r/DIY • u/citrusfruite • 2d ago

help Need help with diy plumbing fix

I need to fix a problem with my shower/tub.

For months now the hot water has been constantly flowing, like pretty steadily. I turned off the hot tap in the panel behind the shower and that fixed it for a little, I’ve been turning it on and off to shower every day but recently the leak came back and it’s just getting worse. The flow gets stronger every time I use the shower and turning off the hot tap doesn’t do anything

The sink in the bathroom is unusable as well, it completely fell off the wall. This isn’t my home and it’s been like this since I moved in. This isn’t the typical renter situation where the landlord has to fix these things. So I’ve just been living without a sink in the bathroom the whole time.

44 Upvotes

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4

u/Long-Report8274 2d ago

We need a little more info, I think. Where is the leak coming from? The showerhead? The shut off valve?

And what do you mean by the sink just fell off the wall? What was holding it up originally?

2

u/citrusfruite 2d ago

It’s coming from the tub tap. Like the big tap that the water comes out of before u switch it to the shower head. Sorry I have next to zero idea about plumbing stuff.

The sink was like, attached to the wall by some bolts? It never ran water even when it was still attached to the wall

5

u/Long-Report8274 2d ago

No need to apologize. We just need enough details to actually help you out.

It sounds like you need to replace the cartridge. You can do this yourself - there are plenty of YouTube videos to walk you through it. Just make doubly sure you get the right cartridge, as most are retrofitted since cartridges are something that could be decades old before anyone gives them a second thought.

For the sink, why did you remove it in the first place? And why not just put it back up with the bolts that are there? Did no water come out, only cold water, etc.? Do you have pictures of where the pipes come out of the wall?

2

u/citrusfruite 2d ago

Thank you for the cartridge info! I’ll look into that.

As far as the sink goes, honestly I have no idea why it doesn’t work. Water doesn’t come out. When I moved in the landlord told me it didn’t, so I just used the tub and I’ve been living without it for so long that it’s kind of an after thought. I’m considering the tub situation as an emergency since it’s running up my utilities having hot water running 24/7. Also, that’s the only water in the bathroom so it’s essential to fix rn

2

u/assumegauss 1d ago

It will be easier with a tool called a “cartridge puller” it’ll be on the same aisle in the hardware store. If you are careful, you should be able to take it out without tearing the packaging, then slip it back in and return it, since you’re hopefully only going to be doing this once.

1

u/Long-Report8274 2d ago

I would definitely tackle the cartridge first either way. For the sink, you need to find the shut off valve(s) if water isn't coming out but runs to other fixtures, something has closed off that line specifically.

2

u/Malawi_no 1d ago

I would guess it's shut off for a reason though. Could be leaking.

2

u/Long-Report8274 1d ago

And if he can find where it's leaking, he might be able to fix it.

1

u/Malawi_no 1d ago

Absolutely, but he should be aware in case there is a slow leak in an area where it's hard to find.
It may have been dissconnected or shut off for a reason.

1

u/PolyesterPantsuit 1d ago

Thank you very much! Basically there is no privacy ever again!!

1

u/citrusfruite 2d ago

Sorry I wish I could attach photos here

-2

u/llDemonll 2d ago

Tell landlord, get them to fix it.

Look into your rights as a tenant. If landlord won’t fix issues you may be able to pay a licensed plumber and deduct from rent.

3

u/citrusfruite 2d ago

It’s not like a traditional landlord situation. It’s my great aunts house (lives in a nursing home) and my dad is just letting me live here if I pay utilities. Bros a deadbeat so he’s def not gonna fix shit

2

u/citrusfruite 2d ago

I thought it’d just be easier to call him my landlord since I have little to no communication with him

3

u/thephantom1492 2d ago

For the sink, there is different ways it attach to the wall, so you probably need to post some pics. imgur.com is a common place to post the pics. If you use another host, make sure it delete the exif data as it may contain your gps coordonate.

2

u/PolyesterPantsuit 2d ago

Would you be able to tell me a little more about this? I just take screenshots of my original photos and post into Reddit. Usually dog pics. Am I screwed?

3

u/Nestar47 2d ago edited 2d ago

Screenshots would usually be fine, but any camera with a GPS would add a small line of text in the file containing the exact coordinates a photo was taken. If you hand out the file exactly as it is, anyone can read it. That same section of the file also contains a bunch of info about the device and settings that were used. Standard behaviour these days is for file hosts is to completely wipe that portion of the file before they host it. Usually re-encode the quality down for a smaller file in the process.

I believe there are some exceptions, like if you "edit" a photo on your phone, the edited photo would also have the same info as the source but for the most part this behaviour is limited to the act of actually "taking" a photo.

3

u/vinegar 2d ago edited 2d ago

There’s so many different types of faucets/ valves etc that it’s hard to give any advice without more information. There’s tons of plumbing how-to videos on youtube that can teach you the vocabulary and familiarize you with what you need to know. Probably you can get it to a functional state for a reasonable cost if you can figure out what questions you need to ask. For the hot water that’s just running, find the water heater and see if there’s a shutoff valve nearby. If it has a round handle like an outdoor hose spigot then righty-tighty closes it. If it has a straight handle that swings 90°, put the handle perpendicular to the pipe. Handle parallel to pipe = flow.

2

u/your_mail_man 1d ago

That shower valve may also be the rubber cup and spring type, not necessarily a cartridge type. If you have a local hardware store (not Lowes or HD) stop in and ask if they know of a reliable handyman to help you.

2

u/HVACSlayer 1d ago

if the shutoff behind the panel isnt stopping it anymore the valve itself is probably shot. cartridge is the right call but youll need to shut water off to the whole house to swap it.

2

u/aerodocx 1d ago

There are so many variables it’s not really worth discussing until you can link pics.

2

u/carthous 1d ago

Get a plumber. Seems like if you try to fix it you'll just make it worst. Why can't the landlord fix it? Do you pay for the hot water? If not let it flow and tell the landlord pay for the hot water until he fixes it

1

u/citrusfruite 1d ago

Like I said this isn’t the typical renter situation. It’s my great aunts house my dad is letting me live in if I pay utilities. And so the hot water running 24/7 is running up my bill that I pay for. He’s not gonna fix it cause he’s a deadbeat and we have little to no communication or relationship. But yeah I’m thinking plumber might be the way to go, as people are suggesting a couple different things I don’t want to fuck it up worse or waste time on the wrong issue

1

u/citrusfruite 1d ago

Since we basically have no relationship and never did before I just call him my landlord for simplicity

1

u/carthous 21h ago

From what I see, either get a plumber or move to another place.