how to repair a stuck shower valvehow to repair a stuck shower valve

For shower diverter repair, continue with steps 5-6 below. You'd find a small screw inside that hole. Dave holds Master Plumber Licenses in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia. You can either turn off the water that's directly supplied to your bathtub/shower (if you have an accessible shut off valve). Should have been an easy fix. If your valve cartridge will not slide into the wall or seems too small for the slot, you may have bought the wrong size. Best Way to Clean AC Condenser/Outside Coil, How to Clean AC Evaporator Coil for Powerful Cooling. While needlenose pliers can be used for this step, it may be easier with thicker pliers. Make sure to keep track of the screws and consider taking the time to scrape off old caulking and clean both the trim plate and the shower handle. The diverter valve diverts water from one path to another path. Spray lubricant such as WD-40 on obvious points of friction. Often, this type of spout will also be caulked to the bathroom wall. You have to be careful so that you get the right tension on the spout without damaging it, and also ensure that the spout orientation is right. Snap the index covers back onto the handles.15. This is relatively simple to check and adjust. 6. Turn off the water supply to the entire house if you cannot find the water stops for your shower. Got Plumbing Questions? This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey fixes a faulty shower valve with new valve stems and seats. Look for a small (preferably clear) plastic bag. Then, test the toughness of it with an Allen wrench - any movement is a good sign. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. If the clip is corroded, use WD-40 on it to loosen it up. This keeps the faucet . All rights reserved. Using a pair of pliers, pull the U-shaped cartridge retainer clip off of the valve body. Put the flat file straight into the hole. When this happens, it can cause smoke, noticeably loud engine idling, a hard starting engine, or motor oil in the PCV Valve. The substances embed on the groove inside the spout thereby restricting the free up and down movement of the diverter causing it jam. Then install in the new knob, making sure that the cold water knob is on the right, while the hot water knob is on the left. You can do this in a couple of different ways. Here is how to go about it. Remove the Faucet Handle: Unscrew the retaining ring at the top of the faucet handle and pull it out. Choose a size and copy the code below to embed this guide as a small widget on your site / forum. Richard Epstein is a licensed master plumber with over 40 years experience in residential and commercial plumbing. You can remove a stuck faucet handle using three methods: Removing lime or scale deposits Getting rid of corrosion Applying oil and force I'll explain these methods more further in this article through a step-by-step guideline on how to remove a stuck outdoor faucet handle. Youll gain the knowledge to make informed decisions about maintaining your homes tub and shower function. It dissolves calcium deposits in faucets quite effectively and will definitely loosen a stuck shower diverter. A nylon piece is the one responsible for blocking the spout and hence divert water to the showerhead. Plus the necessary tools to do the job - I'm without. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'plumbingnav_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_9',195,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-plumbingnav_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Make sure that whatever style of diverter you choose matches up with your existing plumbing fixtures and shower faucet. Unthread the existing seat from inside the valve with a seat wrench. Slide the sleeve off the valve. You can purchase caulk online or from most home improvement stores. Finish by screwing the trim plate and shower handle back in place. Turn the water back on to the shower. 15. Wait a few minutes, then it should slide out more easily. Get out your screwdriver and remove the screw (s), then remove the handle. See video and video description on YouTube for details. A clogged or stuck valve can result in high pressure in the engine, head gasket issues, leaky oil, whistling, moisture in the engine, or sensor problems. Turn off the water at the fixture shutoff valves or at your home's main valve. Usually, the water stops will have flat head screw heads that let you turn them on and off. I have a bathtub drip that's getting worse. I no longer have the documentation or packaging. \r\r Share this video with a friend:\rhttps://youtu.be/XzcOtLedgrQ\r\r SUBSCRIBE for videos weekly video on repairing, reviving and restoring: \rhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC49Sq1i3iGV-ITpygo0sm3g?sub_confirmation=1\r\r Recommended playlist of all videos:\rhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6rlOQKpGLVkVqp8bELFzHT38nQSfaypm\r\rThe playlist above has a number of videos related to this content. To check if your shower valve is sticking because of limescale buildup: Key Takeaway: A new shower system requires thoughtful setup and possibly the help of a professional plumber. