There is a leak in the wall behind our shower. The handyman couldn't remove the existing handles to fix it because he said the stems had been glued to the handles. What should we do? This house is over 30 years old. You can physically see the glue in and around the handles.

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Originally Posted by deannb

There is a leak in the wall behind our shower. The handyman couldn't remove the existing handles to fix it because he said the stems had been glued to the handles. What should we do?

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First off we don't "glue" the handles on the stems. These are metal to metal connections and are secured with a small screw. The handles have a pop off insert that will have to come off to get to the screw. Once the handles are off turn the water off, remove the cover plates and unscrew the bonnet packing nut,(see image) You may now unscrew the stem out counterclockwise. Check the seat for nicks or rough spots. If you find any the seat must be changed. Good luck, Tom