We have a Symmons Temptrol shower faucet that has been a leak problem since we moved in almost 4 years ago. I'm generally a do-it-yourselfer, and started by replacing the spindle. That fixed the leak for a couple of months then it returned. Some research suggested I also needed to change the hot and cold seats so I got a full set of spare parts and gave it a try. The seats were so tightly stuck, I couldn't get them loose and didn't want to risk serious damage to the faucet or water connections through the use of brute force. I finally decided to call NCD&P hoping they had experience dealing with this type of problem. Plumber #1 showed up the next day right on time. He had no knowledge of, or experience with, the Symmons faucet. He started the repair couldn't remove the seats either. He suggested one of NCD&P's other more experienced plumbers might be able to fix it, so we scheduled a second appointment the next day. Again, plumber #2 showed up right on time. He also had no knowledge or experience with the Symmons faucet - thankfully, due to my past attempts, I helped 'walk him through' the process, shifting to his expertise when the stuck seats reared their ugly heads. He suggested torch heating to try to loosen, but warned this could crack the faucet housing. I authorized him to proceed (without replacing the seats, I'd have to replace the entire faucet anyway), and he started with his torch - success! Between the two plumbers that came out, they spent close to two hours here, and even with the second visit and the compliations they held to their originally quoted price. My only issue with the whole process was NCD&P's unfamiliarity with the Symmons faucet and my need to provide a walk-through of how to disassemble/reassemble it - but to be fair, my understanding is that this type of faucet isn't common in home installations. In the end, with my input and direction, the leak is finally fixed and I expect it to last.
