Check out some similar questions!

fred0987 · Apr 22, 2012, 07:29 PM

Hi,
Great forum! Before I try and tackle this job, I need some advice.
I have chronic leaking taps in my bathroom shower and bath. The pipes are about 60 years old. I have had them reseated etc, washers etc replaced. No luck!
I will need to pull the wall down which covers these pipes to, I think, replace the pipe unit (?) that has the tap valves in it.
Is this job OK for a non plumber, who is handy with tools? Is there an alternative. The taps are leaking constantly.
Cheers

parttime · Apr 23, 2012, 05:24 AM

Hi fred0987 and welcome, this is, or could be a doable job for a person handy with tools. There are some great plumbing experts here, but to help you, more info is needed.

Type of pipes? Can you access from behind tub? Type of walls?

Post back, I'm sure you'll have some good advice.

fred0987 · Apr 23, 2012, 06:05 AM

Thanks parttime, for your reply.
It basically a wall with both taps for the bath and taps for the shower. One-handle faucets. It is a shower bath. To access the pipes completely would mean to take down the old wall and tiles covering the pipes. The walls are old fibre cement (asbestos, to be removed by a local company). I think the pipes are old iron/steel pipes-the original bathroom pipes.
When reseating the valve seats, the covers or the taps are removable, but access to the whole pipe assemble is restricted.
Hope this is helpful.
Cheers

fred0987 · Apr 23, 2012, 06:19 AM

Correction: not a One-handle faucet, but 2 taps and a spout bfor the bath and 2 taps and a shower head.

parttime · Apr 23, 2012, 08:20 AM

Fred are you saying the pipes are in an exterior wall?

massplumber2008 · Apr 23, 2012, 08:36 AM

Hi all

It sounds like you have galvanized or could even be old brass pipes. If this is the case, I would suggest that you get a plumber in to do the work needed here. If you break the galvanized (or brass) pipes off in an inconvenient area you could be opening up the floor or even other inside walls to fix the mistake. Working with pipes this old should really be left to people with a pretty good background in plumbing.

You can help reduce costs by opening and repairing the walls where the work will be done.

Good luck!

Mark

fred0987 · Apr 23, 2012, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by parttime

fred are you saying the pipes are in an exterior wall?

Yes, You know, I'll probably have to get a plumber in to look at it. I'll just take down the wall surface first.

parttime · Apr 23, 2012, 01:43 PM

Well good luck with it, and keep us posted on how it goes.