Five things to bring when you're looking for a replacement part
3 min read · D. Cohen & Sons
Most second trips to a hardware store happen because the first trip was a description. "It's a little brass thing with a hole in it" describes several hundred parts on our wall. Here's what closes the gap.
1. The old part
Even broken. Even in three pieces. The old part tells us thread size, thread type, overall dimensions and roughly how old the fixture is, all in a glance. Put it in a bag so you don't lose the small bits.
One thing not to do: don't scrub it clean. Stamped numbers and brand marks are often the fastest way to an exact match, and wire brushes take them off.
2. A photo of where it goes
The valve, the fixture, the panel — with the part removed if you can. Context tells us what the part has to connect to on the other side, which is often the thing that actually matters.
3. Measurements
If you can't bring the part, measure it. Diameter of any threads, overall length, the distance between mounting holes. A photo of a tape measure held against the part is fine — we'll read it.
For plumbing, note whether the thread is on the inside or the outside of the fitting. It changes the answer.
4. What it's attached to
"For a Weil-McLain boiler" or "for the outside spigot" narrows things dramatically. Brand and model of the appliance or fixture, if there's a plate on it, is better still.
5. What went wrong
A drip, a leak at a joint, a handle that spins, a valve that won't close. The failure often points at a specific part — and sometimes at a different part than the one you brought in.
Can't get in?
Call ahead and describe the part — what it's attached to, any numbers on it, roughly what went wrong. We'll tell you what we can from that, and what we'll need to see in person.