No problem right? Except all the new ones I find come in packs of 2 and I need 3. The ones in the kits that fit the toilet are all coated steel, so I by a kit whose seal doesn’t fit the toilet just to get the stainless steel bolts in the kit.

After replacing them, I turn the water back on to find that the fill valve no longer shits off. Trips to three stores and looking at Amazon I find that valve is no longer made. Back to the store to get a universal valve.

Shut the water off at the toilet and find it still lets water through. Now I shut the water off coming into the house and the shaft breaks off while turning the handle.

At this rate, the whole county will be without water if I keep going.

Man, do I feel your pain.

In 50+ years I've NEVER encountered a plumbing issue that didn't involve at least three trips for parts.

I worked at a neighborhood hardware store in high school and college. Our axiom was always that plumbing will involve there trips. Always. We sometimes shared this just to help set expectations.

Cocky guys come in, know just what they need and brag that they won't be back. When they were checking out the second time they were a little more sheepish and pretty quiet. Walking back in the third time was generally "Fine! This is what I need now!!"

I also feel your pain.

These days I just leave the key in the pickup till make at least 3 trips to hardware store when working on plumbing.

Always remember the motto my old man used to say when doing any repair project:
"If it aint one damn thing, its another"!

As a small contractor friend told me, no plumbing jobs on a Friday. Sounds like you have wiggle room time-wise so that's in your favor.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Man, do I feel your pain.

In 50+ years I've NEVER encountered a plumbing issue that didn't involve at least three trips for parts.

I managed to do it in one trip just one time. Sunday evening at about 10PM I went downstairs to hage up clothes from the dryer. What I saw was my water heater pissing a small but solid stream on the side. The kicker was that it was actually falling short of the laundry sing by about 18 inches. If it was pissing into the sink I would have blown it off until Monday.

Note this was back when Home Depot was open 24/7 so off to Home Depot I went. Found one of their guys in Plumbing so I told him I needed a new gas water heater and wanted on larger than the 40 gallon tank that I was always running out of hot water with. So we select a 60 gallong tank and when I check it for weight it's something that I could manage. Then I tell the guy I only want to make one trip because I have to be at work at 7AM in the morning. So, he asks about if I have a pipe cutter and my answer is in the tool box at work. So he gets me a budget compact pipe cutter good for confined spaces. Next up he hands me 45 degree pipe fittings. I ask about that and it's in case I have to flip ends with the giant water heater (which I did have to do, the pilot access would have been about an inch from the wall). Next up was two 6 foot lengths of copper water pipe. Then silver based solder, a propane torch, some scotch brite, flux and extra fittings to thread into the new tank. He finished with a tip that was extremely valuable. He said that the water shotoff probably wouldn't shut the water off completely and I should open up the lowest tap in the house and stuff some bread into the cold water line to soak any trickle while I was soldering everything together. BTW, managed to get it finished at a bit before 4AM so I went into work with a solid 2 hours of sleep.

Basically I got very very lucky, I ran into guy at Home Depot who really did know what they were doing. Bet odds are about 99% that would not happen today. BTW that 60 gallon tank was still working well when I had it replaced as part of the package for a new furnace and AC setup. At that point the water heater was 15 years old so I did consider it "due".

MY moto now is, buy what you think you need, then buy another set, then get what you think you have at home for the project and don't need.

Lately my second trips back to Lowes Depot have been only to return the stuff I didn't need, and as a plus I'm cleaned up and don't look like I've been working on the house...

quote:

Except all the new ones I find come in packs of 2 and I need 3.

Buy 2.

2+2=4
4-3=1 (spare)

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
No problem right? Except all the new ones I find come in packs of 2 and I need 3.

My father just went through this a month ago. IIRC he just bought a bolt and a rubber washer/grommet from one of the big box home repair stores.



Yep, if you're doing a plumbing job yourself, never do it on a Sunday.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
No problem right? Except all the new ones I find come in packs of 2 and I need 3.

My father just went through this a month ago. IIRC he just bought a bolt and a rubber washer/grommet from one of the big box home repair stores.



Yep, if you're doing a plumbing job yourself, never do it on a Sunday.

If you need bolts, screws, washers, nuts then go to ACE, find the one in your area that has the best selection, you may pay a little more per bolt but you can buy two if you want two only,

Think I've stumped them once in 20 years....

Originally posted by V-Tail:
"Aunt Bee, Call the Man!!!"
I think I just watched that one a week or so ago.
The problem is there's these videos online that get me thinking it's easy enough for me.

OP: A friend went through this when he bought his first home. Now he goes through all the shut-offs yearly, closing and opening to avoid that moment.

A plumber worth his salt would likely have had the parts already on his truck. Just saying.

Similarly (in the automotive business), I farm out most exhaust work. Even so-called "direct-fit" parts often don't.

Did you guys know that the EPA changed the rules for potable water shutoff valves in 2014? Or that these new shutoff valves require a different method and solder to sweat them?

Apparently, the new valves are lead-free and don't conduct heat as well as the old valves, hence a lower melting point solder should be used to decrease the likelyhood off burning up the seals in the valve.

Me neither.

A plumber would not have solved any of the problems I had for less than $300. I'll have $60 and 2 hours of my time into it.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

MY moto

This was a very popular moto when I lived in Barcelona:

Geez! 60 bucks? Last time I rebuilt a tank, it cost me 17 bucks. My policy is, if one part in a toilet tank is bad, they're all bad. Saves a lot of heartburn, just buy the rebuild kit.