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Author:
seligman (CA)
The diverter valve in my shower leaks hot water through the tub spout whenever the showerhead is being used.
How do I adjust (repair) this problem?
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Author:
redwood (CT)
You would remove the stem and either replace or repair it.
More than likely with a diverter replace it.
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Author:
seligman (CA)
This being a Price Pfister diverter, do I need an OEM replacement?
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Author:
redwood (CT)
OEM is usually the best choice.
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Author:
seligman (CA)
I won't have to rip out part of the wall for this, will I?
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Author:
Wheelchair
There is a compression (brass) nut, around the shaft that has to be removed to expose the diverter stem. Inspect for unusual wear and tear.
Check the O rings and packing gland on the stem. Yes, use OEM parts too.
Best Wishes
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
redwood (CT)
No!
Turn it to the full out position.
Then see the 2nd nut surface furthest in the wall.
Put a faucet socket on it and unscrew it.
Faucet socket set [www.plumbingsupply.com]
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Author:
seligman (CA)
One last question. Can I examine or replace the diverter valve with the water (to the house) left on?
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Author:
jimmy-o (CA)
Not necessary to turn off the water.
You see two hex "things" in the picture. The smaller, outer one is tha packing nut which tightens the packing around the stem. You need to get one of those sockets on the inner, larger hex. IMPOTANT: Before trying to unscrew, turn the stem to a halfway position, neither all the way in or all the way out.
Based on the appearance, it will be easier, and cost less than $12, to buy an all new stem, than to try and clean that one up.
When you get the new one, you will notice a black rubber washer right on the nose, and a white nylon washer behind the nose. When you take out the old one, you may find that white one broken or missing. Use your flashlight and some tweezers to make sure that no remnants of the old one remain down inside the valve body.
Put some vaseline or plumbers grease on the stem of the new valve, then work the stem in and out several time to get some lube down into the packing. Then, after final installation, snug the packing nut up a little, but not so it is hard to turn.. You can get that so it will turn OK, and not allow any leakage through the stem.
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Author:
redwood (CT)
The white washer is what is supposed to stop the water from going out the spout.
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Author:
Wheelchair
soak it all in white vinegar and brush with an old tooth brush and watch the difference. About an hour should dissolve all the mineral and scale deposits
Best Wishes
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Author:
jimmy-o (CA)
Nice pics. If you want to clean this up and overhaul, get the PP "shower diverter stem" kit at any hardware or plumbing store. It will have all the appropriate washers and gaskets, and probably the metal seat which is screwed into the inside body. A bad seat would not cause your problem, but you can replace it while you have it open.
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Author:
dlh (TX)
that is not worth repairing because you have less than a 50% chance it will work.
not that expensive to buy a new one. less than $15 in most places
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
hj
The easiest way is to get a new Price Pfister diverter, but remove the old one first to match it because there are two different versions.
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Author:
hj
replace. You will not find parts to repair it.
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Author:
hj
The diverter seat NEVER wears out because it does not have the usage that the stem seats do.
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Author:
dlh (TX)
i have had to replace a few
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
hj
I have never seen any that get enough usage to even remove the plating on them.
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Author:
seligman (CA)
Thanks for the help everyone.
I replaced the diverter with a new one and everything is good now.
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Author:
seligman (CA)
Just when I thought I was finished, I noticed a small stream of water leaking from the diverter into the tub when the shower is used. Much less than before, but it's there.
If I hold the valve tightly with my hand, the leak goes away, but it won't do that on its own. This is a brand new PP diverter by the way.
The new diverter did not have a gasket behind the threads. I salvaged the gasket from the old diverter. Either way, there are no leaks inside the wall, but would this cause the problem I described above?
Any suggestions?
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Author:
seligman (CA)
I removed the old gasket and reinstalled the diverter. Problem solved.
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Author:
hj
If the gasket you used is not the correct one, then the diverter, which is a double seated stem, will not seal into the valve body correctly, and could leave a small gap which would cause that symptom. IF that is the cause, slightly tightening it should stop it.
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Author:
hj
Did you use any gasket? If not you probably have a leak inside the wall.
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Author:
seligman (CA)
I used a small amount of Rectorseal.
Looking at pictures of this diverter valve online, they do not show a gasket there at all.
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Author:
hj
Never saw or installed one without a gasket.
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Author:
dlh (TX)
you must have had a bad gasket because i have never seen one leak because a gasket was used and not leak beacuse it was removed except in the case of a bad gasket
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
seligman (CA)
In that case, I don't know what to do.
A gasket was not included with the new diverter. Either it doesn't have one, or it was missing from the packaging.
I applied Rectorseal to the threads. Afterwards I saw no signs of leaks.
What should I do now?
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Author:
hj
If you are happy, then nothing, but ALL of those stems need a washer. NONE of them have tapered threads or anything to make a water tight metal to metal seal. IN FACT, there are few, if any, faucets which assemble without a washer on the removable part. The washer creates a seal, AND it is the reason the faucets can be disassembled without using impact wrenches.
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Author:
dlh (TX)
nothing that i can see. they are supposed to have the gasket but i see a lot that dont and dont leak
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
seligman (CA)
I'm not happy unless I know for sure it won't leak in the future.
What if I call Price Pfister in the morning? Will they be able to advise me what to do?
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Author:
dlh (TX)
yep
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PLUMBERS "Protecting The Health Of The Nation"
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Author:
hj
IF it is not leaking now, there is no reason to expect it to leak in the future. There is a very precise measurement inside the faucet. If it needs a washer and you did not use one, then something inside had to be compressed more than normal to compensate for the spacing a washer would have given. This measurement is also the reason a too thick washer will allow a leak.
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