it might need a good cleaning, or it might need a replacement valve cartridge installed. Sometimes, repair parts are no longer available for some valves that the manufacturers have gone out of business. I remember seeing Tom Silva do a shower valve replacement on Ask This Old House. He made it look simple, but it required a lot of expertise to cut out the tile without breaking it, and soldering in a replacement valve. Sometimes these types of jobs are best left for warmer weather. I doubt that you would want to go without water for more than a few hours, so think about how and when you are going to tackle this job.
 

Kevin54

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Jan 12, 2005
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Urbana, Ohio
You're going to have to shut off the water, pull the knob off, pull the guts out, and get some rebuild parts. Lowes, Home Depot, etc, should carry all you need. Chances are it is just the "O" rings or the ball valve is worn. Take the old parts with you and pick up some new parts. Once you tear into it, you will see how simple they really are.

Kevin
 

sammerdog

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Jan 18, 2008
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West Michigan
You use the term "valves". If you have two good ol' fashioned gate valves, you may just have to adjust the sluices so they close down deeper. Kevin54 said it correctly: shut off the water supply and disassemble the valves. If the valves have a round/tear-drop shaped sluice, re-assemble the whole shooting match, but don't screw in the "drives" as far this time, so the sluice goes further into the assembly.
 

Jey

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Joined
Mar 28, 2005
Messages
333
Location
Fenton, Michigan
You're going to have to shut off the water, pull the knob off, pull the guts out, and get some rebuild parts. Lowes, Home Depot, etc, should carry all you need. Chances are it is just the "O" rings or the ball valve is worn. Take the old parts with you and pick up some new parts. Once you tear into it, you will see how simple they really are.

Kevin


i had to do that.

the hardwater ruined the internals. badly. it wouldn't pull out of the fixture either, had to drill 5 holes and "break" it out. 30 minute job turned into 2 hours. but, it's fixed!
 
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Kevin54

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Jan 12, 2005
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Urbana, Ohio
how do you pull the valve off?

First off, you have to pop the knob off. To do this, in the center, there will be a plastic plate. This is where it says "H" or "C" for hot or cold. You may have to take the edge of a pocket knife and pop the plate out or a small screwdriver into a little square that is notched into the plate. Once the plate is off, you will see a phillips screw. Remove the screw and the handle should pull straight off. Once the handle is off, you will see how the rest comes apart. There might be a nut holding everything together or there will be a bezel that will have to come off. Take either a wrench of the proper size, or a pair of pliers with a rag wrapped around the bezel and unscrew it. This will let the guts come out. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE WATER OFF FIRST AT THE SHUTOFF OR MAIN. Sorry to yell, but if you don't shut the water off and you pull the guts out, water will fly everywhere. I will laugh, the others will laugh, and the wife will probably stand back, shake her head, and ask you if you want her to call a plumber!!!! Once the bezel or nut is off, slowly pull out the guts. Depending on the valve or valves, you will have a couple of small "O" rings, a small spring, and maybe a couple of other small parts that are plastic. JUst take a pen and paper and sketch out how the valve comesa apart. Get the new parts and put it back together in reverse order. It really is simple. The biggest pain is just having to run to the box store or plumbers to get a few cents worth of parts. Cost more in gas than actual parts probably. LOL!!! All in all, there probably isn't a half a dozen small parts in a valve. BTW...lay a rag over the drain. You drop a part, that is the first place it will go to. LOL!!!

Kevin
 
OP
P

punkabilly136

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2006
Messages
313
Location
northwest ohio
First off, you have to pop the knob off. To do this, in the center, there will be a plastic plate. This is where it says "H" or "C" for hot or cold. You may have to take the edge of a pocket knife and pop the plate out or a small screwdriver into a little square that is notched into the plate. Once the plate is off, you will see a phillips screw. Remove the screw and the handle should pull straight off. Once the handle is off, you will see how the rest comes apart. There might be a nut holding everything together or there will be a bezel that will have to come off. Take either a wrench of the proper size, or a pair of pliers with a rag wrapped around the bezel and unscrew it. This will let the guts come out. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE WATER OFF FIRST AT THE SHUTOFF OR MAIN. Sorry to yell, but if you don't shut the water off and you pull the guts out, water will fly everywhere. I will laugh, the others will laugh, and the wife will probably stand back, shake her head, and ask you if you want her to call a plumber!!!! Once the bezel or nut is off, slowly pull out the guts. Depending on the valve or valves, you will have a couple of small "O" rings, a small spring, and maybe a couple of other small parts that are plastic. JUst take a pen and paper and sketch out how the valve comesa apart. Get the new parts and put it back together in reverse order. It really is simple. The biggest pain is just having to run to the box store or plumbers to get a few cents worth of parts. Cost more in gas than actual parts probably. LOL!!! All in all, there probably isn't a half a dozen small parts in a valve. BTW...lay a rag over the drain. You drop a part, that is the first place it will go to. LOL!!!

Kevin


thanks kevin, that is def. gonna help a lot!!!!!!! i appreciate all the help once again guys!!!
 

Jey

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Joined
Mar 28, 2005
Messages
333
Location
Fenton, Michigan
a lot of new faucets are cartage style valves, it's a big plastic piece with o-rings and **** all built in, no rebuilding options for it. 10 bucks for a new one. Pretty straight forward though.
 
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