I have a constant drip coming from the bathtub faucet. Someone told me it could be the stem, but I can not get them out. I have removed the knobs (a two knob set up-cold and hot) to access the stems. I saw a hexagonal type shape thinking it was the stem, but all that came out was a bolt looking thing with threading on it. The stem is still connected and all I can see is a circle. No tub socket will fit around this circular object. I have tried pulling this circular thing out thinking it is a washer, but it will not move. I do not know how old the faucet is or what brand it is as it is unmarked and came with the house. What can I do besides using a hammer on it out of frustration? I have already been to lowes three times today and they are no help.
2007-03-05 13:42:22 · 5 answers · asked by Key D 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
There are some jobs that should be left to professionals. One of them is plumbing when you don't know one wrench from another.
2007-03-05 14:46:03 · answer #1 · answered by Corky R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, go talk to a professional plumber, not the clerk at Lowe's or HD. Take digital pictures of the faucet assembly and find a new copy of it in the box.
1. Remove the knobs (which you did)
2. Remove the escutcheons surrounding the valve shaft
3. You should now see just the fixture in the wall with the shafts through the holes
4. You will need a socket wrench (check with the plumber) to remove the whole assembly from the faucet body. All that you did was back out the valve shaft as far as it would go. The socket wrenches are special thinwall sockets, sold individually or as a set of 3-4 double-ended units. The socket will slide over the whole stem assembly most easily if the shaft is centered in the hole in the shower wall through which it protrudes.
5. Remove the valve from the faucet body. Change out both the valve seat as well as the flat washer. You will need a special L-shaped tool to remove the seat, but a screwdriver will remove the screw that holds the rubber washer in place.
2007-03-05 21:57:43 · answer #2 · answered by Thomas K 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the plumbing departmen at lowes will have a socket that is proably 1 or 1.25 that is made to fit around the stem of your faucet. Use a pair of Channel Locks to turn this counter clockwise to pull out the stem. Of course, make sure the water to the house is off.
2007-03-05 21:56:28 · answer #3 · answered by fugazi48 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call a plumber before you damage it, i've been doing this 28 years and seen inexperienced people screw faucets up worse than the problem was to begin with.
2007-03-05 21:52:02 · answer #4 · answered by trekkie706 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what can I do about dripping faucet
2014-03-01 17:37:14 · answer #5 · answered by Karen 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