Hi, I have a cape style 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.

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.

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