Hi, I have a cape sytle home, built in 1952. The other owner believed highly in soldering everything together. MY tub spout is leaking very badly. It is one of the twist on ones. I finally twisted it off and guess what? The end of the copper pipe that was inside the spout was actually soldered to the end of the spout. so when I twisted it off, I twisted the copper pipe that was coming out of the wall. So I had to cut it about a 1/4 of an inch. But that is not causing the leak, ( I thought the tub spout might have had a bad washer in it , but it doesn't). So now it looks like it might be the on/off lever that might be the leaker, But I am afraid to take it apart because it might be all soldered together, and It might make a big waterfall in the bathroom wall. I took the faceplate off the on/off fixture, and I see that I do have to twist the rest of the fixture off, but it might be soldered to the copper pipe behind it. ANy Ideas about this, or has anyone had a house where everything is soldered together? I can'teven begin to tell you all about how my kitchen sink was. That was all soldered together too, The plumber said he never saw anytihng like it. He charged me $1200.00 to reconnect all my water pipes because of all the soldering under there. I really can't afford another plumber. But the leak in the tub is starting to cause some damage to the walls, where the tub and wall meet.

ballengerb1

From what you describe I would certainly consider cutting the whole thing out and installing a new mixinf valve and spout. Are the pipes in the wall copper?? Noy so common in 1952.

Isablue

Yes the pipes are all copper. I think I am just going to hire a plumber to do it. THere is a lot of tile involved to cut it all out I am too afraid to mess it up and make it worse than it is. Thank-you for your time and effort. ISABELLE