Actually, I had a mom and a stepmom, a dad and a stepdad. The moms and the dad were all Federal Civil Service in the USAF. The stepdad was a tech-sergeant in the USAF. Yup, I was a military brat.

I decided tonight that I'm not going to save money for my water bill. I'm going to save $$$ for a plumber to fix the two leaks. If not, I'll continue to have BIG water bills every month.

Yeah, yeah, I know, that thought should have occurred to me weeks ago. What can I tell ya, I'm almost as old as River. And we all know how senile River is

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Sat May 26, 2012 11:52 pm I decided tonight that I'm not going to save money for my water bill. I'm going to save $$$ for a plumber to fix the two leaks. If not, I'll continue to have BIG water bills every month.

Yeah, yeah, I know, that thought should have occurred to me weeks ago. What can I tell ya, I'm almost as old as River. And we all know how senile River is

I'm not that mechanically inclined, but you can probably solve both with a trip to a hardware store for a new washer for the tub and a valve kit for the toilet and still get change for a $20, which is vastly less than what you are paying for water.

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transward (imported) wrote: Sat May 26, 2012 11:59 pm I'm not that mechanically inclined, but you can probably solve both with a trip to a hardware store for a new washer for the tub and a valve kit for the toilet and still get change for a $20, which is vastly less than what you are paying for water.

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Next month, I'll buy the valve kit, but tub wise, I wouldn't know what a washer looks like nor where to put it. I'd ask "where should I put it" but the responses in here might be funny

What you need is a book - Home Maintenance For Dummies. --FLO--

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Mon May 28, 2012 9:11 am Next month, I'll buy the valve kit, but tub wise, I wouldn't know what a washer looks like nor where to put it. I'd ask "where should I put it" but the responses in here might be funny

If I were closer I would gladly fix the leaks for you. Growing up poor and being the man of the family (LOL) I had to figure out how to fix things around the house. Today I am here, I am queer and I plumb.

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Mon May 28, 2012 9:11 am Next month, I'll buy the valve kit, but tub wise, I wouldn't know what a washer looks like nor where to put it. I'd ask "where should I put it" but the responses in here might be funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15A0V7lj_Lo

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/leakywasherfaucet

Step 1. Turn off the Water: If there's a shutoff valve beneath the fixture, turn off the water at that point. Otherwise, turn it off at the main house shutoff valve in the basement, utility room, or crawlspace. Turn off the hot water supply at the water heater.

Step 2. Take the Faucet Apart: Start by removing the handle (this may not be necessary on some older faucets). Loosen the Phillips-head screw, which usually is beneath a decorative cap in the center of the handle. The cap either unscrews or snaps off when you pry it with a knife blade. Next, lift or pry the handle off its broached stem. Unscrew the packing nut beneath the handle, exposing the rest of the stem. Remove the stem by rotating it in the "on" direction. It will thread out. Reinstall the handle if you have difficulty turning it (Fig. 1). Clean chips from the faucet cavity, but do not use harsh abrasives or a file.

Tip: If you must use pliers on decorative faucet parts, pad them with electrical tape or cloth to protect the finish. And take special care with the plastic parts found on many modern faucets.

Step 3. Examine the Stem: If the threads are badly corroded or worn, take it to your retailer and get a new stem to match. Clean the stem if it's dirty.

Step 4. Check the Washer: The washer is located on the lower end of the stem and held in place by a brass screw. If the washer is squeezed flat or has a groove worn in it, replace it - this should stop any dripping. Take the washer to your hardware store to ensure an exact match in size and style. If the brass screw is damaged, replace it with a new brass screw.

Tip: It's important to install the correct type of faucet washer (Fig. 1, bottom). A swiveling washer (C) is preferable to either A or B. To install washer style C, file the shoulder off the end of the stem, drill out the threads of the screw hole. Instead of rubbing against the seat as it closes, a swiveling washer closes with a straight-down, frictionless action - this allows it to outlast fixed washers.

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hmm if the water is turned off it is the best time to fix things make lemonade out of lemons

Bathtub faucet washers can be really tricky.

See if you can figure out the brand, and describe it for us.

Sweetpickle (imported) wrote: Mon May 28, 2012 5:54 pm Bathtub faucet washers can be really tricky.

See if you can figure out the brand, and describe it for us.

The water is off. Take the faucet off and take the stem with you to the hardware store. Find a clerk (that will probably be the hard part), show him the stem and tell him you need the appropriate washer. (I know, I know. Adult men can sometimes be constitutionally unable to plead ignorance in a hardware store, Some sort of manhood thing, but practice, you can do it.) Buy several along with the brass screw that holds them on. (This works best if you can find a real hardware store, rather than a warehouse size one. There the clerks may know no more than you.)

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