The SHOWER is LEAKING!

[Modem Butterfly]

AAAARRRRGGGHHHH! The showerhead in our masterbath is leaking hot water. Not much mind you, but enough. We can't turn the damn thing off all the way, and we'll have to replace the valve. Which means cutting through the beautiful tile. Which means we'll have to call a professional and pay out the ying-yang.


AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! We just bought the damn place two months ago! I'm HULKING OUT! HULK SMASH TILES! HULK TURN WATER OFF NOW!!

Okay, cleansing breaths. My partner is heading to Home Depot to see if he can get some kind of shower head valve so we can stop the water from coming out the pipe long enough to find someone reputable to do the work.


AAAARRRGGGGGGHHH!

[benburch]

1. Suggestion...

Tap the valve with a hammer and see if you can make it seat.

Open the valve all the way, and then close it, and then tap it.

If this doesn't work, you needed to replace it anyway, but this is an old trick I learned from industrial maintenance guys...

[Modem Butterfly]

4. Do you mean to tap it into the off position?

Or do you mean to tap straight on?

[benburch]

8. Tap it into the off position.

Valve seals are typically softer material so that they will continue to seat over their lifetimes.

You might wrap the hammer in a washrag so you don't bruise the fixture.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

2. can you get to the valve from the other side of the wall?

that way you might just have to cut through some much more easily replaceable drywall???

theProdigal

[Modem Butterfly]

5. Maybe

The other side of the wall is another bathroom, which is tiled all around up to about 3 1/2, maybe 4 feet. I think the master bath shower valves are above that.

[ulysses]

3. oh shit.

I hate plumbing issues. I really hate plumbing issues. Is it in a place where you can take Prodigal's suggestion and cut through from the back? We were able to do that in our old house - shower backed up to a closet.

[Modem Butterfly]

6. Yeah, this sucks Batman.

Will's went to Home Depot this AM to find a work-around (a valve cap or a valve diverter). Hopefully that will give us some breathing room to find a good plumber and, if necessary, someone to fix the tile. The last owners helpfully left some unused tile and grouting in the basement, so at least we have the same materials.

[LynneSin]

7. Maybe this should be in your sig line

[sam sarrha]

9. Wrong.. there is Shower valve socket, that replaces those valves if it has

hot and cold handles...

if it has a joystick then there is a kit to replace the washer in the washerless washer.. there is actually a little seal on a spring and the ball shaped surface it rides on. i have done it before and those were surpising easy and it was very cheap

if it is old style you are in luck..it is easy and a kit is $20, there is a special socket that you ablolutely HAVE to HAVE, in the plumbinf at Lowes etc..(check a "Plumbing Supply"), if you can actually get it out with the socket.. and they still make the part.

you need to get the part out..take a digital photo or draw a picture, expoloded view of the parts as you take them out so you can get them back in right.. take them to Lowes/homebase/Plumbing supply so you can get the right part the 'First Time'.

if it is Joy Stick, single handle, tke a digital photo and take that to the stores..and you might be able to get the part before you take it apart and have less 'No Water' down time. the handle on those usually come off with an "Allen" wrench, then that exposes the nuts to get the seals..

They are brass and you need Sockets/box wrenches with '5' sides. If your F the nut up you could be in real trouble, unless you have a New Vice Grips with nice sharp teeth and a 4 pound hammer. use the 5 sided tools

If you have hot and cold valves.. get the proper tool-just pay for it-, and it will be easy ....if Allah is actually merciful.

Plumbing hurts...:cry:

Get a good mantra and maintain a peaceful mind, if you get frustrated or angery the Adrenoline will cause you to lose 25 IQ points and you are going to mess that up bad.

my favorate is "Om Mani Padme Hum"

[Modem Butterfly]

10. We had a pretty terrible leak problem in our last house

We're definitely plumbing shy when it comes to DIY stuff, so we'll probably call a professional in any event. But I appreciate the tips, because this way we'll be less vulnerable to scams.