Deaconblue
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2011
- Messages
- 20,074
- Reaction score
- 3,601
@Deaconblue tackling the shower faucet tonight. Would there be any benefit to just going ahead & replacing the brass stems?
Not really. Stems don't wear out very fast. Lifetime measured in decades. Biggest reason would be if they show obvious deterioration. The bottom of the stem where the washer goes is the most likely place. Or if someone cheated and used a steel screw instead of a brass one to hold the faucet washer in place and it is a rusted mess you can't get out.
New washers every few years, fresh grease when you do that. Silicon faucet grease is another name for plumbers grease. About $10 should keep you supplied for a decade or two.
ETA:
If you have to shutoff all house water, fill a bucket or two with clean water before you shut water off.
If you have visible/feel able (raised) deposits on the stems from (white) lime deposits (hard water- doesn't have to be that hard) clean them up. Soak in dilute vinegar for 15 minutes, scrape with PLASTIC (not metal) scraper and extra fine steel wool - 00, 000, 0000 grades.
If you find reddish (rust colored) deposits, use rust removal product like CLR for cleanup.
Horizontal stems ( like your tub ones) are more likely to have deposits than vertical ones, like many sinks.
Rinse well with water before reassembly.
Last edited: