How to Repair a Shower Valve | This Old House

Rebuilding an old shower valve to like-new condition with This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)
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Richard helps a homeowner repair a shower valve that had been installed backwards.
Shopping List for How to Repair a Shower Valve:
shower valve rebuild kit [amzn.to/30bhG3Q]
Tools for How to Repair a Shower Valve:
screwdriver [amzn.to/303S8EQ]
pliers [amzn.to/309YraT]
thermometer [amzn.to/2OcrFyq], used to measure the water temperature
Parts supplied by: Watertown Supply [www.fwwebb.com/watertown.php]
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Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers-and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Repair a Shower Valve | This Old House
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[@doctor_awks]

Thanks for the video! Was good to see what I was in for and know this was an easy 15 minutes job. I'd recommend that any do it yourselfer disassemble the valve and bring the cartridge with them to the hardware store. I found out that even if you know the maker and model number there were 5 different cartridges depending on the year the valve was manufactured. Having the cartridge there to hold up to the replacements saved me at least one hardware store trip.

[@geojor]

good vid, thanks...

[@alonsovelarde8587]

legend

[@seanbarlow9893]

He sounds just like Pete Griffin!

[@swank2196]

Thanks for the video! Can you tell me the brand of the trim kit in the video? I bought an apartment where the shower backplate was missing and only the handle is there. I want to install a new backplate and handle with the exact one that was used in the video. I am not replacing the valve. Thank you!!

[@bramham999]

you showed how to put the spring in there on close up but not the second part.

[@dougarnold]

Let's try it out.

[@user-bw5xf3yr3m]

I love how they spend more time showing him screw in the screws then showing us how he installs all the other important components

[@starbringerm2534]

Should have shown the dismantling of the shower valve

[@brendanlavigne2080]

If anyone doesn’t know how to take the valve apart, all you need to do is watch the video in reverse.

[@soapboxearth2]

Ive got a faucet like that and the hot water just trickles out. Im thinking theres an obstruction in the faucet. There are no other valves that i can find

[@comeinhandynow]

The mixers seem to often clog up with calcium. I fixed mine by dismantling and greasing with silicon grease a while back, still good. Not sure of the make but for interest here’s the fix video to fix it nearly free (just some grease needed): kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWmkmpijZ9CCnas

[@MathCuriousity]

What do the the two tiny holes in the back of cartridge do? Also I didn't see other holes so how does water go in those holes but come out somewhere else?! Finally what do the springs do? Thank you for your time!

[@dfadden62]

So do I need to turn off my water first before I try to replace the valve? My shower does not stay on because the valve keeps releasing the water.

[@CurlyFromTheSwirly]

Yes, if you don't you're opening up a water dam. If so, I hope you can swim.

[@faitheschannel1394]

There’s a part that goes over that valve circle thing. How do you unscrew it. We have one and it’s stuck completely. We can’t unscrew it or turn it to take it off. The piece that goes over the hole. I hope I’m making sense.

[@faitheschannel1394]

How do you unscrew it. Can you show a video please ?

[@moodyalraisi1935]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@sharit7970]

Thanks for posting! QUESTION: my rental unit shower has a 1 handle faucet, BUT works like this: is off at 12:00; gets hot when turned clockwise [1, 2, 3, 4:00]. Turn back to 12:00 it's off. When turned counter clockwise, water is cold [11, 10, 9:00, etc.] What's wrong? My last tenants never complained, but my new tenant can't figure it out [me neither]. Anyone?? Thanks in advance!

[@flat-earther]

I'm not familiar with that but did you figure it out? Maybe you have to push or pull on the handle? It looks like shower valves in America are so complicated. Here in Europe the modern style is just like all of our single handle faucets where there is one handle which you swivel to change temperature and pull and push to open and close.

[@sharit7970]

@@flat-earther Thanks for responding! Yes, I was able to figure it out; it ended up that the handle was basically installed upside down; I took it off and flipped it 180 degrees, then it worked the way it was supposed to; gradually going from cold to hot. This really had me guessing though! Thanks again!

