A Guide to Better Faucet Repair
 
REMINDER..!
  • TURN OFF WATER BEFORE YOU START THE JOB
  • TURN VALVE BEING REPAIRED ON
 
1ST. REMOVE THE HANDLE. THE HANDLE SCREW MAY BE COVERED BY AN INDEX BUTTON. THESE SNAP OUT OR SCREW OUT. USE A SHARP POINT AT THE EDGE OF THE SNAP OUT TYPE. USE PLIERS ON THE EDGE OF THE SCREW TYPE. IF HANDLE HAS BEEN ON FOR SOME TIME IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO USE A HANDLE PULLER (*13859).

AFTER THE HANDLE IS REMOVED DETERMINE FROM THE DRAWING THE METHOD USED TO HOLD THE ESCUTCHEON(FLANGE) ON. THESE ARE PUT ON HAND TIGHT BUT IF A GRIPPING TOOL IS USED,TAPE WILL HELP PROTECT THE FINISH.

STEMS AND BONNETS ARE SHOWN IN THE DRAWING. BE SURE THE BUSHING IS LEFT IN THE BONNET WHEN REMOVING. SOCKETS (*3558) WILL REACH THE UNITS SET IN THE WALL. SET THE SOCKET AND WITH A SNAPPING MOTION BREAK THE SEAL BETWEEN THE VALVE & BONNET. WHEN THE UNIT IS LOOSE REPLACE HANDLE AND PULL UNIT OUT.

LOOSEN THE PACKING NUT AND TURN STEM OUT.INSPECT THE STEM IF THE THREAD ARE SHARP OR ROUNDED THIS STEM WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS WEAR IS CAUSED BY OVER TORQUING THE UNIT TO SHUT IT OFF. CHECK THE WASHER AT THE BOTTOM,IF THE RETAINER IS BROKEN OUT THIS IS CAUSED BY A SWELLING OR OVERSIZED WASHER. USE A GOOD FLAT QUALITY WASHER HYCAR IS THE BEST CHOICE. ALL VALVES ARE DESIGNED FOR FLAT WASHERS.

THE SEAT OR BARREL IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VALVE. THE WASHER PRESSES AGAINST IT AND SHUTS THE UNIT OFF. THE SEAT IS DESIGNED SO THAT THE WASHER WILL WIPE THE CONTACT SURFACE OFF AS IT IS CLOSED AND WILL SHUT OFF WITH A MINIMUM OF EFFORT. WATER AND MINERALS CAN DESTROY THE SEAT AND MOST MFG. HAVE REPLACEABLE SEATS. USE A FLASHLITE TO INSPECT THE SEAT. IF THE TOP IS NOT SMOOTH OR HAS WIRE CUTS IT WILL HAVE TO BE CHANGED.

CHECK THE CENTER TO DETERMINE WHAT TOOL WILL BE NEEDED FOR REMOVAL. MOST SEATS ARE HEX OR SQUARE AND CAN BE REMOVED WITH A SEAT WRENCH SET. (*10321) IF THE CENTER OF THE SEAT IS ROUND IT IS NOT REPLACEABLE AND THE VALVE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NEARLY ALL IN WALL VALVES HAVE SEATS OR BARRELS.

MAKE SURE THE TOOL IS FAR ENOUGH IN THE SEAT TO MAKE A GOOD CONTACT. TAPPING LIGHTLY ON THE TOOL WILL SET IT.**CAUTION** SOME VALVES HAVE SHALLOW BODIES. IF YOU USE EXTREME FORCE YOU COULD BREAK OUT THE BACK OF THE VALVE. START THE SEAT OUT WITH THE SAME SNAP ACTION AS IN REMOVING THE BONNET.

ONCE THE SEAT HAS BEEN REMOVED IT CAN BE TAKEN TO A RETAIL PLUMBER WHO CAN GIVE YOU THE CORRECT SEAT.**CAUTION** THERE ARE OVER 200 DIFFERENT SEATS IN USE TODAY. BE SURE THAT YOUR DEALER IS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PART OF THE PLUMBING.

APPLY TEFLON TAPE TO THE THREADS OF THE SEAT AND REASSEMBLE THE VALVE. REPLACE PACKING IF NECESSARY.