I have just had a plumber out to fix a mixer tap to my very old bath. He was unable to release the hot tap, but managed the cold. The toilet is very close to the bath, and made the taps hard to get to. They are also old and quite corroded. He said he just couldn't get the right angle. Without sounding rude, he wasn't the slimmest chap, and had a rather large beer belly. His next suggestion was removing the bath?! Would a slimmer plumber be more successful, or am I clutching at straws?

heat will either loosen the handle or destroy it. either way the repair can be made and a new handle/s installed.

I cannot imagine how the toilet being close to the bath would prevent him from working on the faucet. You may not need a slimmer plumber, but more likely a more competent one.

Any chance it is a Roman tub and the mixer is on the deck and needs to be accessed via an access panel on the apron and the toilet partially blocked the access panel?

NOt if it only needs "repairing". Repairing is done from the top of the deck or outside the walls. If he has to get under the deck, then that is a major remodeling job.

?clawfoot tub?

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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

If the toilet is really in the way, why not just pull it and reset it when the repairs are done