I turned the shower knob and something broke, leaving the water running. I've taken off the knob (it's shown in the picture I posted), but the screw was stripped, and I accidentally broke it while trying to remove the knob. Almost everything else is removed except for the cartridge, and I can twist the brass valve freely, but it won't shut off the water. The water is cold, by the way. I know I need to replace the cartridge, but is there a way to turn the water off or force it to stop while it's in this condition? Also, the metal frame is caulked in, so I can't remove it to reach the valves.
2 Answers
Check if your house has a main water shut-off valve. It's usually located near where the water line enters your house. If that's turned off, it should stop all water flow, but if you've already shut it off and just want to stop the shower, you might need to try clamping the pipe temporarily if you can access it.
If all else fails, replacing that cartridge is really the way to go.
You might want to look for an access panel if you have one. Sometimes there’s a way to get to the plumbing directly behind the wall. If there’s no panel, maybe try using some pliers on the valve. That can sometimes get it to close fully, but just be careful not to damage it further!
I appreciate the tips! I was afraid to damage anything else, but I’ll see if I can get to that valve.