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April 28, 2004
Divert My Valve
Oh brother. My shower is malfunctioning, and it really, really sucks. I think it’s the valve in the mechanism that controls whether the water comes out of the bath or the showerhead. It might also be the actual valves to the hot and cold, as they’re not shutting off all the way, either. No matter what the actual problem is, I have about three holes worth of water coming out of my showerhead, which makes for a very grumpy Callalillie.
If I’m lucky, the above is the problem. Replacing the valves, according to my father, shouldn’t be that hard. It could also be corroded pipes, however, in which case I’m fucked.
The main issue is that I don’t want to call a plumber unless it’s dire. Plumbers cost a lot of money…of which I have very little at the current moment (or any given day). I’ve never felt so retarded about home repair before. I’m good at installing shelves and assembling furniture. I’ve never had to deal with pipes before, however, and they make me nervous.
I also don’t have any of the proper tools. Normally, the prospect of going to a hardware store and buying new tool toys would rock my socks off, but this is so not what I needed this week. I don’t have time to get to a hardware store before 7:00 pm., which means only the big chain stores are actually open, and both Home Depot and Lowes are a bit too far and out of the way for me to get to this week. Furthermore, I don’t know what types of valves and other pipe-related details I might need, as I don’t really know for sure what the problem is, which means that I will most likely need to run back and forth to the hardware store a couple of times during the pipe fixing process.
Did I mention that my office is moving on Friday and that I have to work most of the weekend? When one finds time to fix their diverter valve is beyond me. Meanwhile, I lack a shower. Or at least an effective shower. Right now, it’s serving one main purpose—Irving’s perpetual drinking fountain.
Posted by callalillie at April 28, 2004 1:17 PM | Home Improvement
As a woman with a well-stocked toolbox...and the desire to fix stuff...you may find that buying tools to fix your valve only a wee bit less expensive than a plumber. I salute you...plumbing is tricky. Good luck in your quest.
Posted by: SueT at April 28, 2004 1:29 PM
Oh, I have no problem buying the tools! It's the worry that I'll break it even more by trying to fix it...
Posted by: corie at April 28, 2004 1:32 PM
so what is it doing? i'm not sure if i get the "3 holes of water" concept. do you mean three of the little holes in the showerhead?
Posted by: Jimmy Legs at April 28, 2004 1:54 PM
Yeah. I think it might be the knob in the middle of the hot and cold knobs-- the "diverter valve," as one website called it. My father thinks it might be that the range of motion on the vavle is bad, causing it to a) not shut off all the way and b) not push all of the water up to the shower head. I have ample water pressure from the bath nozzle, just not the shower head.
Oooh. And now I just heard that my email is malfunctioning at callalillie.com. This has been a beautiful day :) I can't wait to leave early, get a beer, and then try to fix this situation.
Posted by: corie at April 28, 2004 1:57 PM
get a beer and fix the situation? drunk plumbing work?!? that's the best!
i also need to go to home depot. damn them. they need a location convenient to me, like down the street.
Posted by: tien at April 28, 2004 2:04 PM
they need to deliver...like fresh direct or kozmo.com
Posted by: corie at April 28, 2004 2:09 PM
you can have things delivered but they have such a backlog it'll takes weeks to arrive.
Posted by: Jimmy Legs at April 28, 2004 3:20 PM
Posted by: corie at April 28, 2004 4:11 PM
I had the same problem last month with my shower (I'm a renter, but occasionally I have these I'm-a-guy moments, and I insist on trying to fix things before I give up and call the landlord. Once in a while this works).
It turned out NOT to be the diverter, which was very odd, since the switch had make a Bad Clunking Sound just before it stopped working. It turned out the shower head was clogged. Worth a look, before you start surgery.
If it helps, I have a handle puller, C-wrench and seat wrench I could drop off if you need 'em. Mementoes of when I successfully fixed the bathtub leak. A victory for men everywhere, I'm sure.
Posted by: Linus at April 28, 2004 5:38 PM
Corie, you're commenting section, as always, has too many entries for my short attention span, so forgive me if I am repeating what someone already said.
1. Leaky faucets could be just a stripped washer. They cost about 15 cents each.
2. Though Lowes and Home Depot may be out of the way, it would be more efficient. The clerks at home depot, for instance, can address any home repair situation (most of them are certified plumbers, carpenters, etc etc,) and can direct you to the approrpiate tools.as well as give you step by step assistance.
Posted by: Jason at April 29, 2004 1:21 AM
Much more complicated than a leaky faucet, dear. Corroded valves...along with a main line corroded valve. It's plumber time...
Posted by: corie at April 29, 2004 7:42 AM
i've been to some home depots in new york, and i'm not sure that i would consider most of the employees "certified" at anything. but they can be very helpful and nice.
Posted by: tien at April 29, 2004 9:11 AM
