In the past, faucets were standardized and shared similar internal parts but had a wide range of styles and appearances on the outside. Several suppliers were able to provide replacement parts, making the repair easy.
There are independent specifications and parts for most brands today. It is possible to identify the manufacturer of your faucet by looking for a mark. A laser etching, laser engraving, or printing process will be used.
How to recognize American Standard shower faucets: Look for the inscription “American Standard” on the faucet.
If the letters are hard to read due to corrosion or lime scale, use a cleaning agent, and wipe the faucet with a towel to make them clear.
Alternatively, check for the “American Standard” label on the trim piece around the shower faucet handle.
What Kind of Shower Faucet Do I Have?
In the absence of any markings, you should start disassembling the faucet. Take a look at the handle first. The length of the faucet’s cartridge (stem) or the number of splines will give you an idea of how long it is.
Identifying the cartridge brand can also save you money. You can do this by measuring the length of the splines and the number of them. This information will allow you to compare them with a standard.
How to Take Apart a Shower Faucet?
Its maker’s mark can identify the brand of your faucet. Laser etching, engraving, or printing will be used. Also, disassembling is straightforward.
Step 1
The first thing to do is to turn off the water supply. It is possible to do this by finding the hot and cold cut-off valves. For example, to fix a shower, you must find the main water valve located outside along the walls of the house.
Step 2
To remove the handle, use an Allen wrench (or a screwdriver set) and a screwdriver set. Depending on the handle type, you will need different types of screwdrivers:
- Using an Allen wrench, locate the small set crew in the handle of a single-lever handle.
- A flat-head screwdriver will suffice if you want to remove the plastic cover on a crystal handle. With a Phillips screwdriver, you can access the stem.
- Remove the decorative cap/plastic cover from a faucet with two handles (use a Phillips screwdriver to pry it off).
Step 3
Pull out the stem and handle together once the screws are removed. For complete disengagement, you may need to pull out the stem while wiggling it gently.
Steps To Identify American Standard Shower Faucets
You can identify which parts you’ll need to repair a faucet. The process of identifying an American Standard shower faucet is pretty straightforward if you’re wondering what type you have.
In this process, the faucet and the parts are visually inspected, and simple images are matched. The project will only take about 10 minutes if you have previous plumbing or home repair experience.
Step 1
The water supply to the faucet should be turned off if it is installed. Turn off the main water supply to the home or locate the shower water pipe valves behind the shower wall.
Step 2
Look at the base of the spout on the front of the shower faucet. A sticker on the back of American Standard shower faucets says, “American Standard.”
Using a cleaning agent and a towel to wipe your faucet will make the letters more legible if the faucet is corroded or has limescale.
If you are looking for American Standard, you can find it on the trim piece surrounding the handle on the shower faucet.
Step 3
Use pictures from the company’s website or a repair manual to visually match the faucet.
A plumbing outlet or hardware store will have one on hand. The first step in selecting a faucet is to determine what type it is, in this case, a shower faucet.
Use these criteria to search. American Standard Faucet’s main website can be found here, as well as the type of faucet you are interested in. With your faucet, you can see a list of repair parts.
Step 4
Determine the exact model and make it by matching the handle, spout, and inner parts to the images you find.
Step 5
Take off the handle by removing the set screw with an Allen wrench. Next, a Phillips screwdriver removes the three set screws in the cartridge. Once the screws are removed, the cartridge can be removed.
Look at the website or your plumbing parts book for the cartridge parts and match them. For example, there are three screws in the cartridge under the handle of an American Standard faucet if there are none on your faucet.
American Standard Faucet Stem Identification Tips
You may notice that your kitchen or bathroom faucet doesn’t work correctly. Try replacing the old, faulty part before throwing the entire thing away.
When you do not know the brand, size, or type of faucet stem replacement you require, finding the specific replacement can be challenging.
We are here to help you, so you don’t have to worry. Get your faucet running quickly by following this quick guide.
Identify The Manufacturer
Many manufacturers sell parts specifically for the model of your faucet, so identifying the brand is crucial to choosing the correct replacement parts.
Start by looking for the logo. There are times when a logo is large and easy to locate, and other times when it is small and difficult to find.
You can check if the logo appears if your faucet is dirty by giving it a quick scrub. You may find the logo hidden on other parts of the faucet if that doesn’t work.
Determine The Model Number
The manufacturer will only want you to purchase the replacement part from them, so you’ll need the model number. Check the spout, escutcheon, and like, if it is not hanging out with the logo.
When Is It Time For A Replacement?
If your faucet is excessively leaking or resembles more of a vintage art piece than a functional product, it may be time to replace it. However, as replacement faucets can be very expensive, it is better to try to repair the faulty parts first.
There may be an easy way to fix a leaky or drippy faucet. A coat of grease may be required to resolve squeaking noises caused by valve stems. You may also need to make a few repairs to the faucet if the water pressure is low or the flow is irregular.
Broach And The Stem
After you determine the number of splines in the handle, you will need to determine the number of splines in the broach.
It may be possible to identify your faucet by its number of splines, and grooves in the broach, which will enable you to replace the cartridge if necessary. We have compiled a list of common spline and broach combinations.
Turn off the water to the faucet you are working on before you remove the broach from the faucet stem cartridge.
Should I Replace The Entire Faucet Or Just Faulty Parts?
It all comes down to whether or not the repairs fix the problem before replacing the entire faucet. For example, you may need to replace the stem, broach, or another part if you are constantly replacing them, and the issue does not improve.
There is no need to trash the whole faucet if you can identify and replace the old part causing the problem. Nothing is more frustrating than a leaky or poorly functioning faucet, whether in your bathroom, shower, or kitchen.
Your faucet will work like a charm once you fix the damaged part. However, in the case of a malfunctioning faucet, it may be time to talk to a professional or splurge on a new one that works well.
Final Tips
Identifying the faucet’s stem may be easier once you find the broached end using a faucet stem identification chart, which lists cartridges, stems, and kits.
In addition, apps that identify faucet stems may be able to identify the manufacturer more quickly than broach charts.
