Shower & Bathtub Plumbing - Plumbing Talks Forum

How would I remove this stem to replace it?

bvwho2022 — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 22:09:44 +0000

Hi everyone, This stems seems like it needs to be replaced. Its dripping water when opened. I don't see a u clip or a nut. Thanks in advance for any answers.

Shower Plumbing Adventures: Pipes, Pressure, and a Bit of Trivia

cpaws85 — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:54:22 +0000

Was chatting with my neighbor yesterday while wrestling with some shower pipes (fun times, right?), and he casually mentioned that the average shower uses about 2 gallons of water per minute. I mean, I knew showers used water, obviously, but never really thought about how much exactly. Got me thinking about water pressure and pipe sizes and all that jazz...kinda fascinating when you dig into it. Anyone else got random plumbing trivia or weird facts tucked away?

pop-up vs flip-it drain stoppers, which one's better?

yogi27 — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 15:14:13 +0000

So my bathtub stopper finally gave up on me and I'm looking at replacements. Torn between those pop-up ones and the flip-it style... pop-ups seem sleek but I've heard they clog easier? Flip-its look kinda bulky tho. Anyone got experience with either type?

Shower Temperature Roulette: Replace Valve or Try Repair Kit?

dancer61 — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 14:18:17 +0000

My shower's been acting up lately—it's either scalding hot or ice cold, no middle ground. Did some googling and seems like it's probably the mixing valve. I'm debating between just swapping out the whole valve or trying one of those repair kits first. Repair kit seems cheaper and easier, but I'm worried it'll just be a temporary fix, you know? Anyone had experience with either option, good or bad?

Rainfall Vs Handheld Showerhead: Which One Wins Your Vote?

charlies45 — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 08:12:31 +0000

Okay, so I'm standing in Home Depot yesterday staring at showerheads for like 20 minutes straight (I'm sure the employees thought I was lost or something, lol). Anyway, I'm stuck between going for one of those fancy rainfall showerheads that make you feel like you're standing under a tropical waterfall or whatever, and a handheld one that's practical and easy to maneuver. I've never had the rainfall type before, but they seem super relaxing. On the other hand, handheld seems way easier when cleaning the shower walls or washing pets (my dog hates baths, gotta make it quick!). But do rainfall ones have decent pressure or is it more of a gentle drizzle situation? I'm kinda leaning towards the handheld because of practicality but don't wanna miss out on that luxurious spa-like feel from the rainfall. Curious which one you guys prefer and why... any advice appreciated!

single handle vs double handle faucets - which is easier to fix?

ericlewis527 — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 08:33:29 +0000

Been dealing with a drippy faucet in my bathtub for a bit now, and I gotta replace it soon, driving me nuts. Anyway, I'm debating going single handle or double handle this time around. I've heard single handles are simpler inside, less parts to mess with, but others say double handles are easier cause you can isolate hot or cold issues quicker. I'm kinda handy but not a plumbing pro—anyone have experience with either type and have a preference?

weird shower plumbing fact I just learned

sam_fire — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 20:56:36 +0000

Was chatting with my neighbor yesterday—he's a retired plumber—and somehow we got onto the topic of showers (as you do, lol). He told me something kinda interesting: apparently, the reason shower drains have that little curve or "trap" underneath isn't just to catch hair and gunk. It's actually there to hold water and create a seal that keeps sewer gases from wafting back up into your bathroom. I mean, makes total sense now that I think about it, but I'd honestly never thought about it before. He also mentioned that if your shower ever smells kinda funky even after cleaning, it could be because the water in the trap dried out (like if you haven't used it in a while), letting those lovely sewer smells sneak in. Who knew plumbing had these little hidden tricks? Anyway, figured I'd share since it was new info for me. Curious if anyone else has random plumbing trivia or weird tidbits they've picked up over the years...