Plumbing question

[wallyuwl]

So as of two days ago our shower faucet is leaking. I'm not good at plumbing stuff, but have looked up a few videos on how to do the job. Seems pretty simple.

The faucet is similar to this:
faucet

The handle unscrews easily from the large round piece that sticks outward from the wall. Then with the handle removed, there is a screw that needs to be removed with a hex wrench. When I remove the screw, I think the large circular part is supposed to just slip off. But it doesn't. I'm afraid to pull too hard because I don't want to bust the pipes behind the wall.

Any suggestions on getting it off? I think I can do the rest of the job rather easily if I get past this part.

For as long as we've had this house (four years), on this shower when you turn the handle to "hot" you get cold water, and vise versa.

How might I fix that (assuming I get the round cover part off)?

Like I said, I'm really bad with plumbing stuff.

 

[strongt]

Saw this on This Old House alittle while ago about fixing a shower valve. Watch the first part of this video on PBS it may help you:

http://video.pbs.org/video/2153824455/

Good luck !

 

[CourierDriver]

when in doubt , change out the whole facuet system, imho, piece meal fixing can lead to a day of screaming and kicking.lol now washers and such are different and easy.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

If it's a few years old you have a Delta Monitor Series, either 1300, 1500 or 1700. You can take a picture and email it to Delta and they'll tell you exactly which model you have.

If it's the 1300 series there are no replacement parts available. Despite the original lifetime warranty, Delta quit making parts years ago and no one else makes the odd rubber seal you need to replace. Delta used to have an upgrade kit (to the tune of a couple hundred dollars) but even that is no longer available.

If it's the updated 1500 or 1700 then parts are still available. When you do get it opened up, shine a flashlight in the back of the body and you'll see two rubber cup-shaped seals that need to be replaced, along with a spring behind each one. Once you get the old rubber cups out (a needle nose pair of pliers works) turn the water on and blast out all the accumulated junk that gets trapped behind them.

The reason the hot is cold and vice versa is because someone installed the adapter on the valve body backwards. You'll see it and you can flip it around.

If you go to YouTube and search for "Delta Monitor Shower Repair" you should be able to find a video that describes how to remove the body. There are a couple tricks to it that aren't obvious until you've done it once or twice. I've done it in our prior home more times than I care to count, and it's the reason we no longer have any Delta faucets whatsoever.

 

[wallyuwl]

It is a 1400 series. I called Delta. Once the screw is out that piece should just pull right off. That it doesn't means there is likely calcium buildup behind there preventing it from coming off, so that needs to be taken care of first. I am going to try some CLR in the hole (they said vinegar, but we don't have any) and let it sit for a bit, then see if I can get it off. If not I'm going to call a plumber and get it done. It isn't a hard job and shouldn't take them long, but if something breaks when they do it, they are responsible.

 

[wallyuwl]

Just called a plumber. The CLR worked some, but not enough for me to get the cover off. At least not using the amount of force I was willing to use so I didn't risk breaking any pipes in the wall. Should be an easy job for a professional.

 

[mechtech2]

Wiggle and jiggle the plate with CLR or vinegar. It simply has build up of minerals that is locking it on.

You may need a puller for the old vavle. Clean out the hole before inserting the new one.
Make sure it is oriented correctly.
And first, turn the water main off and open faucets to dump the water.

 

[bigmike]

I rarely concern myself with busting a pipe, but I guess it does happen. Plumbing is a controlled aggression. It takes force, but it takes gentle, steady force.

How did the plumber do?

 

[wallyuwl]

Originally Posted By: bigmike


How did the plumber do?


Called one and he came out, got to where he tried to take the nut off that was holding the cartridge on, and said he couldn't get it off without breaking something inside the wall. Said we needed a new tub faucet. And he'd have to go through the back side of the wall (our living room) to put it in. We didn't get charged for the work he attempted to do. He left us with a $560 estimate.

We called another plumber last night (local family owned company). The field manager is the guy I talked to, and he said to go get the cartridge from Lowes. He had one of his guys come at 9:00 this morning. He was done in a half hour, and it didn't even need to take that long but we talked a bit. Just heated the nut up a bit with a torch and it came right off.

My wife was really mad, and called the office of the company for the other guy (Roto-Rooter). The secretary said that wasn't right and she'd let a manager know.

 

[mechtech2]

The plumber could not get it off easily. He rightly stated that it could involve breakage and big repairs.

The second plumber simply got lucky.

 

[bigmike]

Ah, heat comes in handy! Well I'm glad to hear that it worked out in the long run. I've yet to bust anything in a wall, but always a good thing to know where the main shutoff is just in case.

 

[wallyuwl]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
The plumber could not get it off easily. He rightly stated that it could involve breakage and big repairs.

The second plumber simply got lucky.


Nah. He said he runs into this a lot. And mine was easy compared to some he deals with. The first plumber was either just not very good, playing it extremely safe, or trying to gouge a customer. He seemed like a nice guy and even suggested we shop around for prices on the job he suggested, so I don't think it was no. 3. I'd guess it was no. 2. But in playing it safe he cost me several hours of my time (waiting around, then having to be at home while he was trying to figure it out).

 

[andyd]

I came home exhausted and happy from rolling the twisties for a week in WVA with my son in his 83 BMW. I am not even in the house and the honeydews start. "And , oh by the way. Both showers are broken." Shower #1 was a loose clamp on the shower head hose. Easy fix. #2 was a rotted off gooseneck buried behind the tiles. Luckily. it is just a plumbimg wall with the toilet on the other side. I put an access panel in when I framed the wall. There is a corresponding panel in the ceiling below in a mudroom/pantry. For the gooseneck repair There is now a ceramic plaque with sunflowers covering the 6X6 hole I cut so I could sawzall out the elbow which was screwed into a cleat. With the bezel off the mixing valve, I was able to get my mini tubing cutter on the pipe. I had the stuff , but I ended up going to Loews for a new brass elbow, and the gooseneck. I taped the 6x6 cut out back in and hung the plaque. In my 35 yrs in this house only 2 plumbers have been in for the addition and the new kitchen. Ive re- plumbed the original bathroom twice. I get my water from a well and all the pump stuff is in my tiny basement. It originally had gate valves. Their bibb screws would rot off and they would fail. My water is acidic. After replacing all the gate valves twice, I smartened up and switched to ball valve shut-offs. Every pipe to every fixture can be shut off and drained from the basement. That is in addition to what ever shut off a fixture has. Plumbing fixtures wear out. With 2 1/2 baths and 2 sinks and a laundry, stuff happens.
But.. The Moen shower valve in my master bedroom has been in since '85. About every 5 yrs or so, I have to replace a cartridge. But they are readily available,and easy to replace. I had a Delta kitchen faucet with the single lever. I was not impressed. I dont think I have 30$ tied up in a torch, tubimg cutters, flux and solder. I keep a few fittings and have a few sticks of tubing left over.