Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Should we Replace all stems?
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Should we Replace all stems?
John Whorfin
03-05-07, 09:32 AM
Live in a town house, bought a few years ago. I think pretty much since we moved in there has been minor drips from the two showers.
I have replaced washers twice now, over the years and they just never seem to work well. You really have to crank the handles to get the water off, and sometimes they never shut off completely. There is never any damage to the washers, just some serious impressions from the seat. The seats are not damaged, the washers are not damaged just an impression of the seat from being cranked down so much.
I believe the stems and equipment are all Central brand. I do not know a huge amount about plumbing and fixtures. But should all the stems and the seats be replaced with different equipment? What else could be causing the problem?
I am going to try and get some plumbers out to do a free estimate or appraisal to fix them.
What else do I need to know or look at? Can any brand stem be used as long as the sizes are correct?
I have replaced washers twice now, over the years and they just never seem to work well. You really have to crank the handles to get the water off, and sometimes they never shut off completely. There is never any damage to the washers, just some serious impressions from the seat. The seats are not damaged, the washers are not damaged just an impression of the seat from being cranked down so much.
I believe the stems and equipment are all Central brand. I do not know a huge amount about plumbing and fixtures. But should all the stems and the seats be replaced with different equipment? What else could be causing the problem?
I am going to try and get some plumbers out to do a free estimate or appraisal to fix them.
What else do I need to know or look at? Can any brand stem be used as long as the sizes are correct?
spdavid
03-05-07, 09:45 AM
Regardless of your assessment of the condition of the seats in your faucets,this sounds like classic bad seats.I suggest replacing them.Since you must remove the stems to do this,it's probably a good idea to rebuild them as well.Unless there is obvious damage to the stems such as a damaged rim for the washer or similar,the stems do not need to be replaced.One thing though is all that cranking down on the seats did not help you.
As for your question regarding replacement items,it is best to use parts from the same manufacturer versus a parts company such as Danco.This is not always possible but is preferred.
Stems must be exact duplicates and each individual faucet and it's stems are unique.They are not "sized" they are exact specific parts and there are literally thousands of different stems.Seats are also specific and there are around 50 or so various sizes/types.
If you attempt the replacement go to a real hardware store or plumbing supply that sells to the public for your parts needs where they have qualified help to assist you in getting the exact correct parts and with installation.
As for your question regarding replacement items,it is best to use parts from the same manufacturer versus a parts company such as Danco.This is not always possible but is preferred.
Stems must be exact duplicates and each individual faucet and it's stems are unique.They are not "sized" they are exact specific parts and there are literally thousands of different stems.Seats are also specific and there are around 50 or so various sizes/types.
If you attempt the replacement go to a real hardware store or plumbing supply that sells to the public for your parts needs where they have qualified help to assist you in getting the exact correct parts and with installation.
John Whorfin
03-05-07, 10:02 AM
spdavid,
thanks for the info, I can tell you that someone before me has already changed some parts. The stems from the two showers are not the same, I believe the owner before me did it. He seemed to do a lot of DIY stuff but not always the correct way.
Can I ask what you mean by cranking down on the seats? What type of damage or problems from this?
Would I be better off just doing this work by myself or having a plumber do it?
The other weird part that I did not mention was how the holes in the tile was filled around some of the fixtures. Meaning that on 3 out of 6 of fixtures (removed handles and metal casing) 3 of them had correct holes in the tile and you could see the pipes in the wall. The other 3 had been filled in with caulk or some other compound so one could not remove the stem without first removing this substance. I do not think it is caulk because it it a pretty hard and solid substance. This seemed very odd to me, ever heard of this before?
This was kind of why I wanted to get a real plumber in to take a look since things are not uniform and I cannot even get to all the seats.
thanks for the info, I can tell you that someone before me has already changed some parts. The stems from the two showers are not the same, I believe the owner before me did it. He seemed to do a lot of DIY stuff but not always the correct way.
Can I ask what you mean by cranking down on the seats? What type of damage or problems from this?
Would I be better off just doing this work by myself or having a plumber do it?
The other weird part that I did not mention was how the holes in the tile was filled around some of the fixtures. Meaning that on 3 out of 6 of fixtures (removed handles and metal casing) 3 of them had correct holes in the tile and you could see the pipes in the wall. The other 3 had been filled in with caulk or some other compound so one could not remove the stem without first removing this substance. I do not think it is caulk because it it a pretty hard and solid substance. This seemed very odd to me, ever heard of this before?
This was kind of why I wanted to get a real plumber in to take a look since things are not uniform and I cannot even get to all the seats.
spdavid
03-05-07, 12:44 PM
<<thanks for the info, I can tell you that someone before me has already changed some parts. The stems from the two showers are not the same, I believe the owner before me did it. He seemed to do a lot of DIY stuff but not always the correct way.
Can I ask what you mean by cranking down on the seats? What type of damage or problems from this?>>
If you are saying the stems from the two showers are very different then the two shower faucets are different brands etc.You cannot put a stem from a different brand or model into another faucet.It would have to take the specific duplicate stem to work.
Cranking down on the seats means that you mentioned you were tightening the stems very hard to try and shut them off.All that pressure against the seat could have damaged it.
Replacing seats is easy.It requires a five dollar "L" shaped tool and then matching the correct replacement seat.Go where someone will help you do that.
<<The other weird part that I did not mention was how the holes in the tile was filled around some of the fixtures. Meaning that on 3 out of 6 of fixtures (removed handles and metal casing) 3 of them had correct holes in the tile and you could see the pipes in the wall. The other 3 had been filled in with caulk or some other compound so one could not remove the stem without first removing this substance. I do not think it is caulk because it it a pretty hard and solid substance. This seemed very odd to me, ever heard of this before?>>
Someone thought there might be leakage through the holes in the tile in some of these showers apparently.Nothing really wrong with that but usually not needed,however it can be an issue.Just dig out whatever they put in there and go on about your business.If later you discover that the escutcheons don't fit tight to the tile or something like that you can recaulk these openings.
I strongly recommend you go to a real hardware store and talk to qualified help.They will carry the seat wrench,probably the seats and most of all will be able to instruct you on doing these repairs yourself.
Can I ask what you mean by cranking down on the seats? What type of damage or problems from this?>>
If you are saying the stems from the two showers are very different then the two shower faucets are different brands etc.You cannot put a stem from a different brand or model into another faucet.It would have to take the specific duplicate stem to work.
Cranking down on the seats means that you mentioned you were tightening the stems very hard to try and shut them off.All that pressure against the seat could have damaged it.
Replacing seats is easy.It requires a five dollar "L" shaped tool and then matching the correct replacement seat.Go where someone will help you do that.
<<The other weird part that I did not mention was how the holes in the tile was filled around some of the fixtures. Meaning that on 3 out of 6 of fixtures (removed handles and metal casing) 3 of them had correct holes in the tile and you could see the pipes in the wall. The other 3 had been filled in with caulk or some other compound so one could not remove the stem without first removing this substance. I do not think it is caulk because it it a pretty hard and solid substance. This seemed very odd to me, ever heard of this before?>>
Someone thought there might be leakage through the holes in the tile in some of these showers apparently.Nothing really wrong with that but usually not needed,however it can be an issue.Just dig out whatever they put in there and go on about your business.If later you discover that the escutcheons don't fit tight to the tile or something like that you can recaulk these openings.
I strongly recommend you go to a real hardware store and talk to qualified help.They will carry the seat wrench,probably the seats and most of all will be able to instruct you on doing these repairs yourself.