Comment on Need to replace bathroom tub fixtures
David_Eight@lemmy.world 4 months ago
I’d just replace the whole thing if I where you. Are there replacement valves even available anymore, if there 60 years old there might not be?
If you do just want to fix the old ones, spray then with a penatrating oil (WD-40) and let it soak in for a few hours and try again. If that direct doesn’t work hey them up with a torch. Don’t forget to turn off the water to the house before trying either lol
MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 4 months ago
I am by no means an expert… I just kind of assumed everything was standardized, and new valves would be interchangeable.
Good call on the WD 40. I should be able to get behind the shower knob. For the spigot, it’s more of a spray and hope lol.
poVoq@slrpnk.net 4 months ago
hahaha… sobs uncontrollably 😭
Plumbing is famous for being the least standardized craft in the world…
David_Eight@lemmy.world 4 months ago
Nope, if it really is that old I doubt you’ll find a replace. At best you could try to replace all the o-rings in the old valve and put it back in. If you want to try to find a replacement anyways, take out the old valve and take it to a plumbing supply store and ask someone behind the counter if they have any. Also, avoid buying plumbing supplies from Home Depot/Lowe’s or any big box store, it’s all garbage.
I worked a few years in plumbing in my youth and in these type of situations we’d always replace the whole setup.
MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 4 months ago
Heat did the trick for the spout, no dice on the diverter knob. Same with WD-40… there’s no place to really access the problem spot. It’s on there good.
Noted on big box vs dedicated supply store.
I did some more research and I think I’ll be able to be able to replace the washers and re-pack the compression nuts, and keep the original valves. But I’m not attempting that until I can get an early start on a day when the supply store is open for any running back and forth that may be needed. And even aside from that, none of the local big box stores have any packing nut material in stock.
Thank you again for the insight!
David_Eight@lemmy.world 4 months ago
I forgot to mention, when you use heat to try and loosen it up to drain the water out of the system first. Otherwise all the heat will just get transferred to the water in the pipes. So try turning off the water to the house, then turn on the shower and open a sink or shower in the basement so all the water will drain away from the shower you’re working on.
Be aware that this might melt any plastic or rubber in the shower valve causing it to leak or make it unusable until you fix it. It might be smart to have a replacement shower valve on hand just in case you can’t fix the old one, best case you can return it if your successful fixing the old one.
They make specific replacement shower valves sets that come with a large trim piece that cover up the hole you would have to make to replace the old valve.
Sorry I wasn’t more specific about all that, I haven’t worked in plumbing for like ten years 😅