Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Replacing a Shower Tub Faucet? Tips You'll Be Glad You Saw

Is the constant drip from the shower annoying you at night? Fix it. Replacing shower tub faucets is easy with the tips given below.

The faucets come in various styles and sizes. The old ones used to have washers and newer ones have cartridges in them which control hot and cold water. If there is a leak it will be due to these. They start leaking or dripping when washers become stiff and corroded. Water pressure also hastens this process.
So when you remove these take the faucets to the hardware store and get them replaced according to the correct size. Take an exact centre to centre measurement.
Keep the correct tools with you. Basically you require two pipe wrenches one for holding and another for turning. For square or hex nuts open end wrenches are ideal as they have smooth jaws. If the pipe is of small diameter then you need to have vise grip wrench.
While soldering be careful. Too much heat can damage the faucet body.
Keep a pile of rags and water with you. While soldering keep a wet rag on opposite side of faucet. This will keep the faucet cool while soldering.
After soldering wipe joint with a clean cloth to remove debris and flux.
Flush the water line by removing the cartridge.
When you buy a new faucet keep the manufacturer's instruction sheet with you. They will come in handy during repairs. Also keep spare parts in a safe place.
Always plan for an access wall on the opposite side of the wall behind the shower faucet.

While replacing the washer or cartridge remember

Turn the water supply off.
remove the faucet handle
Remove the faucet assembly consisting of the trim and the stem assembly.
Take the washer and the stem for replacement.
Grease the threads and washer and assemble it all back.

Now just turn on the water supply and check if your do it yourself has worked. Good luck.

Here's the easy way to Replace Your Shower Tub Faucet. And here's some expert advice on how to Replace Bathtub Faucets.

No comments:

Post a Comment