This shower diverter is approx 35 years old. It is the pull type mounted to the wall above the tub faucet. Is it able to be removed (without damaging tile) and is there replaceable washers in it?
How would we stop it from leaking (both behind the wall and dripping out from the pull knob?
If you have a closet behind the shower or a wall you may be able to get to the diverter without damage to the tile ,are you sure you can't just change the cartridge? most times this is all that is needed to fix a problem like yours.
If you are saying that water is still coming out of the tub spout while the shower is on that is not a big deal a rather normal. If it bothers you a lot then you will need to replace the tub spout as the diverter in the spout has gone bad or is going bad.
Now if you are saying that the shower is leaking behind the wall when the shower head is being used then the threaded joint at the shower head arm is leaking and will need to be undone and put new pipe dope on the threads and reinstall it or it may be just lose and if that is the case remove it and reinstall it anyway.
If the water is leaking behind the wall and the above is not the case you will need to get into the wall and see where the leak is coming from and take the necessary steps to fix it.
Hope this helps and good luck.
2,060 views
Usually answered in minutes!
Thanks mrrevol, I was able to remove the cartridge and replace the washers. This stopped the leak out the front of the diverter but did not stop the leak behind the wall (very slow drips) can be seen from a hatch in the first story ceiling.
btw, we can not gain access from behind as another shower is backed up to this plumbing wall.
Weird, when I removed the tub spout the leak seemed to stop behind the wall. I replaced the spout without the trim piece and could not see or feel any water running back into the wall on the galvanized pipe nipple, but the leak was back. I then put a temporary cap on the spout nipple... leak stopped again. I would have thought under pressure we would have had a bigger leak. Not so.
I think I'll give up and just replace the entire valve set.
×