Wife is out of town and thought of surprising her by replacing the showerhead since we had a steady drip. When I took it off the drips continued. Under more research it seem's that for that to happen it's a bad/old shower cartridge.
I've seem multiple videos, some with once you take the faceplate of the shower handle off, there are valves behind it that will shut the water off. Others don't have those valves that I need to turn water off to the whole house to prepare.
I have the showerhead off already. I can't figure out to take the handle/faceplate off as I can't find any screws
I can't turn water off to my unit without shutting off 3 other units as it's a townhouse with shared pipes. I world 8-5 and won't inconvenience them during outside those hours.
Place was built in 1963 and the square hole behind the faceplate that part of it is visible makes me think I have the kind where I can tighten the screws behind the faceplate to replace the cartridge without interfering water shutoff for everyone.
How do I take this faceplate off?
It's unfeasible/complex and I should have a plumber do it to minimize the water being shut off and I don't mess something up.
Wife is back this Saturday and I have a lockbox for if I need a plumber to handle it - will handle it if I am not home.
Thanks!
Videos
What’s the difference between a shower valve and a shower cartridge?
While you may hear people using the terms shower valve and cartridge interchangeably, they’re two different things. It can get confusing because the shower cartridge is a component inside the shower valve. The cartridge helps manage the temperature by balancing the mix of hot and cold water.
The signs of a failing valve and cartridge are similar, but if you’re having problems with water temperatures, you’ll likely need to replace the entire valve.
Are shower cartridges universal?
Shower cartridges are not universal, which makes shopping for a new one a little tricky. The good news is that if you don’t know what you need, you can remove the existing cartridge and check for the brand and model.
Your shower valve and cartridge should match and come from the same manufacturer. Mixing and matching different brands of valves and cartridges is not likely to work and may cause potential issues like leaks, malfunctioning faucets, and more.
What is the life expectancy of a shower cartridge?
The life expectancy of a shower cartridge is 10 to 30 years, although it depends on several factors. Stainless steel and brass cartridges last 10 years or longer, while plastic ones can fail after five years. Secondly, the water quality in your home is a factor. If you have hard water, your cartridge will likely clog faster and fail sooner due to the hard mineral buildup. You can avoid this by installing a water softener or cleaning the cartridge every two to three years.
To update: I just bought a "10I-7H/C Hot and Cold Stem for Price Pfister Faucets" from Home Depot and used a large cresecent wrench to muscle the entire thing out of its socket by gripping onto the large exposed nut (not the skinny stem). It was screwed in so no damage done to the wall. Then just slipped the replacement in and it worked.
I have been successful a few times with this type of problem. The solution may take a week. The deposit appears to be calcium with some corrosion. Given its location you cannot get at it easily but if you soak a cloth with a mild acid, vinegar recommended, and pack it around the valve. Every few hours the cloth will dry out so soak it again with vinegar and put it back. This might take several days but for me it worked.
Hello! I’m trying to fix a leaky bathtub faucet and am starting with the shower cartridge. I’m not sure which type I have though. I’ve attached a few pictures and the number on the side says “2112”, but I can’t seem to find a corresponding replacement. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!
So we are updating the fixtures in our bathroom and it seems the shower valve is older than I expected. The new shower handle came with a cartridge that requires the delta multichoice valve. Would this valve that is installed have a removable cartridge that I might be able to remove and take to the hardware store to find one compatible or am I looking at having to change the entire valve body?
[img]https://i.imgur.com/vNVlUYW.jpg[/img]
Shower faucet is leaking water. Plumber says need to replace cartridge behind the handle and will cost $365 (SoCal).
Watched a couple youtube videos and read some posts, and in addition to paying for the tools (FTHB and only own a hammer and screwdriver) sounds like it can be really tough to extract the cartridge.
Since I’m a plumbing noob and not very strong, is it worth trying to do this on my own or pay the $365?
Edit: I’m planning to call another plumber for an estimate but I’m assuming it’s expensive because of the time spent when the plumber removes the cartridge they have to go to the hardware store with it and find the correct size.