The valves and spouts for tubs and showers are serviced like those on lavatories--with two prominent exceptions. The diverter valve, which directs water to tubs and showers, is special. And you may encounter and access question repairing leaks from a wall-mounted stem valve.
To remove a wall-mounted faucet or diverter valve, you will have to unscrew a bonnet nut that is recessed. In some fixtures the out-of-the-way nut offers enough buy to permit the use of locking-grip pliers or a basin wrench. If not, you will need a socket wrench to slip over the protruding faucet stem and the nut.
Shower Head
Inexpensive sets of long sockets designed explicitly for this sort of job are available at plumbing furnish stores. Alternately, your own tool kit may hold a socket that will suffice, although an unorthodox turning technique will be primary because of the distance of the faucet's stem.
Unlike faucets and wall-mounted diverter valves, the working parts of a tub-spout diverter--a knob at the top of the tub spout that controls a diverter gate within--are not replaceable. Failures can be remedied only by installing a new spout.
Most problems with shower heads, however, are verily cured. Exchange of washers or O-rings will generally take care of leaks. And erratic or weak pressure from the shower head can ordinarily be traced to a build-up of minerals from the water supply. Permissible flow can be restored by disassembling the parts and giving them a good cleaning; soaking in vinegar loosens mineral deposits and makes the part operate like new again.
Repairing Tub and Shower Faucets
No comments:
Post a Comment