Need some help, Plumberguys!! (1 Viewer)

[gianmarco]

Faucet in a bath/shower tub in our rental house started having a problem about a month ago.  Just heard about it last night.  The faucet is the handle that you lift up for water and then can move to left or right for hot and cold water.  The handle won't go to the left anymore and just locks.  I got a video sent where you can see. 

Any ideas what this can be?  I'm not super handy but I'm willing to fix it if it's easy enough.  Otherwise, I'll call a plumber but figured I'd check here first.

Faulty faucet (normally moves to the left just like it's moving to the right).

And yes, I know it's all ball bearings nowadays.  And ball cancer.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I'd just replace the entire faucet.

 

[gianmarco]

I'd just replace the entire faucet.

Never done it. Easy enough to do myself?

 

[cockroach]

Never done it. Easy enough to do myself?

Depends how good of a caulker you are.  You good with the caulk, boy?

 

[arrow1]

Fetzer valve or the ball bearings

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Never done it. Easy enough to do myself?

Super easy

Shut water off

Disconnect water lines 

Undo old faucet (usually held on by some  plastic nuts...this can be a pain as they can get corroded some times, so you may need to get some WD-40 on them or get vice grips or something to get the leverage to bust them loose.  Probably a special tool for this as well but I prefer cursing and improvising) 

Put new faucet on.  Should come with a gasket, May require some plumbers putty

Tighten new faucet 

Reconnect water lines

Turn on and check for leaks.  Shouldn't need to tape them but possibly may need some Teflon tape to seal 

 

[baymen]

Super easy

Shut water off

Disconnect water lines 

Undo old faucet (usually held on by some  plastic nuts...this can be a pain as they can get corroded some times, so you may need to get some WD-40 on them or get vice grips or something to get the leverage to bust them loose.  Probably a special tool for this as well but I prefer cursing and improvising) 

Put new faucet on.  Should come with a gasket, May require some plumbers putty

Tighten new faucet 

Reconnect water lines

Turn on and check for leaks.  Shouldn't need to tape them but possibly may need some Teflon tape to seal 

It is not a a faucet for a sink so this won't apply.  I would call a plumber to repair the existing shower valve.  You need to turn water off to whole house most likely to repair.  Replace would be a larger job and one I would not recommend doing it yourself as soldering would be needed in most typical replacements.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

It is not a a faucet for a sink so this won't apply.  I would call a plumber to repair the existing shower valve.  You need to turn water off to whole house most likely to repair.  Replace would be a larger job and one I would not recommend doing it yourself as soldering would be needed in most typical replacements.

Yeah I couldn't see the video and apparently can't read

I'd probably still try to do it myself though 

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Faucet in a bath/shower tub in our rental house started having a problem about a month ago.  Just heard about it last night.  The faucet is the handle that you lift up for water and then can move to left or right for hot and cold water.  The handle won't go to the left anymore and just locks.  I got a video sent where you can see. 

Any ideas what this can be?  I'm not super handy but I'm willing to fix it if it's easy enough.  Otherwise, I'll call a plumber but figured I'd check here first.

Faulty faucet (normally moves to the left just like it's moving to the right).

And yes, I know it's all ball bearings nowadays.  And ball cancer.

Can't see the video for some reason but Google and YouTube are your friends.  I've done countless home repairs over the last 10 years or so with info I've found on the internets.  

 

[ChiefD]

It is not a a faucet for a sink so this won't apply.  I would call a plumber to repair the existing shower valve.  You need to turn water off to whole house most likely to repair.  Replace would be a larger job and one I would not recommend doing it yourself as soldering would be needed in most typical replacements.

Yep.

It will also depend on if he has to access it from the front or back. If he has to go through the front side, he is probably tearing out that shower surround to get to the fixture.

If there is an access panel behind the shower, like in a closet or other room, you might be able to get to it. In either case he is using a torch and solder if it's copper. And if it's cast iron, you may as well say your prayers.

Call a plumber. 

 

[gianmarco]

Yep.

It will also depend on if he has to access it from the front or back. If he has to go through the front side, he is probably tearing out that shower surround to get to the fixture.

If there is an access panel behind the shower, like in a closet or other room, you might be able to get to it. In either case he is using a torch and solder if it's copper. And if it's cast iron, you may as well say your prayers.

Call a plumber. 

No access. I'll call a plumber... Thanks, guys. Is this a big deal or simple repair for plumber? 

 

[SWC]

honestly look on the bottom of the handle you are turning is there a set screw there it might be an allen wrench style see if that is loose or gone if is is there loosen it recenter the handle tighten and try again take that to the just spitballin bank bromigo

 

[UOFI_316]

Loosen the set screw under the handle and pull it off.  You can then pull off the big circular face plate (probably have to run a putty knife or razor blade around the break the caulk seal).  That will give you a view of the innards of the faucet assembly.   Most come with a plastic washer type thing that can be set to prevent the hot water selection from going too hot.  Could be that that washer has been dislodged/broken.  Could be that the cartridge assembly has gone bad, in which case you should be able to just loosen a nut and take out the cartridge and replace it, assuming you know the brand/model of the faucet.  If you are replacing the cartridge you would want to turn off the house water, unless you have a shut off valve closer to the shower.   And put a towel down in the shower first in case you drop one of the small screws/nuts down the drain.

Just do a youtube search for "replace _______ shower faucet" and see if you find one that matches what yours looks like.

 

[Hawks64]

Loosen the set screw under the handle and pull it off.  You can then pull off the big circular face plate (probably have to run a putty knife or razor blade around the break the caulk seal).  That will give you a view of the innards of the faucet assembly.   Most come with a plastic washer type thing that can be set to prevent the hot water selection from going too hot.  Could be that that washer has been dislodged/broken.  Could be that the cartridge assembly has gone bad, in which case you should be able to just loosen a nut and take out the cartridge and replace it, assuming you know the brand/model of the faucet.  If you are replacing the cartridge you would want to turn off the house water, unless you have a shut off valve closer to the shower.   And put a towel down in the shower first in case you drop one of the small screws/nuts down the drain.

Just do a youtube search for "replace _______ shower faucet" and see if you find one that matches what yours looks like.

if after a quick look it appears more complex, like needing to replace the valve then I'd call a plumber. The cartridge or adjustments are easy.

 

[shadrap]

Plumber about $100

do it yourself, f----it up, then call plumber $300.

my experience.

also any sink repair is easy if everything is waist high & in the open, but no sink repair is like that.  there is this pesky little ridge on the bottom of the cabinet that you have to lay on that grates on your back every time you move.  then of course you are trying to un loosen nuts that are hard to get too & you turn them at a rate of 1/112th of an inch per 30 seconds.  I'm saying the F word just thinking about it.

caveat:  most do it yourself home repairs should not be done around small children.  not because of the danger, but the language.

 

[gianmarco]

To clarify, this is a shower/tub, not a sink.  It's one of the fiberglass single piece showers.  And it's also only a 10 year old home. There is no access behind it.