Stopping A Leaky Shower Faucet - Avoid The Traps, Get Expert Advice On How To Stop Leaky Faucets
‘Wet wet wet’ – Remember the music group best known for tugging at the
heartstrings with their soul-stirring numbers? Well guess what, they are back,
not on the music scene, but in my bathroom! This might sound blatantly absurd,
if not comical to you, but the fact remains that a phenomenon uncannily similar
is draining me of my wherewithal and threatening to sink every iota of my
sanity.
I’m simply referring to the grating leak in my absolutely luxurious wall mounted
brushed nickel Delta shower faucet set. And stopping a leaky shower faucet is
not something that suffuses me with fulsome buoyancy.
Strange, but the thought of leaky hoses, faulty valves, damaged pipes, dripping
faucet spouts, clogged bathtubs and shower heads have nothing more than a token
import on us when we undertake faucet installation within the precincts of our
homes.
May be that is really the magic of the hypnotic aura that iconic brand names
like Moen, Pegasus, Kohler, Danze, Peerless and Chrome exude every time you
invite yourself into the high-end environs of Home Improvement stores. But even
as the radioactive stocks of this truly vintage stuff in mesmerizing metallic
finishes like brass, copper or bronze fly off the racks with amazing alacrity,
one cannot be utterly tone-deaf to repairs and replacements to these fixtures.
So whether it is fixing the water-related woes of a handheld shower faucet,
installing new, serviceable parts in the kitchen faucet or making cosmetic
changes to that old tub, the plumber in you will always be in demand.
Clearing The Air Just A Bit
What! Summon the plumber in me? I know, it does not sound explicitly exiting
or does not even remotely manage to fire your imagination. After all, isn’t
riffling through the yellow pages in search of an impeccably trained and richly
experienced plumbing professional supposedly a more plausible solution to this
supremely galling task?
Well, that’s what significant swathes of the gullible population actually do.
And unfortunately, there lies the biggest folly. If you find hard-core
do-it-yourselfers an oddity, then it’s because most homeowners treat something
as uncomplicated and rudimentary as repairs to a leaky shower faucet with much
more importance than it well and truly deserves.
If more and more homeowners decided to address their minefield of plumbing
problems themselves by combing craft and creativity, they would certainly
prevent their hard-earned money from being washed away by the plumbing
fraternity. This is of course, in addition to generating choleric reactions from
the community in general.
The Memory Will Be Nothing More Than A Blur
So what does it really take to cause a dramatic reversal of fortunes? I mean,
how does a layman that does not boast of any sort of competence in this regard
perform the repair work with aplomb.
That’s simple; you’ll need the unstinted support of a few plumbing tools like a
socket wrench, flathead screwdriver, flashlight, penknife and a few supplies
like ‘O’ rings and washers, in addition to a boatload of patience and time.
With the paraphernalia in place, it’s now time to experience an epiphany of
sorts. Here’s how:
- The first step is to cut-off the water supply to the defective shower. There are two ways that you can achieve this – you could either stop the supply at the main cut-off valve in the basement or stop the same at the bathroom.
- Leave the faucet open for a while to allow all the water to drain out completely.
- Using a pocket knife or a small screwdriver, remove the shower handle cap. You will now be able to see the faucet handle screw.
- Loosen and remove the screw with the help of a screwdriver. You will need to turn the screw clockwise in order to take it off.
- After the screw, it’s time for the faucet handle to come off. Make sure both these parts are preserved safely.
- At times, the faucet handle may be stuck to the stem, and may not come off that easily. This sticky situation can be resolved with a few knocks from the handle of a hammer.
- Using another screwdriver, remove the U-shaped cartridge retaining clip. You will also need to take off the nut that connects the cartridge and the valve body.
- It’s now time for the cartridge to come off with copious doses of help from a pair of pliers.
- Inspect the condition of the washer. Replace it with a new part after coating it with a little Vaseline. Make sure it is placed correctly in the shower head assembly.
- The problem of mineral deposits on the assembly can be addressed with a combination white vinegar and water applied with an old toothbrush.
- Replace all other parts in the correct order. Retighten the handle and
thread the shower head back into place.
Delirious With Anticipation?
Now after all the hard work, it’s now time to brace yourself for the ultimate
test. Turn on the water supply, and watch the sparkling results with absolute
delight.
Who needs a plumber anymore?