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Fixing a shower faucet

Replacing or fixing shower and sink faucet handles?

We just moved into a new (to us) home that was built in 1993.  It has a dual sink master bathroom, stand up shower, bathtub and a half bath downstairs. In each of these, there isj what appears to be pretty much the exact same hot/cold faucet handles.  No clue what make, there  are no markings whatsoever so Im guessing its some generic brand they used in the houses at the time.

The problem is that the handles are all loose and wobbly, with a lot of play in them. Tightning the handles didnt change anything, so Im sure they are just old and need to be replaced.  I can replace the 3 sinks, but Im

particularly concerned with the shower and bathtub in the master bath. There do not appear to be any access panels, and everything (tub included) is behind tile.

Is there any magic solution?  Will it be necessary to hack away at the tile to gain access to these old fixtures?  Im reasonably handy, but also pretty busy- Im not sure how much of my time this project would take if I got into

it. Can anyone give me any clues or suggestions as to what I would be getting into?  This way I can either go for it or just pay a plumber to do it.

Thanks


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8 helpful answers

Do it yourself - it's fun 

    Are you tightening the screw that secures the handle (it may be hidden

under a cover) or are you just turning the handles off a little tighter?

    Even a cheap brand only 12 years old should not have this problem with

all of the handles.  One or two maybe but not all.

Posted 2005-11-29T21:42:56Z
 
8 helpful answers

Do it yourself - it's fun 

 
1 helpful answer

Do you mean the connection of the handle to the valve stem, or the stem

within the valve body?  Two distinctly different problems...  the first

could have an easy solution using some type of shimming.

The second, well, for being 12 years old, just shouldn't happen to a

fixture of any quality at all.  A good plumber (or handyman, maybe) can

rebuild a shower valve (or most of them, anyway), provided there are

parts available.  I just had one rebuilt after about 60 years of use.

No wobbly valve stems, though!

In other words, more info needed.

Posted 2005-11-29T21:47:37Z
 
 
4 helpful answers

Thanks for the replys, sounds like more info is needed.


Sorry for the laymans terms for this stuff, but Ill try to describe it as

best I can.


So the handle screws onto a stem, and it is the stem itself that rotates to

control the flow of water and appears to be the problem.  I of course first

tried to see if just the handles were loose on the stems by tightening the

screw that attaches the handle to the stem, but no luck see picture:

faucet.JPG

I then removed several handles and wiggled the stems themselves, finding

that they were indeed very loose- i.e. it wouldnt matter how tight the

handle was on, these things are gonna more around.  They are loose laterally

by the way.

The stems are made of plastic, as is most of the assembly I can see.  It is

pretty bizzare, from what you guys say these things should last a bit longer

than 12 years, but out of 8 handles of the identical make, all 8 are very

lose and wobbly.

Let me know if more info is required!

Posted 2005-11-29T21:50:19Z
 
4 helpful answers
 
8 helpful answers

Do it yourself - it's fun 

You need to remove the stems and take them to a plumbing supply or home

center.

They should be able to supply you with replacement parts.  BTW, did you

try

tightening the packing nut?  Sounds like you have el cheapo faucets,

but to replace

the entire shower/sub faucets without access is likely the last resort.

Posted 2005-11-29T21:54:38Z
 
8 helpful answers

Do it yourself - it's fun 

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