Stopping A Leaky Shower Faucet
‘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 showerheads have nothing more than a token import on us when we undertake faucet installation within the precincts of our homes.
Maybe 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 exciting or does not even remotely manage to fire your imagination. After all, isn’t rifling 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 important 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 showerhead assembly.
- The problem of mineral deposits on the assembly can be addressed with a combination of white vinegar and water applied with an old toothbrush.
- Replace all other parts in the correct order. Retighten the handle and thread the showerhead 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?