The thing is I need to climb into my handyman overalls, drive to Home Depot or Lowe's, and ask silly questions about parts I'm certain haven't seen dust on a shelf in years. Then I'll do a return trip and cuss and throw tools and after long consultation with the wife call a darn professional plumber. That's the crux of it. Yet, I shall try. Frugal is my middle name. But please allow me to yell this fact loud and clear....I hate home plumbing projects. I've yet to meet two pipes I've had the skill to wed without the joint ever so slowly bend in order to shed a tear of soft water.
The central single knob faucet of our tub shower combo leaks. Well, perhaps leaks is an understatement....the friggin sucker pours a stream of precious and very expensive water. We not only pay for the water but the disposal of water in the form of a city sewer tax based on usage. Liquid gold. And, I'm just stubborn enough to try and hunt down a repair kit and make an effort to replace those worn parts. If I screw the pooch the results could cost a thousand or so to repair. Three copper lines connect the back of this sucker. It's an older Delta.
Sweet Wife suggested we break the bank and purchase a newer model and then have the repair company install it. My manhood card took a hit....
We'll see. Hey, if you hear screams and a hard bump and several .45 shots from this direction....you'll know what just happened.
Stephen
We'll be praying that your nerves and that hardware survive your tender ministrations. Godspeed, Handy Man Stephen.
ReplyDeleteWe (by her orders) have decided to purchase a new Delta control system with nozzle (done) and will tomorrow call our plumbers. After spending an hour or so in the dead end hunt for parts I threw in the towel. I know when I'm out of my element. Seems our old leaky control valve is close to thirty years old.
DeleteThose darn Delta's. Does it look like this or does it look like this. Or is it shaped like this or like that. Grrrr! Got a couple of my own that are leaking that clear gold.
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly what I faced. To remove the guts I would have had to shut down the water supply to the entire house. I hate plumbing....
DeleteThe last house I plumbed(which my ex has now) I installed shut offs to every single fixture, via a manifold that I built in the basement. All labeled nice and neat. Hope she and her pimp enjoy it.
DeleteI feel your pain. I vote for the .45 shots.
ReplyDeleteIf not for the tile work I would have expressed my displeasure with just such a plan.
DeleteDo a little research on the net and find a site that describes how to remove the fixture for replacement. It might involve a special tool, but replacement of fixtures is usually not as hard as perceived.
ReplyDeleteThe worst that can happen is a plumber after you screw everything up.
Don't forget to turn off the water before you start. :-)
...and another thing: It's a shame the internet bridges huge distances. If I was close, I believe we could solve your problem with a few minutes of work.
DeleteI did and each and every video suggested I was a fool to attempt the procedure. There are three small copper lines and one wrong move, kaput....
DeleteIndeed....since I can't sweat copper.
My youngest was a plumber before he joined the Army at age 30. His price list.
ReplyDelete$25 per hour.
$30 per hour if you watch.
$35 per hour if you help.
$50 per hours if you already tried to fix it.
$10 per minutes surcharge is you have an attitude.
Hope this helps!
I should print and post the price list. Trust me, I understand.
DeleteI think only once in my life have I gotten through a plumbing project with only one trip to the hardware store. Usually it takes 3. Call the plumber, I say.
ReplyDeleteI shall call...in the morning. Parts await his arrival. My only question is, will he give me a discount for cash...?
DeleteI say call a plumber, get a 12 pack, watch them and enjoy the rest of your day!
ReplyDeleteI shall follow your advice, Mike. My drink of choice is iced tea....but what the heck, I might try a beer.
DeleteSounds like the "stem" is leaking. Parts are available, but as others have said, you're better off to shut the water to that faucet off (you do have valves/stops on it, right?), take it apart, and drag the dead parts with you.
ReplyDeleteWe're lucky in that the guy across the street is both a family friend, AND a professional plumber!
Three 'O' rings and two rubber spring loaded pistons and I'm sure the ball joint is corroded with lime deposits. It's a mess. No, our showers do not have shut-off valves as the works are loaded on interior walk-in closet walls. I'd need to shut down the house water supply and if I make a mistake....well, not good. Plumber installation will happen...dammit.
DeleteWe are fortunate in that when the whole house was re-piped in copper, they put shut-off valves (in plumber-speak they're called "stops") on everything in the house.
DeleteMakes it much easier to work on things that go DRIP in the night!
In the long run it will be cheaper if you get a new faucet and hire a plumber (or handyman) to install the thing. I have been there and done that with DH. Plus you will then still have your sanity and bullets.
ReplyDeleteDone. Every man should be well aware his limitations. I know mine very well. Sanity is precious.
DeleteIn case you need another source of how to videos, the This Old House website does occasionally have helpful info. Sunday perhaps isn't the best day to start a plumbing project though. If you do end up calling a plumber, they charge extra for emergency calls on weekends.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mrs. S., I watched videos last night until I was blue in the face. None, not a single one encouraged this procedure. I shall take their advice. Then again, all were sponsored by plumbing supply houses or plumbers and plumbing companies.
DeleteI looked it up:
ReplyDeleteRemove the handle by loosening the allen head screw
Remove the nut that holds the cartridge with a pair of channelocks, or a strap wrench. Wiggle the cartridge and either rebuild it or replace it.
Assembly is the opposite of these steps.
I'd give it a try, but then I'm cheap and foolish enough to not be wary of such projects.
Other than a screw and central plastic knob, I did. No markings. Now own a new set. I too am foolish enough but finding parts on a thirty year old set is tough.
DeleteI am there with ya I hate, Hate, HATE plumbing and only because you can never seem to actually find the parts you need or have no clue what it is you really have by the time it goes bad. Ever go into the home stores and look at the faucet repair kits, especially for tubs? Almost everyone of them have been opened and returned lol.
ReplyDeleteI have a delta sink faucet that's dripping now I been shutting it off from the valve under the sink and I know it is that bottom spring/rubber boot that is bad I just can't make myself go fishing in there to try and fix it.
Good luck.
We do tend to think my alike....I'd be fishing too, or at the gun range.
DeleteI don't even try anymore, I just suck it up and pay the man... sigh.
ReplyDeleteI try, then call. Hell, I'd need a chair in the tub. My knees can't take the pressure.
DeleteWe had a toilet that was always messed up and when it finally got replaced I took it out into the field shot it to the pieces. It was sweet revenge
ReplyDeleteSee, now that's smart....
DeleteStephen,
ReplyDeletePlumbing and electric I hate messing with. I will try and the first time I become frustrated, the professionals are called.
I agree, Sandy...every guy needs to understand and respect his limitations.
DeleteI'm thinking that I would call a plumber, after what I went through. I have to crawl under our house to get to the shut off. I hope to change that this summer.
ReplyDeleteI took your advice, Bubba, and it worked out well. He rebuilt the valve and saved me quite a bit of cash. Thanks, my friend, and don't forget the link I left above...
DeleteCall the plumber. We ordered a part for our 5 year old kitchen faucet (it leaked) .. part was free .. but the time the plumber spent to get the calcium corroded part off the old one .. and then we ended up needing a new faucet .. it would have been cheaper to just buy the new faucet to begin with. Anyone that lives in a rural area make sure you mark your water meter box incase it gets covered in feet of snow and needs to be found at 10PM in the dark. Don't ask.
ReplyDeleteHorror stories....I did...thanks.
Delete