Plumbing tools tips
Tips to repair shower and bath
Turn off water supply valves and drain lines by turning on faucet handles. For lever style handles, locate set screw holding handles, loosen and carefully pry handle off stem or use faucet handle puller. Round style handles require the removal of the decorative cap, then the screw, and prying off of handle. Cover the cap with tape to protect the finish, and using pliers, unscrew counter-clockwise. Lift out cam assembly and ball, then using a pencil or sharp tool, lift out seats and springs. Check all parts for wear and damage and replace where necessary. When reassembling, be sure that slot in ball slips into pin in valve body and that lug on cam assembly slides into slot on valve body. Screw cap on clockwise and replace handle. Turn on water and check for leaks. Tighten cap further if leaks develop.
Cartridge-type shower and bath valves
Turn off the water supply and drain lines by turning on faucet handle. Pry off decorative cap and remove handle screw. Remove handle and escutcheon. Remove retainer clip with pliers and pull cartridge out of the faucet body. Be sure to note position of ears on cartridge so that they are positioned correctly during assembly. Check 0-rings and cartridge for wear or damage and replace where necessary. Reverse procedure for reassembly, turn on water and check for leaks.
Replacing tub spout
Insert the handle of a hammer or suitable prying device into the spout opening and turn counter-clockwise. Clean the threaded portion of the pipe nipple with steel wool or a wire brush. Apply pipe dope or thread seal and screw spout on clockwise. Note: Be careful not to mar chrome finish of spout. Special care is needed regarding plastic spouts to avoid excessive pressure which could crack the spout. Do NOT use thread seal tape or pipe dope when installing a plastic tub spout.
Shower and bath valve repairs
Turn off water supply and drain lines by turning on faucet handles. Remove screws holding handles to stems and pry handles off. You may have to use a faucet handle puller if handle is corroded. Wrap tape around flange, and using pliers, turn counterclockwise to remove. Remove flange nipple in the same manner. After removing flange and nipple, stem and bonnet can be removed. Depending on whether the stem is on the hot side or cold side determines the direction to turn to remove stem and bonnet from body. Remove packing from inside bonnet and replace. Use a faucet seat wrench to remove and replace faucet seat. If valve does not have removable seat, you may wish to refinish seat with a faucet reseating tool. Replace bib washer at bottom of stem if worn or damaged. Reverse above procedure to reassemble valve. Turn on water and check for leaks.
Tub-shower diverters
Turn off water supply, then drain lines by turning on faucet handles and diverter handle. A diverter functions in the same manner as a faucet. For stem-type diverters, turning the handle causes the stem to move into the valve seal and redirect the water to the shower head. To disassemble a stem-type diverter, follow the instructions provided for stem-type faucets. Check all 0-rings, washers and packing for wear or damage and replace where neccessary.For ball-type diverters, follow instruction provided for ball-type faucets and check seals , springs .seats and ball for wera or damage. If the hallow diverter housing has worn out so that the water flow cannot be diverted , you will have to replace the whole diverter valve assembly.
Drain Auger
1. Insert boring head through cross bars of strainer. Turn knob clockwise until entire head is inside opening. 2. Loosen thumbscrew and pull out about 6'(15 cm) of wire; tighten screw and turn knob clockwise using slight inward pressure until wire is inside opening. Repeat until blockage is cleared. 3. If auger cannot go past trap, remove clean-out plug, insert boring head into opening and follow step 2. 4. Loosen thumbscrew and remove wire from drain. Flush with clear water. Repeat process if necessary. Not for use with toilets (see Toilet auger, other side). Faucet seat wrench
Plumber's wrench
Use correct end of wrench to remove or replace 11/4" o,11/2" or 2" nuts or spuds
Pipe repair clamps
Clean surface area to be repaired. Place rubber sealing pad over leak and place one clamp over pad. Do the same to opposite side of pipe.Insert bolts through holes in clamp and screw on nuts. Tighten bolts evenly until firm resistance is met and leak stops.
Faucet seat wrench
Turn off water supply, remove faucet handle and valve stem. Check to see if hole in seat is square or hexagonal, then insert corresponding end of wrench into seat hole. Turn wrench counter-clockwise and remove seat. To insert new seat, coat threads with pipe dope, place on end of wrench, insert into faucet body and tighten.
Pipe dope
Pipe dope should be applied to plumbing connections to assure a proper leak-proof seal and to make connections easier to disassemble if necessary.Do not use on plastic.Use finger to apply thick layer of pipe dope to pipe threads. When project is complete, wipe off excess pipe dope.
Pipe repair clamps
Clean surface area to be repaired. Place rubber sealing pad over leak and place one clamp over pad. Do the same to opposite side of pipe. Insert bolts through holes in clamp and screw on nuts. Tighten bolts evenly until firm resistance is met and leak stops
Tube cutter
Loosen adjusting screw to open cutter jaw and insert tube. Line up cutting wheel with tube where cut is desired and tighten handle, securing tube and cutter. Rotate cutter around tube, tightening cutter screw every few turns until pipe cut is complete. Be careful not to over-tighten, as this could distort tube. To remove any burrs, use reaming blade attached to tube cutter