Plumbing Issue

Paging Dr. @15whtrd

Issue... I keep having to replace these gaskets behind the valve for cold n hot water in boys bathroom, since I've been here since 2010, I've done this at least a dozen times apparently these "purple gaskets" are better??? But I just did this about 6 months ago and hot water is leaking again, also replaced valves and these metal cones as well, what gives?!?!??? I tell the boys not to crank down too tight, any solutions???




Also in our shower the cold squeaks, but to get handle off, the Phillips screw is so tight I don't want to mess up the head on it, what would you or how to remove it, break handle and use vise grips to remove phillips screw???

 

Change to single lever faucets. "Cranking down" not an issue.

 

Municipal or well water?
High chlorine or low Ph?

 

Do I cap off hot n cold? I'm not much of a plumber but know just a tad
Also then I'll have two holes in tile, and I don't know how to cover or don't know how to do tile job either

 

City, TBH IDK that info

 

"Cap off"?...Neither, you just connect the flex lines to the hot and cold valves just like any other faucet. You swing the single lever to the left for hotter, to the right for cooler, back for high volume, and forward to shut off. Delta was the original design, but there are a lot of imitators now.

 

Old one on left, from hot water

 

First, try using a high quality, unworn, almost new Phillips screwdriver of the proper size...it has to fit tightly.

Phillips or cross recess heads were designed for Henry Ford to prevent the "camming out" of straight slot screws. But, a Phillips driver will still "cam out" if the screw is very tight. The trick is to apply all the axial force you can directly into the recess to hold the driver DEEP in the recess. If you can prevent the driver from backing toward you, then it's possible the screw will turn with all the force you're applying.

 

You need to replace your faucet.Going with the single lever faucet made by Delta is the way to go.With Delta,if you have a leaking problem in the faucet,you remove the handle and cap and you replace a cartridge that has everything in it that needs to be replaced.Very user friendly for people who aren't plumbing oriented. I do kitchen and bathroom remodeling and Delta faucets are very reliable and easy to repair when needed

 

I hate to tell you. Faucets are one thing that the more you spend the better they are. I know that you can spend $150 ish for something at the big box stores. Go to a plumbing house and by good faucets. Gonna set you back $500 or more. You get what you pay for. My old man put in a $300 moen in the kitchen in 1964. I just replaced it last year.

 

You can find single lever faucets that have rectangular dress plates large enough to cover the existing two-handle faucet holes included with them. Or maybe the plates can be purchased separately. Just make sure that you by a good quality cartridge insert style fixture. The better Delta, Kohler and Price-Pfister models are a couple of the good brands that I've had good experiences with. HD or Lowes should have something. Or maybe even True-Value (I know that TX has some especially awesome True-Value stores.)
As long as you have access to the space behind the faucet, replacement shouldn't be too hard. If the pipes on the old faucet don't line up with the new faucets, Sharkbite fittings can be a god-send.
Good luck!!

 

Like @Racingjohndeere55 said: Plumbing supply houses will have the best ones but .

 

Replaced cold , right side

 

All well now, but will look into single lever soon, thanks for replies guys!!! Greatly appreciated!!!

 

Chlorine will eventually destroy rubber gaskets, shop for a new faucet and check to see if the gaskets & seals are chlorine tolerant. Low Ph will eventually destroy metal making any gasket ineffective, early symptoms include blue green stains where water drips.

 

No chlorine, no heavy minerals. I love my well!

 

The metal cone things are the seats. And obviously the purple are the washers. As long as the seats are nice and smooth there is not much you can do. I have the same valve in my parents bathroom shower. Price Pfister. I haven’t changed the washers in probably seven years. The trick is definitely not cranking down too tight. Your squeaky shower stem can be remedied by removing the stem. Unscrew the valve stem from the body of the stem and grease the entire shank and threads. Make sure you snug up the packing nut. Not too tight not too loose.

 

https://youtu.be/zDY2MCQZRic
Here’s a little this Old House video.

 

If you notice, the seat that you took out rough surface. That will slowly wear down the washer. Also in the video he is calling what I call the packing nut he is calling the bonnet. Same thing

 

One reason besides a bad seat why the washer wears out, is cranking them down too tight. People tend to crank them down because they want the water to stop coming out of the faucet instantly. There is going to be a certain amount of time for the spout to drain out once the water is shut. Spin the handle until you feel some resistance. Only a couple of inch pounds is needed. Test it for yourself. Shut it off lightly and see if the water stops coming out after a few seconds.

Obviously you could switch to a new faucet with a ceramic disc cartridge etc. But these are really good faucets. They are almost infinitely rebuildable. These things are like the Toyota of faucets. I’ve been in homes that had them for at least 70 years. Still working.

 

Very informative vid, my Dad has those wrench's and I never knew that's what they were for

 

I always called them bell sockets. Pretty inexpensive but great to have. Some even work really well to install faucets so that you can get to the “large nuts underneath”. See what I did there?

 

Really? I’ve got a small leak under the kitchen sink that my wife discovered a couple of days ago. Pretty sure it’s a Delta faucet, and the cartridge is easy to get to. It’d be nice if it’s that easy to fix.

 

Have it color match the tundra

 

I think so. The large nuts part right?

 

That will just make it leak slower.

 

Dont throw the old cartridge away. They are usually o-rings in it and you can replace them and smear some vasolein on it and have a spare

 

Problem is I never have Vaseline to spare.