Easy DIY Projects

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey fixes a faulty shower valve with new valve stems and seats. (See below for a shopping list, tools, and steps.)
SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse

Shopping List for How to Repair a Shower Valve Stem:
Cloth [https://amzn.to/2m0Gs3D], for plugging up drainpipe
Replacement valve stems [https://amzn.to/2lmWSTH] and stem seats [https://amzn.to/2mWo9wz]
Pipe-thread sealant [https://amzn.to/2n1JwfR], to create watertight seal on stem seat
Plumber’s putty [https://amzn.to/2mTuuJl], for sealing escutcheons to shower wall

Tools for How to Repair a Shower Valve Stem:
Pocket knife [https://amzn.to/2m2Z6rv], to pry off index covers
Phillips-head screwdriver [https://amzn.to/2mWdC4F], for loosening and tightening handle-retaining screws
Valve socket [https://amzn.to/2lRaerG] and pliers [https://amzn.to/2mWftGF], to remove and install new valve stems
Seat wrench [https://amzn.to/2m32brz], for replacing existing stem seats

Steps for How to Repair a Shower Valve Stem:
1. Turn off the water at the water main or wherever it enters the house.
2. Cover the tub/shower drain with a cloth to prevent small parts from dropping into the drainpipe.
3. Use a pocketknife to pry off the small round index cover from the shower’s hot-water faucet handle.
4. Remove the screw holding the handle in place, then pull the handle free of the valve stem.
5. By hand, unscrew and remove the escutcheon to expose the stem.
6. Use a valve socket and pliers to loosen and remove the old stem from the wall.
7. Unthread the existing seat from inside the valve with a seat wrench.
8. Brush pipe-thread sealant onto the threaded end of the new stem seat.
9. Use the seat wrench to tighten the new stem seat into the valve.
10. Carefully hand-tighten the new valve stem into the valve body, then tighten it with the valve socket and pliers.
11. Repeat the previous eight steps to install new seats and stems onto the diverter and cold-water faucet handle.
12. Apply plumber’s putty to the back of each escutcheon plate, then hand-tighten them onto the stems. Remove any excess putty that squeezes out.
13. Screw the handles onto the valve stems.
14. Snap the index covers back onto the handles.
15. Remove the cloth from the drain, turn the water back on, and test your work.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG
Tumblr: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTumblr

For more on This Old House and Ask This Old House, visit us at: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseWebsite

How to Repair a Shower Valve Stem | Ask This Old House
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/