Question about fixing a leaky shower valve after a hotel stay

Staying at a place in Sedona last month, the shower handle was so loose it spun freely. I watched the maintenance guy fix it in about two minutes with just a hex key on the set screw behind the handle cap. I've fixed three wobbly handles at home the same way since. Anyone know what to do if the screw is totally stripped out?

3 comments

3 Comments

terry_barnes1mo ago

That Sedona hotel fix is a classic. If the hex socket is totally rounded out, have you tried jamming a slightly larger torx bit in there to get it to bite?

patriciasingh1mo ago

Actually, jamming a torx bit in can make it worse if it's really stripped. You're better off using a small screw extractor kit, they're made for this. That way you can pull the screw cleanly without wrecking the handle.

angela_allen531mo ago

Look at you two going full MacGyver over one stripped screw. It's a drawer handle, not a spaceship part. Those extractor kits are a pain to dig out and half the time you mess up the hole anyway. Sometimes you just need to tap the right size bit in with a hammer and give it a firm turn, it works more often than people admit.