Hello all,

I'm having some trouble with a stem that's used in my shower. Shortly after we moved in, my wife and I noticed that the hot water valve was leaking. According to Danco, the replacement part was Nibco Streamway 3J-4H/C, which we purchased at Home Depot. The stem looked identical, and replacing it worked great--no more leaks.

Looking at the original stem, I noticed that the rubber gasket (?) that seals the stem had come out through the valve itself (by the end the stem had failed completely). From what I can tell about stems, this is a somewhat different design: the water exits through the side of the stem, and turning the knob rotates a pair of spring-loaded rubber gaskets that open/close the valve. In my case, the springs had actually pushed one of the gaskets through that hole.

Since then (about 3 years ago), I've replaced four or five of these things. Every time, it's the rubber gasket that fails, either by tearing or becoming displaced in the valve housing. The most recent replacement didn't last more than a day before it started dripping again. It's primarily the hot water stem that has failed, although I did replace the cold water stem once.

I'm here to find out (a) if I'm doing something wrong (overtightening, not lubrcating the valve), (b) if the water is too hot and it's causing the gaskets to fail (c), if the water pressure is too high and is straining the gaskets, or (d) if the parts I'm getting are simply cheap and I should go to a real plumbing supply store.

Your help would be appreciated; I'm at my wits end.

Thanks,
Nick

(PS. I'd love it if you could tell me what these gaskets are actually called, too!)

Greetings. Nibco Brass in Elkhart Indiana, doesn't make faucets. As the company has grown over the years they have deals with other manufacturers to make products for them. In the Faucet example, your faucet was obtained from another company called Pheonix Faucet div of Pheonix Products, Avon Lake, Ohio telephone 800-222-6041. At one time Pheonix Faucets were used in Trailers, RV's and Mobil Homes because of the plastic and light weight of the finished weight. I can't tell you if Pheonix Faucet actually manufactured the faucet or imported it, but I do know they market and sell THEIR own replacement parts, for THEIR Faucets.
I am sure that Pheonix Faucet will not elaborate on Danko Parts or why they don't survive but give Pheonix Faucet a call and ask for yourself.
Who knows... they might offer to send you some free (OEM) parts.

Best Wishes

I have seen "replacement" rubber parts for other faucets that would fail much quicker than the OEM part from the manufacturer. Usually it has to do with the quality of the material being used.

Thermal expansion can play hell on rubber components when held within plastic surfaces.Wait a couple years and California will fill us in.Buy real brass while you can.

Hello......I have had numerous run in's with these outright piece's of crap.....The least little piece of calcium or any kind of debree that comes in all water supplies will destroy the rubber cups, (gaskets), in these things.......Hard water?.....Plan on replacing them often unless you replace the whole works, faucet and all or install a filter on the water lines ahead of the shutoffs on your shower.......Maybe a whole house filter system on the water line entering the house, apartment, whatever, but as long as you have the 3J-4H/C cartridge on your showers, plan or replacing them often....I do property maintenance, specialize in HVAC and have never had as irritating a problem as these valves present.......Sorry for your problem.

Silkyman45