[@Chuck59ish]

I rented a house one time where the valve and everything was upside down. They fixed when I left because the new tenant had kids and it was an old valve without the temperature regulator.

[@Maxid1]

I had a similar experience in a hotel room. There wasn't any hot water in the shower so they comped me half the daily room rate and offered me another room. Not wanting to change rooms I had an idea to check the sink. I had hot water in the sink. I found that the valve was installed backwards. Cold was hot. Why they hadn't had anyone else tell them about it since the building was built is beyond me.

[@faitheschannel1394]

I’d like if you could answer my question please :)

[@MathCuriousity]

What do the springs with the o rings do?

[@hammerdick82]

Operates the valve seat function. Water pressure controlled by operating the handle causes more or less of hot or cold water to be released through their respective opening

[@MathCuriousity]

@@hammerdick82 but how do the springs accomplish that?

[@hammerdick82]

@@MathCuriousity They provide constant pressure for the gasket to seal against an imperfect surface. Spring failure is one of the causes of leaks and early failures

[@thechad7803]

Works exactly as it’s supposed to besides the fact you’ll constantly be out of hot water because you’ll have to jam it all the way up to take a hot shower because 120 isn’t very hot

[@raulgutierrez5920]

Show how you remove the old that 's the pain you know where?🤣🤣🤣

[@shawndewey2186]

How in the hell was her water instantly hot? Mine takes about 5 or 6 seconds

[@JacobFrey]

Because of the magic of editing. Surely they tested the valve and the water before they got the shot of her testing it herself. The hot water was ready to go.

[@alexscott730]

Ever hear of editing??

[@eksine]

she's faking it

[@tangeuray]

Why dont you use faucet silicone on them "washers" aka seats to real plumbers.

[@MechInvent]

So great you guys are here. Why is every other video 15 minutes long???? I’m not trying to watch a movie at Harkins about fucking faucets

[@kho24726]

Forgot to show how to take it out

[@DRUCO316]

david maher play the video backwards

[@joeycarr1398]

The most "dangerous" part is taking it out turning that thing counterclockwise, if it is stuck. You may brake the 3 water lines on the back. if not done properly.

[@yousefaraba6970]

Need a closer straight view

[@Viewer2023-]

typical arab

[@jselectricaltelugu1006]

Nise

[@still34u]

How in the hell do they always get a Hot Chick in these videos? :D are they like "oh yeah we'll fix it .." are they picking jobs by the people who need them done, or are they just bringing chicks with them? :P

[@lollolsheepie3196]

still34u i

[@alexscott730]

Why are you complaining?😂😂

[@Nightsaberban]

Isn't that his daughter?

[@faitheschannel1394]

I have a question

[@strangeroamer3219]

What is your question?

[@mikek19320]

probably leaked it's ass off since he rolled the o ring down the outside where it wouldn't do a thing.

[@stephensnell1379]

Richard does know what he's doing. He is a professional plumbing & heating expert.

[@markmiller2263]

Stephen Snell 😘sure...

[@gr8livn]

Mike Kranik he actually installed that correctly it's a 1700 delta monitor cartridge the older style. But then again I wouldn't really know I only been a plumber for 15 yrs.. lol

[@crisrys5133]

In this case, the o ring prevents water going from shower side back into the wall.

[@tkjazzer]

It just looked like he randomly placed it at a depth. How is it functional? Draw a schematic?

[@Drewsroofingandhomerepair]

I hate doing that job. Pain in the neck

[@liontone]

She seems to be more interested in him... just sayin.

[@melissacocklin4443]

00.jnnm

[@DavidKlausa]

2:06 This temperature limit stop seems totally unnecessary. If you're scalding yourself, just turn the water heater down. Maybe it makes sense in a rental where you don't trust the tenants to dial in the water heater.

[@brucefalk9057]

You could have explained a lot better with the washers in the valve !? Show us the inside of the valve with a flashlight or something to see what the hell you're doing, all I saw was you grabbing some kind of a washer and your thumb pushing it in there ! I mean come on it's easy for you but not someone who has never seen the guts of a shower faucet!

[@haniblecter]

didnt explain what the springs did, had to downvote