[Plumbingidiot]

Okay so let me start by saying I'm a single mom with little income and no family in the area.

Three nights ago my daughter was using our hallway bath (it's a jacuzzi tub enclosed in ceramic tile) When she went to turn the hot water on the whole thing came off in her hand and water was spewing from the wall. I went to the hot water tank and shut off the hot water as that is all I knew to do.

So I took all the parts to Lowe's & home depot to see if they could help me out. I have been to several different plumbing supply stores etc. no luck. Here is what the cartridge looks like.


Any thoughts? Ideas?? I have looked on the drain and the parts to the faucet and I have yet to find a marking to identify the brand.

Here is what the lever looks like...


And here is the other part...


Thanks in advance and I'm so sorry if I seem so dumb. Just not a plumber!

[Milo Dolezal]

Hello PlumbingWise,

These stems ( and rough body ) are used in many higher end faucets. It looks to me like Kohler 1/4 turn stem, but it could also be Waterworks, Newport, Grohe, Hans Grohe, KWC - just to think of few...

Can you take a photo of entire faucet, including the spout and handles , and post it ?

You should go to a small, independent, mom'n'pops store with the stem in your hand. They'll tell you right away what it is and where to get it.

If you are in So.California, I could give you few leads...

Now, if this stem just came out loose and unscrew out of the wall - it may by OK just to reinstall it. It does happen that they come loose. You just insert it back, take crescent wrench and tighten it. Reinstall trim - and you are back in business.