Had a similar situation last winter—thought I’d just swap a stem, ended up cracking the whole valve body. Sometimes those “leave it alone” instincts are right. But then again, ignoring it can mean a flooded basement down the line... tough call, honestly.
Man, I’ve seen more valve bodies split from “just swapping a stem” than I care to admit. It’s wild how something that looks like a 10-minute job can turn into a full-blown plumbing adventure. Sometimes you get lucky and the old brass just lets go, but other times… yeah, you’re hunting for the shutoff at the curb and calling in favors.
I get the urge to leave it alone—especially if it’s not actively leaking. But then again, I’ve also been called out to mop up after someone ignored a slow drip for too long. There’s no perfect answer. If you do go for it, lots of penetrating oil and patience are your friends. And honestly, if it feels like it’s fighting you too much, walking away isn’t the worst move. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough... until it isn’t.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve gotta say—sometimes “good enough” is just a ticking time bomb. That slow drip can turn into a geyser at 2am, and then you’re not just swapping a stem, you’re replacing drywall. I’d rather wrestle with stubborn brass than mop up a flood. Maybe I just like living dangerously...
Yeah, I’m with you—leaving a slow drip is just asking for trouble down the line. I’ve seen what happens when folks ignore it, and it’s never pretty. If you’re already in there, might as well do it right.
When I’m pulling a stubborn stem, I always start by shutting off the water (learned that one the hard way). Then I’ll take off the handle and escutcheon, and hit the area with a little penetrating oil—let it sit for a bit. Sometimes those old stems are practically welded in place. If it’s really stuck, I’ll use a stem wrench or even improvise with a deep socket if I have to. Just gotta be careful not to round anything off.
One thing I’ve noticed: if you’re dealing with old brass, patience is key. Rushing it usually means something snaps or strips, and then you’re in for a much bigger project. Had a buddy who tried to muscle one out and ended up cracking the valve body... that was a whole weekend gone.
Anyway, better safe than sorry. A little extra effort now beats waking up to soggy drywall any day.
Not sure I totally agree about always going full send on these old stems. Sometimes, a slow drip can be handled with a quick washer swap or just tightening things up—especially if you’re dealing with ancient plumbing that’s already brittle. I’ve actually made things worse by trying to “do it right” and ending up with a cracked fitting that needed a whole wall opened up. Guess it depends how much risk you’re willing to take, but sometimes less is more, at least until you’ve got a backup plan ready.
