On 22 Mar 2007 20:43:57 -0700, "Joe" wrote:

I've had a slow drip for a while from my ancient American Standard
faucet in my bathtub. It has recently turned from a drip into a stream
and since the water is no longer cold but luke warm I suspect the hot
water side has started leaking as well. I'd love to replace it myself
but from investigating online it looks just too complicated. Right now

You don't mention having replaced the washers already. I would guess
you don't even need new stems** or seats, just rubber or neoprene
washers. Two dollars? for a box of 30? of various sizes. Plus the
box includes a few spare screws if you lose or strip the head of the
ones that are there. You can probably also buy the washers one at a
time in the right size, for more money each but maybe less money
total. Most are conical, some are flat. You'll see when you get
inside. No matter how ancient you think your faucet is, these are
still sold, probalby at Home Depot and if not at a hardware store
closer to downtown or a plumbing supply store. In fact they are
probably still used in many new faucets.

After you get the handle and cover plate off, because it is a bathtub
and not a sink, you may well need what is basically a deep socket,
although the ones sold for plumbing,, in large sizes, are not as nice
as the ones sold for auto work. The auto ones are cast, I guess, but
the plumbing ones are like heavy-weight tubes that have been formed
into 6-sides at one end. A whole set is probably under 10 dollars and
somewhere years ago I was able to buy only the size I needed for my
tub.

I changed one or both washers once in the 24 years I've been here, but
I live alone so the tub gets used only once a day, almost.

I only learned a few things from my uncle, but he pointed out that
when there are two valves, hot and cold, and one spigot, the washers
wear out faster, because when it is dripping, it is not obvious which
valve has to be closed, so people overtighten one side before they go
on to the other side. I think I have pretty much solved that by
remembering how tight I have to turn it, but I'm not promising you
your washers will last 15 years or more like mine.

BTW, I've found the easy way to adjust the temp is to turn on the hot
to the volume of water I want, and then turn on the cold to get the
temp that I want. In the middle of a bath or shower, I adjust the
temp with the cold water only. Even though I have one handle in the
kitchen sink, I don't miss it at all in the bathtub.



**Even when stems are old and turn very very easily, they are still
usually fine at stopping the water from dripping. It's unrelated. In
fact I prefer them when they are loose, especially in the tub where I
can use my toes to adjust the water. I had to get plumbers grease (a
dollar or two for small container of it) to lube my almost new faucets
inside, enough to adjust the temp with my feet, and then after a few
years, they tighted up a bit again. So now I have to use both feet.
I'll lube them again if I ever have to replace the washer again.

If you do have to replace the stems after you've replace the washers,
it will take you a third of the first time, or less. Everything
mechanical goes much faster the second time.


it has two handles and I'd like to turn it into a single handle. My
question is this: what is the best way to go about installing this,
call a plumber? Or go to a home center, pick out the style we want and
have them install it? As I said, I'd love to repair it myself but I
don't think watching 10 episodes of Ed the Plumber is going to qualify
me to taking on this task.