DIY Project – Master Bathroom – Shower Renovation – Checking for Leaks

Efiwym, my wife, was not home, so I was on my own to turn on the main water shutoff valve and check for leaks.  I went downstairs and quickly turned the knob on the valve.  I ran as fast as an old fat guy could run. Up two flights of stairs and to the master bathroom I went.  As I entered the room, it was all quiet.  Except for my heavy breathing there was no other sound.  Not a trace of a water leak.

I approached the shower and with a flashlight checked for leaks.  I touched around all the fittings and shower valve.  My hope was for no leaks and there were no leaks. I removed the bronze cap from the shower head pipe.  I lifted up the shower valve handle slowly.  I heard the gurgling and sputtering as the air was pushed out by the water. Soon the water shot out getting the back wall wet. I immediately turned off the shower.  I got the old handheld shower head from the other bathroom and screwed the hose to the shower head pipe.  I placed the shower head near the shower drain and turned on the shower again.  Water flowed as I tried to check the shower head pipes for leaks.  Holding the shower head down with one hand and trying to look up at the pipes was an impossibility.

I shut off the water and checked the fittings for any water.  The pipes were dry, but my socks, and everything else around the shower base were wet.  I wiped down everything that should have not been wet.  I was not satisfied that the shower head fitting was checked well for leaks.  What I did next would create a leak that stumped me.

I removed the shower head and put back the cap.  I then turned on the shower valve fully to check for leaks.  I shut the valve off and on several times.  I was convinced that my soldering job would hold.  However, the cartridge was leaking.  Not much, but a drop or two.  I tightened the bolts more.  Still leaking.  I cranked hard and I broke the screw head off. The cartridge started shooting a stream of water.  I ran quickly to the basement and shut off the water.  Back upstairs with more rags to wipe up the water.  I grabbed some bath towels too.  After I cleaned up the water, I removed the valve cartridge and the broken screw.

I went to the kitchen and wrote a note on the whiteboard, “Water still off.  Went to hardware store.” Off to the hardware store to find a matching screw. I returned with two screws just in case I needed another one.

Back to the shower where I reinstalled the cartridge.  I went down to the basement and turned the water on.  Another sprint up to the master bathroom to check for leaks again. The cartridge was dry.  I decided not to touch anything else for the day.  I was done.  I would come back throughout the day to check for leaks.  There would be none.  But that was not the end of it…

4 responses to “DIY Project – Master Bathroom – Shower Renovation – Checking for Leaks”

  1. Fashion Styles Avatar

    You made some decent points there. I did a search on the subject and found most persons will agree with your blog.

  2. Hairstyles Avatar

    Thanks for another wonderful post. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such an ideal approach of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I am on the search for such information.

  3. Beauty Fashion Avatar

    Thank you for the good writeup. It if truth be told was a enjoyment account it. Look complicated to far introduced agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?

  4. Hairstyles Avatar

    Hey! I simply would like to give an enormous thumbs up for the good information you’ve right here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for extra soon.

[emulsion_relate_posts]