When I built my house back in 2001 I put in three shower tubs with American Standard faucets. Since then we have had kids and they are getting older and starting to use their bathrooms and I noticed that the faucets in all three shower tubs all leak to some degree when taking a shower, on one of them about half the water goes out the faucet and right down the drain. All of the local home store replacements have the same design, basically a cheap plastic gate valve. Is there any place I can get something with a more positive closing valve? These are installed in what I believe is a very standard manner, they slide over the 1/2" copper tube that is stubbed out into the tub.

Thanks,

Scott

It's not a valve that closes. More like a piece of rubber that is suctioned into the pipe and creates a seal. Seems like each one is a bit worn and that ANY new one will improve this problem.

As stated... its not a valve but "divertor." The originals were brass and when you lifted the handle the divertor would "mate" with the spout, stop the water. The water would then travel to the shower head. Over the years the brass has worn and lost most/some of its ability to mate. Hence the dribble.

Changing the spout to a plumbing supply store quality will renew your shower. The cheaper spouts use plastic inserts that work for awhile.

Best Wishes

Thanks. The original ones are plastic. Will all tub faucets use this same design? The only difference would be quality? Are there any that use like a quarter turn valve instead of the gate type valve?

Scott

Once again, these are not turning valves. They are lift divertors. If they are plastic, they are of the newer and cheaper style. Why not just replace all three.

Best Wishes

Any particular make / model you recommend?

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Back in the day, diverter spouts were made of brass and the machined mating parts in the diverter worked precisely allowing very little drippage vs. what your photo shows. Delta makes a fairly good diverter spout but if you want to purchase the old style brass spout, you will probably have to buy one from a local plumber who has access to Wolverine Brass products or the like.

The Delta "pull down" diverters make a positive seal, but their adapter would have to be soldered on to your copper stub out.

That MAY be a good diverter, but I would caution my customers to NOT use anything that had that many pieces, each of which could be a failure point.

quote; Back in the day, diverter spouts were made of brass and the machined mating parts in the diverter worked precisely allowing very little drippage

In those days, the "drippage" was intentional so that the water drained out of the shower riser and the diverter "turned off", so that the next time the valve was used the occupant did not get hit with a blast of cold water from the head.