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for KOHLER Plastic Tub/Shower Replacement / Repair Valve 10350-NA at the best online prices at eBay! It's a good idea to do an internet search on the information printed on your trim plate. Let the vinegar work overnight and, in the morning, you may be able to extract the cartridge even without a cartridge puller. Two-valve diverters have separate handles for controlling both outlets independently. Unscrew the valve nut and put it aside for later. Since then, he has risen through the ranks into positions of increasing authority. Apply a light coating of solder paste or flux to the inside of the valve fittings, and to the cleaned end of the copper pipe. Lime, which is basically calcium is the whitish substance that you might also notice at the bottom of the bathtub after draining it. Pull the shower diverter knob up. Use a screwdriver to pry off the valve handle cap if one exists, then remove the screws holding together the handle and the faucet stem. We will also discuss some common problems with shower diverters. 8. Thx for the vid tho for sure! Using needlenose pliers, remove the valve clip and pull the valve out of the wall. Draw the handle of the valve gathering and unscrew any sleeves or connectors from the get-together. It's also a good idea to spray it with WD 40. Use a flat-head screwdriver to take off the small cover in the center of the diverter valve. If there are no shutoff valves behind the wall, you will need to locate and turn off water to the entire home and then open a fixture to relieve the pressure and drain the water. Pull the tool while rotating back and forth (clockwise and counterclockwise) to extract the cartridge. Its however not rocket science and you will be able to do it in 10 minutes. Pull off the . Take a pair of vice-grips and grab the bottom threads (not too tightly so that you damage them, just enough to hold them) and with another wrench, try to remove the valve. . By using our site, you agree to our. A stuck shower diverter is caused by debris, pipe corrosions and accumulation of mineral deposits in the bathtub spout. Once the spout is out, put it inside a bowl and add vinegar until evert part of the spout is immersed in the vinegar. Removing a Stripped Screw from a Shower Faucet Step 1: Cobalt Drill Bit You will generally need two or three tools to get this job done. Other than that, you need a drill and a cobalt drill bit. There are several types of valves and spouts, such as ball valves, cartridge valves, butterfly valves and ball check valves. If this is the problem, it will also affect your shower head and you will notice that there is low water pressure coming out of your showerhead. Cover the shower and pole with a towel or even a leather wrench to prevent scratches. Remove any excess putty that squeezes out.13. Before replacing the old cartridge with the new one, use your finger to lubricate it with a light coating of silicone plumber's grease to make it easier to remove when it needs to be replaced. Youll also need to make sure that your current plumbing setup is compatible with whichever valve model you select; some require additional piping if there isnt enough pressure from your existing supply line for proper operation. It's important to turn off the water to the shower before attempting these steps. If your current bathtub spout and shower diverter are in a quite bad shape and therefore not worth fixing, the best and long term approach is to replace them. Keep spraying the penetrating oil and playing with the knob until it loosens up completely. A shower diverter acts like a gate inside the bathtub spout. The vinegar will eat away at the buildup, clearing the showerhead for enhanced water flow. If the stem is stuck, use a pair of needle-nose pliers to grab the stem and twist back and forth to work it free. 11. If the showerhead looks like it needs to be cleaned, submerge it overnight in white vinegar. If you have a spout with an Allen screw just slide it in the pipe and screw it in place. You can also research how to cut a hole safely and easily into your wall's material on a verified home improvement site. Look on the opposite side of the wall where the shower is located. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to pry the black rubber washer loose. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d2\/Replace-a-Shower-Valve-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-a-Shower-Valve-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d2\/Replace-a-Shower-Valve-Step-1.jpg\/aid9752157-v4-728px-Replace-a-Shower-Valve-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"