My faucet in the shower started to drip. Till the plumber coming to fix it I thought to mitigate a bit by shutting off the pipe.
I bought a tape similar to repair tape.
So if I put tape in the faucet (and remove it to turn on the water when I need to) would it cause a problem? Would the fact that these drips are not released but blocked make things worse?
Plumbing – Is it good idea to use repair tape to block water from constantly dripping?u
bathroomfaucetplumbingtapswater
Related Solutions
If you have no separate shut off valve you should wait till the local water authority can come and temporarily shut off the water at the meter (which is presumably near the street).
I see no problem with shutting off the water supply to the water heater as a short term measure to curb the water waste from the leaking faucet in the shower. It would be a good idea to turn off the water heater during the time that the water supply is turned off.
After you turn the water supply back on the only issue you will have with the water heater is that some air could have fed back into the tank. All you have to do is to open the hot water valves in several of your sinks and let them run for a short while until the water runs clear without any bubbles or spitting coming out of the faucets.
The type of valve that has to be "tightened down" to make a good seal is likely an older valve like the one in this diagram from ThisOldHouse.com:
Over time, there is a washer on the bottom of the stem that wears out. Forcing the handle tighter can fix the issue, but this ultimately just destroys what's left of the washer even faster. Normally removing the stem and replacing the flat or cone shaped washer is all you need to do.
Another problem that can occur is the metal "seat" for the stem that stays in the faucet when the stem is removed can become corroded to the point of not providing a good seal. The seat can be replaced (if you can find one), or they can be ground down with a special tool to provide a new surface for the washer to seal on. Feel the seat with your finger to see if it's smooth. Try to just replace the washer first, and only mess with the seat if the drip continues or returns after a short time.
They might be a challenge to find, but you can normally get new seats, an entire stem, or any washer you need to repair the faucet. A whole new stem will cost on average $15 or so, and they are easy to replace. You shouldn't need to replace the faucet unless the exterior is in equally bad shape and you just want something new.
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Best Answer
Not a good idea. A better idea would be to put a bucket under the shower head with a rag in it or over the bucket to dampen the sound.