[majch]

Hi - We've been in our home for 10 years and the bathtub faucet was here when we moved in. I have no idea the make or model of it.

Two issues with our upstairs bathtub shower

1.) The hot handle won't turn all the way off. The water will be a drip to a drizzle, but the handle will keep turning. I've tightened the screw, but that doesn't work. If i remove the handle, then i can turn it off and it stays off.

2.) During the shower, the hot or cold can have a drip. Just a steady drip, nothing too crazy.

I have a leak in my garage ceiling, could be related to #2.

I've watched a few youtube videos, but am stuck where to go next. I only have access to the main water supply to turn off the water in the shower.

Should I turn the water off and try to remove the next piece?

From youtube, some are saying standard replacement parts of washer, etc should be tried next.

I'm just fearful of breaking something off then not having water in the entire house until a plumber can arrive.

 

[dj3]

From your description, you need more than new stems and seats - you need a new faucet.
A new faucet will be cheaper in the long run, guaranteed.
Youtube has many videos on replacing a two handle shower faucet, but you can also choose a code compliant one handle shower faucet.

 

[huesmann]

When you remove the handle and turn it all the way off, how are you doing that?

If that white star shaped thing is your handle, it looks to me like it's cracked, which is causing it to be unable to turn all the way—it's probably flexing when it gets to the stop point and isn't able to maintain enough clamping force to finish.

What happens to the problem if you swap hot and cold handles?

 

[majch]

Yes, if i swap hot and cold handles then the other one turns off so agree it's a broken handle.

Issue i have is I have no idea the make/model and picking up a generic handle from a big box store doesn't fit.

So if i take the current faucet off don't I need to get behind the shower tiles to put in the new valve?

 

[huesmann]

I assume you have no access from the other side of the wall?

I assume the photo shows the front side of the knob, and that the back side has a double-flat depression in it that fits the double-flat on the front of the faucet?

That shape is apparently called an oval broach. So maybe try to find an "oval broach" knob? Found this site that lets you search by broach shape. Maybe you can back into the right knob that way.

 

[dj3]

"I have a leak in my garage ceiling, could be related to #2" - you need to find the source of the leak!
- Could be a leak in the rough in faucet body in the wall, or supply connectors,
- Could be an unrelated problem, like the drain,
- Could be the shower surround, the caulking around the tub.

 

[brownSys]

Should I turn the water off and try to remove the next piece?

That's what I would do. They are generally fairly easy to work with although I'm not familiar with what you have there.

I'm assuming the next part should screw off by hand (if it isn't seized up) and that should allow you access to the valve inside.

From there you should be able to get a better idea of what you are working with. You will probably be able to identify the make (delta, moen, ect.) of the faucet based on the valve type. Armed with that information you might be able to find a modern replacement.

While you've got it open you might be able to take a flash light and look for indication of leaking behind the wall.

Just take your time, don't force anything, and make sure you keep track of all the pieces. Take pictures before you pull anything new out so you can reference it.

 

[bruceb3]

It looks like an old Kohler with Valvet cartridges. What threw me off is it appears that he has already removed the outer acrylic parts of the handles. Kohler makes ceramic cartridges to replace the old valvets. It makes the faucet into quarter turn! If it is that faucet, the chrome part of the handle has to be removed. If the nut for the cartridge only has 2 flat sides, it is a valvet. Good Luck! If you can replace the valvets with the ceramic cartridges, you'll have a better updated faucet. This is one of the few faucets that is actually improved with repair!

 

[bruceb3]

I see one of the acrylic handles looks cracked. That can still be ordered. You can still operate the faucet with the chrome inner part of the handle.