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Nothing can be more frustrating in a home than a plumbing problem. A leaky faucet or running toilet brings dollar signs to mind as you envision the recruitment of a high-priced plumber and time spent inconvenienced by in-home repairs.

But every plumbing problem does not immediately spell disaster. There are quite a few basic plumbing problems that almost all homeowners experience at one time or another. Therefore, it’s best to educate yourself on these potential issues so that you are prepared and knowledgeable to best tackle them should they arise.

The most common of our plumbing problems is that of an annoying leaky faucet. This can be the most aggravation to address if you don’t know how to fix it yourself; calling out a professional plumber for this mostly simple issue can cost you needlessly. But in order to determine if it’s a minor leak or a major pipe breakage, you must first turn off the main water source. If your leak continues then chances are you have a minor issue on your hands. If you actually hear water continuing to run then you may have a bigger problem.

Take time to examine all elements of a plumbing problem. Often the mere tightening of a bolt can eliminate your problem. Replacing simple parts that have eroded with age can also save you big bucks. If you’re unsure how to proceed go online for step-by-step instructions. Or you can visit your local home improvement store where you’ll likely find all the help that you need.

Arm yourself with the tools necessary for success. Call on help to make sure you have the proper inclusions in your tool box. Having what you need on hand increases your chances of completing the project successfully.

In the end, if you find that you’re over your head, don’t be afraid to call in the professionals. A plumber can actually wind up saving you money in the long run; if you do more damage trying to fix a problem yourself then you’ll eradicate any savings anyway.

A plumbing problem doesn’t have to leave you broke and confused. Simple steps can be taken to examine and diagnosis any common plumbing problem. With a little research and some time spent dedicated to the problem you may find that you’ve successfully solved your plumbing problem all on your own. And nothing is more self-satisfying then accomplishing a job with your own two hands.

Posted under Plumbing

I have a very leaky shower faucet I need to repair but it doesn't easily match up to the various descriptions I've seen online.
Old house (1917), old bathroom (4" tiles), dual handled (hot/cold) faucets for the bath spigot. Pretty sure it's a compression type but the stem assembly is throwing me off. Removed the handle no problem; there's a bell-shaped cover that snugs up against the tile which I discovered spins off - it's threaded into a brass nut in the shower wall.

So now - there's no easy way to remove the stem and access the washer I figure needs replacing (and probably seat repair) and I'm left to guess that the nut needs to be unscrewed out of the wall to release the whole stem assembly.

Before I do that, though, I'd like to get feedback from anyone that recognizes this faucet description and any other advice they might be able to provide.


There are special sockets made for this purpose. They are deep and have a large open end that the stem can stick through. The outside of the socket is square or octagon and it is turned with a wrench once in place.
Should be able to get this type of socket at a place like HD. They aren't expensive because they are normally cheap metal rather than a cast metal.

Posted under Plumbing

I have an older disc type faucet, and the main top screw on the handle is frozen. I'm afraid to really crank on it for fear of stripping it. My next step is to place a piece of wood under the whole assembly (it's a wall mount) to brace it, and try an impact driver to see if I can unseat it.

My question is -- does anyone know if there is any chance that this is a reverse thread screw? I've encountered reverse threads before and always felt really stupid after each discovery. Anyone know if this is common? I'd say it's probably from the late 70s or early 80s.

I'd also welcome any other clever tricks if anyone has thoughts. If we weren't planning a remodel soon, I'd just swap out the whole assembly, but I must, of course wait while my wife decides on the new one.


I sometimes try to go in the tighten direction, then try to back it out, sometimes you can get some movement started. On finding the brand, with only a few inches of clearence to the backsplash, I held a mirror and used a flashlight to read the name on the backside of the faucet, nice place to hide it, by the way, it was a pegusus.(?)

Posted under Plumbing