Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123
Note that replacing a cartridge on a sink faucet and a shower mixing valve are 2 different things. You can turn off the water under the sink, replace the cartridge, and immediately see if you have a leak. But, for the shower mixing valve, you need to turn off the water for the entire house, replace the cartridge, and hope that you properly seated the o-rings inside the wall. If you didn't, water will leak inside the wall every time you turn on the shower. In my house in Virginia, I watched a master plumber damage 3 o-rings because of a defect in the cylinder inside the wall before he got one properly seated. I have installed several sink faucets, but I would not attempt to replace a shower mixing valve. Usually, when you need to turn off the water to the house, I will defer to a plumber.
|
I suppose anything is possible, but the leaky seals being replaced are dripping water out of the faucet, not back into the wall. Typically it's only the seals that need to be replaced.
As far as turning the main water supply off, I do that every Spring, and turn it back on every Autumn. It might not be a bad idea to have some faucets open when you turn the water back on, so you don't get a sudden burst of pressure in the system, but I wouldn't call a plumber to turn that valve for me.