Ahh I understand. So do I loosen that screw or take it out?

Wow interesting! How do I go about changing that? Like what do I do to the screw?

Haha I realize my mistake. Any ideas on the cartridge?

Thank you so much! The reason I’m looking to change the shower cartridge is because my shower water doesn’t get very hot anymore. It’s only warm at best. Changing the shower cartridge should be the right way to fix that issue right?

Thank you so much! The reason I’m looking to change the shower cartridge is because my shower water doesn’t get very hot anymore. It’s only warm at best. Changing the shower cartridge should be the right way to fix that issue right?

To be honest, I’m getting tempted to just leave it all as it is, and just add in another 1/4 tee above the current 1/4 tee for the fridge and leave it all be. At the end of the day, my initial question was just “can I add a Tee on top of the Tee” and I got my answer which was a yes lol

At the end of the day, if the pipe coming out of the wall snaps, there doesn’t seem be anyway to solve the issue other than taking that pipe off. Which can then cause the pipe in the wall to snap off and cause a bigger headache. Worse, it’s possible that when I try to take off the valve, the piping in the wall is galvanized pipe and that snaps off in the wall. I don’t really have the thousands of dollars it would cost to hire a plumber to fix that issue. Given how I don’t know if the pipe in the wall is an old rusted and corroded galvanized pipe that could snap in an instant when I try to remove the old valve, I feel as though this is just to risky for me.

I don’t know. What do you think? Do you think it’s really a small risk? I’m just scared the pipe behind the wall might be an old and corroded galvanized pipe that can burst and cause me issues. Even if the pipe coming out of the wall bursts, I don’t know if using that shark bite is the best idea since it’s “technically“ not made for brass but PVC. And I assume I’d have to remove the pipe to rethread it. So this whole job just seems very risky and I just don’t know if it’s worth. If something breaks, it doesn’t seem like I could permanently fix it without calling in a plumber and spending $1000+. I’m from NY so it’s really expensive here.

You have any thoughts? You think it’s low risk and I could do it? If something breaks, you have any other suggestions in case the shark bite fitting doesn’t work on the brass?

To be honest, I’m getting tempted to just leave it all as it is, and just add in another 1/4 tee above the current 1/4 tee for the fridge and leave it all be. At the end of the day, my initial question was just “can I add a Tee on top of the Tee” and I got my answer which was a yes lol

At the end of the day, if the pipe coming out of the wall snaps, there doesn’t seem be anyway to solve the issue other than taking that pipe off. Which can then cause the pipe in the wall to snap off and cause a bigger headache. Worse, it’s possible that when I try to take off the valve, the piping in the wall is galvanized pipe and that snaps off in the wall. I don’t really have the thousands of dollars it would cost to hire a plumber to fix that issue. Given how I don’t know if the pipe in the wall is an old rusted and corroded galvanized pipe that could snap in an instant when I try to remove the old valve, I feel as though this is just to risky for me.

I don’t know. What do you think?

Plumbing and electrical is crazy here. They charge $200 just to come to your house. Then if the job is 5 minutes max (like just changing an outlet or a simple shutter valve) they’ll charge another $300 for labor. And charge you $500 total.

Keep in mind though, the boss is keeping all the money. The workers are just getting paid a low hourly wage and maybe some commission.

Many of the plumbers here, have no licenses or insurance.

Even the others, only the head of the company is a licensed and insured plumber. All their workers have no licenses.

Lmaooo you think the plumbers I called are licensed and insured?? That would cost even more.

Lmaooo I did bring two plumbers for quotes for the washing machine. They both asked for $4,000+ Crazy

I believe the super can turn off my water and do it. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Thank you so much for the help! I’m from NY 😞 Would have loved the help. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Do you have any ideas of what I can do if the pipe breaks when I try to take the valve off? The other end of the pipe is far behind the wall and I don’t have access to it so I can’t take it off if it breaks. Just in case it breaks, what would you say I should do?

Ok—thank you so so much! I’ll let you know how it goes!

Doesn’t galvanized pipe fall under IPS? (I’m not questioning. I’m just trying to learn).

Also, how can you tell the pipe coming from the wall is galvanized and not brass? Isn’t galvanized usually steel color?

Thank you!!

If the brass pipe coming from the wall brakes off, can I cut it and then deburr it, and then use this shark bite attachment?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-1-2-in-Push-to-Connect-PVC-IPS-x-1-2-in-MIP-Brass-Adapter-Fitting-UIP120A/206352901

If the brass pipe coming from the wall brakes off, can I cut it and then deburr it, and then use this shark bite attachment?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-1-2-in-Push-to-Connect-PVC-IPS-x-1-2-in-MIP-Brass-Adapter-Fitting-UIP120A/206352901

Thank you so much!

Here are some better pictures of the pipe. This is brass?

https://imgur.com/a/YotJUGx

Also, the fitting you gave me is technically for PVC. It would be ok to use for those pipes if they are cut off?

How about this? If the brass pipe coming from the wall brakes off, can I cut it and then deburr it, and then use this shark bite attachment?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-1-2-in-Push-to-Connect-PVC-IPS-x-1-2-in-MIP-Brass-Adapter-Fitting-UIP120A/206352901

The super can close my apartments water. I’m in NY.

If the brass pipe coming from the wall brakes off, can I cut it and then deburr it, and then use this shark bite attachment?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-1-2-in-Push-to-Connect-PVC-IPS-x-1-2-in-MIP-Brass-Adapter-Fitting-UIP120A/206352901

The other side of the wall is another apartments bedroom. I live in an apartment building (I own my unit). Thats somewhat the issue. If the pipe threads come off, the other pipe thread is far behind the wall and I’d have the break the wall. And it’s possible the next pipe behind the wall also breaks off when you try take that pipe off lol so it can be endless. The building is very old and so I’m sure the piping is very old as well. Is there a way that if the threads come off, I could cut the pipe to make the ends straight, and then attach some type of adapter or something? Or the only way is really to keep removing pipes behind the wall till you get a thread?

The issue is the end of that pipe is far behind the wall and i don’t have access to it. Is there anyway to cut the pipe straight if it breaks and then use an adapter of some sort?

(In theory if you were to break the wall and then take the end of the pipe in the wall off, you can run into the same issue again where the next pipe breaks or it’s threads come off since the building piping I’m sure is really old).

Sorry one last question. I’m realizing now that when I try to take off the shutter valve, the pipe may crack, or the threads for the pipe might come off with the shutter valve. If that happens, the other end of the pipe is far behind the wall and I don’t have access to it to replace the whole pipe. Would there be a way to solve this issue in case it happens without removing the wall to change the pipe? Like is there an adaptor or something that I can use to attach to the pipe if it breaks off to give me a threaded end to use?