Tub rough in plumbing question (bathtub, install, faucet, pipe)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I need to replace this valve stem that belongs to an old bathtub (a pic is attached). Unfortunately there is no shutoff valve and i need to shut off the water to the whole house. This is not a problem however i may not be able to find a replacement valve for a while and i cannot afford to have no water for days...so my question is: will i be able to screw in a temporary plug? i know there are different valves out there but is the rough in hole where the valve goes always a standard size and what is that? house was built in 1974
Well, I can't tell exactly what you've got there, but I see a couple hexagonal forms which imply that you've got pipe threads somewhere in the chain.
If you need to cut the chain, then turn your water back on chop chop, maybe what I would do is go and get one each of an NPT plug in every (reasonable) size, and one NPT cap in every reasonable size, and then cut the string of piping as far away as you can, and unscrew stuff till you reach a male or female pipe thread that matches one of the plugs or caps. Then install with PTFE tape, and you should be able to turn the water back on.
Pull the valve- go find a replacement.
If you have a hard time finding a replacement- take pictures with a tape measure, determine thread size then throw it back in the hole. Now you have water and all the info to find a replacement valve.
On a second thought, a plug would do nothing in the sense that it would plug yes but water would come out of the faucet as the valve is missing. So I gotta just find another valve.
In order to shop for a matching valve stem, consider temporarily removing the old stem, than either photograph, scan or copy it. Replace the stem, then go shopping with the picture to match.
Is there a mfr. name on the handles, or is the back of the valve body visible on the other side (back of closet etc) for a mfr. name
Good luck.........
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.