Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Replacing faucets and diverter in tub, in front of tile
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jimstack
02-26-09, 06:26 PM
I'm trying to replace my faucets and shower diverter in my tub. I've purchased a nice American Standard kit, but the initial piping is about 3" - 4" benind the tile! (I didn't intend to replace that, just the faucet heads.) There's currently a piece of piping attached that's female on one end, and screws into the base unit. The middle of the faucet, that the handle connects to, comes through there... Is there a piece of piping extension sold like that, individually, that's male on one end for a nut, and female on the other end? Hope I'm clear in my explanation...
plumbermandan
02-27-09, 05:50 PM
are you wanting to replace to complete valve in the wall and all? if so a picture of what you have now and the new valve (or the model # and brand name) would give us a better idea of what you need to do.
jimstack
02-28-09, 10:04 AM
Don't want to repalce the valve -- only really want to replace the handles themselves, but it's proving far more complex than I thought -- I need the extension to access the handle, because the valve is so far behind the wall...
ecman51`
02-28-09, 03:31 PM
But the valve stems have to be out farther than the tile, otherwise the HANDLES couldn't be out farther than the tiles. This makes no sense.
It sounds like what you are trying to do, for some reason that is unclear, is to remove the valve stems right out of the mixer valve.
If so, you need a special deep socket made for plumbing. You can buy the relatively cheap socket set, that comes with 4 or 5 deep sockets, that have sockets on each end = 8 or 10 total socket sizes. The set also includes a metal rod you slip through the hole in the socket to turn the socket, but I find the leverage inadequate. I just put a pipe wrench around the socket.
I have done so much of this thru the years, I can't even count. I have done an awful lot of work on really old rentals that have bad washers and bad seats back in the mixer valves, where I have to remove the valve stems that go way back behind tile or other wall surfaces.
If this is what you are going to do - make sure that when you reinstall this or a new valve stem, that the thin flat fiber 0-ring gasket that slips over the threads is stilll good, or replace it. And make sure any packing nut is tight enough to stop valve stem leak but not so tight a woman or child cannot turn the handle.
It sounds like what you are trying to do, for some reason that is unclear, is to remove the valve stems right out of the mixer valve.
If so, you need a special deep socket made for plumbing. You can buy the relatively cheap socket set, that comes with 4 or 5 deep sockets, that have sockets on each end = 8 or 10 total socket sizes. The set also includes a metal rod you slip through the hole in the socket to turn the socket, but I find the leverage inadequate. I just put a pipe wrench around the socket.
I have done so much of this thru the years, I can't even count. I have done an awful lot of work on really old rentals that have bad washers and bad seats back in the mixer valves, where I have to remove the valve stems that go way back behind tile or other wall surfaces.
If this is what you are going to do - make sure that when you reinstall this or a new valve stem, that the thin flat fiber 0-ring gasket that slips over the threads is stilll good, or replace it. And make sure any packing nut is tight enough to stop valve stem leak but not so tight a woman or child cannot turn the handle.