Replacing Bath Tub Faucet?
Question:My bath tub recently became harder to use. The handle seems wobbly and when I turn it, no water comes out. I have to push on it while turning it to make the water come. I started trying to fix it, but it seems like the screw that holds the handle to the pipe, is full of mildew. Before I realized this I had already started trying to unscrew the screw. Now the screw is worn out and will not turn anymore. The screw is not a phillips type or flat, but one of the other ones with 6 sides. Will I have to saw off the end in order to fix my bath tub faucet?
Answers:
Well first off, before you mess with the tub faucet, make sure you have the hot and cold water to the tub turned off at the source. Otherwise you'll drown yourself. Second, if you don't know what you are doing, you'll make a bigger mess and get charged more by a plumber to fix it. It sounds to me like your best bet is to get a plumber in there and have them repair/replace the faucet. It could be soldered in or the main parts could be behind the wall.
You may be able to get the screw out by using an "easy-out" - you can get them at most hardware stores. You will have to drill a small hole in the center of the screw with an electric drill and then use the easy out to remove the screw (these have cutting teeth on them and are reverse threaded so that when you turn them into the hole, they tighten and turn the screw out). Alternatively, you can order a "grabit it" from 4grabit.com - have never tired one, but their add looks good and the premise is the same as drill and easy out. Once you get the screw out, be sure and purchase a good fixture - most of the cost of this sort of problem is your time and you don't want to have to replace it again in a few years - in less of course you are renting and if that is the case, just let the management know it is screwed (no pun intended).
Good luck.
Get an allen wrench set, sometimes it helps to have SAE and Metric. More often than not I can ectract a stripped Torx (that is what you have described) by driving an allen wrench, gently into the opening. Also the gentle tapping can help to loosten the screw and ultimately help in the ectraction process. Yours is not a complicated issue but requires a tiny bit if experience tools and maybe knowledge of tool modifications. You should either enlist the help of a mechanical friend or a plumber. The tub faucet can be a very costly item to replace if a fatal error is made.
If you can get the screw out - straight bleach will remove the mold or mildew. Use a spray bottle & let it sit for about 15 - 30 min.
If you have stripped the handle or the threads in the stem (the pipe that the screw goes in) - click on my picture & it will take you to my answers - click "more" (answers) & check out what you do to change the stem under the question "why is my faucet leaking when I have it all the way shut off" - I'm answer #8.
You can replace the stem & handle. The escutcheon (the thing that covers the hole in the wall & part of the stem) unscrews.
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