Shower issues: Plumbers (and amatuer plumbers) please respond......

[mbryson]

Well, we came home from our little vacation to Cache Valley a day early and I'm kinda glad. I've been working on a plumbing issue since I got home last night. I'm a house plumbing id10t unless I can use the same kind of theory that a vehicle has (holds water most of the time anyway).

Our tub/showers are all the three valve type (hot, cold, shower/tub). From my many trips to the hardware store, it seems there is large brass 'manifold' that connects the hot and cold water to the shower/tub valve. I have a pretty sizeable leak (and now I get to do some sheetrock work in a few ceilings ) either in the manifold/valves or in the copper pipe near the manifold.

Problem/background: The tile (little 4" jobbies) was cut in half as it was installed around the valves. I chipped that out thinking I'd get to the manifold and at least cap the pipes so I could turn on the water for the rest of the house and figure out what to do from there. Behind the tile there's 1-2" of concrete like substance. Some of it was kinda loose, so I chipped it away and it looks like there's a expanded metal embedded in the concreteish/mortar type stuff.


Problem/solution?: How far do I go before I've spent a ton of cash I don't have? I'd assume I need a hole sized enough to gain access to whatever threads into the manifold. Can I then 'cap' those pipes/or install another manifold and turn the water back on? Are the manifolds 'standard' sized (I've been trying to find 'standard' valves all day and I'm sick of plumbing ****--It's a lot like Windsor, Cleveland, Modified, FE, etc. and bellhousings) and I can just get a replacement assembly and be on my somewhat merry way?

Never been here before and hope to never be here again......

 

[Tacoma]

in my house, access is through the wall BEHIND the shower, which happens to be in the hallway. The wall I mean. In other words I have to cut through the wall in the hallway to get to the pipes in the shower.

What you're doing is going through the tiles and then through the wonderboard behind it. Harder to repair than sheetrock, but doable. Just don't let the neighbors see you washing up in a tub in the yard at night.

 

[mbryson]

in my house, access is through the wall BEHIND the shower, which happens to be in the hallway. The wall I mean. In other words I have to cut through the wall in the hallway to get to the pipes in the shower.

What you're doing is going through the tiles and then through the wonderboard behind it. Harder to repair than sheetrock, but doable. Just don't let the neighbors see you washing up in a tub in the yard at night.

Ahh.....I already tried that approach. There's a shower behind my shower..... Either way, I'm doing tile. I'll just keep the mess in the master bath and keep the other bath operational.

 

[Tacoma]

ahhh, I seeeeee well in that case, hack away! and good luck.

 

[toomeymd]

Not much of a plumber but I'm a tile setter, so when you get your mess of plumbing fixed, I can cut you a pretty good deal for tile repair, the 4x4 discount! Call me at 801-420-4970 if you want to do this.
T

 

[Brad J]

I feel bad for you, plumbing scares me It used to be so much easier when it was all threaded pipe and anyone could buy what they needed and fix most things:-\

Good Luck.

 

[DOSS]

I had a leaky shower this year as well.. Hack away.. you are just hacking through your backerboard you will be through shortly... then replace the entire thing.. don't try to fix the worthless manafolds... while your in there just do it right and replace the thing..

 

[BCGPER]

What he said Marc. Replace the problem now, or you'll be tearing things up again in a few years. I probably have all the materials sitting here that you'll need that you can carry away, so the only major expense will be the faucet. But, dont get a cheapie! If you don't know how to sweat copper, I'll teach you in about 15 minutes, it's no big deal.

I had a leaky shower this year as well.. Hack away.. you are just hacking through your backerboard you will be through shortly... then replace the entire thing.. don't try to fix the worthless manafolds... while your in there just do it right and replace the thing..

 

[mbryson]

What he said Marc. Replace the problem now, or you'll be tearing things up again in a few years. I probably have all the materials sitting here that you'll need that you can carry away, so the only major expense will be the faucet. But, dont get a cheapie! If you don't know how to sweat copper, I'll teach you in about 15 minutes, it's no big deal.

Oh, it'll get replaced. There's some water damage that I need to take out the tub to fix . It looks like it'll come out pretty cleanly (jetted fiberglass unit) but I'm not at all familiar with the tile/masonry work and just wanted to know how crazy I should go.

 

[Tacoma]

wonderboard makes it pretty easy... I learned how to mud walls, that's pretty interesting! You'll be alright.