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-   -   Faucet Replacement (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=11974)

  • Aug 21, 2005, 02:22 PM
    joe31
    Faucet Replacement
    My bathtub has a two handle hot/cold with a diverter for the shower/tub faucet.

    Water was coming out of the handles so I bought a kit to replace it. I couldn't tell what type of faucet that I currently had so I bought the kit that closely resembled the handles.

    After installing the kit, I still have water coming out of my handles and now I have water coming out of the bathtub at the same time my diverter is supposed to be in the shower position.

    Today, after about one month the shower stopped altogether. Water still flows to the tub but at less pressure. I couldn't even tell you the brand that I just installed.

    Can anybody help me please?
  • Aug 22, 2005, 03:29 AM
    RickJ
    It sounds certain that the replacement parts were not correct.

    Unfortunately, there are hundreds of different stem types... even plumbers hate bathtub faucets.

    Can you supply the name and model # of the kit?
    What did the kit include? Was it just washers and O-rings, or was it a "stem" with threads that screws into the faucet assembly?

    The repair involves, at a minimum, removing the stems. Were you able to remove them with no problem? If so, I would take them to a local plumbing supply joint and ask them to give you the correct repair kit.

    Before you go, though, inspect the seats too. The seat is where the washer at the bottom of the stem rests when the stem is screwed in all the way. If you see or feel any damage, they must be replaced too. Be careful about feeling around in there with your finger. If the seat is damaged, it may have sharp edges.

    I hope this helps!
  • Aug 22, 2005, 06:13 AM
    speedball1
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by joe31
    My bathtub has a two handle hot/cold with a diverter for the shower/tub faucet.

    Water was coming out of the handles so I bought a kit to replace it. I couldn't tell what type of faucet that I currently had so I bought the kit that closely resembled the handles.

    After installing the kit, I still have water coming out of my handles and now I have water coming out of the bathtub at the same time my diverter is supposed to be in the shower position.

    Today, after about one month the shower stopped altogether. Water still flows to the tub but at less pressure. I couldn't even tell you the brand that I just installed.

    Can anybody help me please?
    Hi Joe,
    Can you tell us exactly what you have done so far? What did the repair kit consist of? It sounds like when you installed the repair kit you dislodged some crud that got caught in the diverter assembly on your spout. To fix this you must pull the spout and flush it out or simply replace it. For water leaking out of the stem and handles all you have to do is snug up the bonnet packing nut. That's the first small nut on the stem. To see what I'm talking about click on; http://www.plumbinglessons.com/sup/showervalve.htm
    For a diagram of a shower valve. This valve has three stems but otherwise is the same as yours. If you need instructions on how to remove the spout just click on back. Regards, Tom
  • Aug 22, 2005, 07:05 PM
    joe31
    Thank everybody very much! :) :cool: I went back to the hardware store and checked the kit I bought. It was a Sayco. The kit had 3 flanges, 3 knobs and two stems for the hot & cold and one stem for the diverter. By looking at the parts and thinking about what happened, I thought that it was the diverter. I took the diverter apart and it seems like the screw and the washer in the back stem of the diverter came loose. I tighted it up and my shower is working again but I still have water coming out of the handles.

    Do you think that the water coming out of the handles is because of the seats not being tight enough?
  • Aug 23, 2005, 03:31 AM
    RickJ
    I'm still leaning toward the wrong replacement parts.

    Did you save the original ones? If so, put them side by side and look at every detail. Are they identical?
  • Sep 7, 2005, 07:21 PM
    joe31
    I no longer have the originals. There were no original identifications that I could tell on which replacement parts to choose.

    I think that you are right, because still have the same issues but how can I tell which brand of the stems that I need?

    Thanks
  • Sep 8, 2005, 06:49 AM
    RickJ
    My experience is that it is next to impossible to match the stems to the fixture unless 1. The make and model of the fixture are known, or 2. The original stems are available.

    If this is true [and I do hope someone more expert than I will come along and suggest otherwise] you're left with two options: 1. live with the problem, or 2. replace the fixture.

    ... and the latter is usually fairly labor intensive.
  • Sep 8, 2005, 06:50 AM
    speedball1
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by joe31
    I no longer have the originals. There were no original identifications that I could tell on which replacement parts to choose.

    I think that you are right, because still have the same issues but how can I tell which brand of the stems that I need?

    Thanks
    Rick gave you good advice. If you can find them, compare. If you still have water leaking out of the stem when the valve is turned on then you need to snug up the bonnet packing nuts,( the first nuts on the stem).
    Turn on the cold water and snug up the nut until the leak stops. Do the same with any other stem that leaks. Let us knowhow you come out. Tom

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