View Full Version : I believe 1950s bathroom (tub)plumbing
murph456
Jun 10, 2007, 06:44 AM
Last I had been told the plumber would neeed to rip a portion of the wall out right or near the faucts in order to turn the faucet off which won't quit dripping. Is this correct / I live in Elysburg,PA. and I have no idea if this is true or not, I need clarification because I do need to turn the faucet off it drips a gallon of water ever couple hours(cold water). Any help to this plumbing ignorant person would be very welcomed.
Ben
speedball1
Jun 10, 2007, 06:52 AM
"Last I had been told the plumber would neeed to rip a portion of the wall out right or near the faucts in order to turn the faucet off which won't quit dripping."
Rip up your walls to shut the water off to repair a dripping faucet? Unbelievable!!
You have a meter stop, a house shut off and there should be a stop on the faucet supply. What faucet is it and I'll give you instructions on hjow to repair it if you wish. In the meantime change plumbers. Yours wants two weeks in Aruba at your expense. Regards, Tom
murph456
Jun 10, 2007, 07:33 AM
Thanks I actual know where to shut the water off to the entire house.I was hoping till we could get a plumber in or I could fix myself with instructions to simply turn off the bath tub faucet.
Thanks,
Ben
speedball1
Jun 10, 2007, 09:59 AM
Hi Ben,
Not knowing how old the installation is kind of puts me at a disadvantage. On older tubs we left a access panel behind the front of the tub and installed stops there. On newer ones the manufacture installed screwdriver stops in the valve body where the supplies connect to the valve. You will have to remove the knob and face plate to get to them. If it's a very old installation then you might not even have the access panel. Good luck, Tom
murph456
Jun 10, 2007, 05:53 PM
Thanks Tom I really appreciate the input. I believe it's so dated though there is no access panel. But I am printing your instruct out as I may find it does serve my purposes. Right now though I have simply replaced the washers which is working fine for now but we were told the faucets and knobs couldn't even bereplaced because they were to old. I have difficulty believing that one and in actually would really like to replace the knobs and the faucet itself.
If you could email me I can take a picture of my existing faucets and knobs if that would help in determining if this really is just to old to simply replace.And you could have a very valid point that the plumber simply wants funding for a trip to Atuba.If you could direct me where I could buy these types of fauct and knob set I appreciate it. My e-mail is
[email protected]
Thanks Tom,
Ben:)
speedball1
Jun 11, 2007, 07:47 AM
It places me at a hardship to work from E-mail or PM's. Please place you picture here using the attachment feature. Thanks, tom
murph456
Jun 11, 2007, 10:15 AM
Ok . Below is the picture of the described.
:)
speedball1
Jun 11, 2007, 10:50 AM
The one you have pictured looks great to me, however, if you wish to replace the one you have you will have to open up the drywall behind the faucet. You now have the option of replacing or you could go with one of the newer one handle valves. If you're wondering about the holes in the tub wall Moen makes a chrome remodel plate,(see image) that's just made for your project. If you wish to do the work yourself let me know when you have the wall opened up. Regards, Tom
murph456
Jun 11, 2007, 11:37 AM
Thanks you've been a great help. The plumber we have or had told us even though we could replace washers to stop the leaks that happen to often the whole works would still need replacing eventually. Are you telling me this isn't the case and we can live fine with it just like it is. If so maybe you can tell me where does one go to buy those rings that fit around the faucet. As you'll notice it's missing from ours and I have yet to find one in the hardware stores here that carry such items.
Thanks again for all this terrific advise and help,
Ben
speedball1
Jun 11, 2007, 03:16 PM
Today's plumbers are too fast to replace and not fast enough to repair . You have one of the older plumbers that was trained to repair and to replace only as a last resort. As you can see by the image I've put up it's a simple job to replace washers. Tell me what you wish to do. Your valve is repairable, would you like me to walk you through it? As for the chrome escutcheon plate you won't find one in a hardware or big box stores. Take the good escutcheon around to plumbing shops and ask them for a duplicate.
Let me know. Regards, Tom
murph456
Jun 11, 2007, 06:54 PM
Thanks for all your info. As I mentioned I have already stopped the leak/drip via replacing the washers. I assume all is fine now till it leaks again.
Ben:o
speedball1
Jun 12, 2007, 06:36 AM
Glad your leak's repaired. Did you run your fingernail around the seats to make sure that they were free from nicks or rough edges? If the seats are bad they will just tear up the new washers. Good luck, Tom
murph456
Jun 12, 2007, 06:48 AM
Yes this was done. Again thank you for your assistance.If I need to call on you again I will gladly contribute something to your time.
Ben