shower that leaks like a monsoon

veggiechick · 02-19-2008, 10:10 PM

Ok... Had a washer replaced, it only leaked a little then, it stopped for a week or so. Then it leaked more. Got everything inside (behind) the spout replaced, it stopped for about two weeks. Now it sounds like someone is taking a shower. All the time! Seems to be cold water, its leaking into my livingroom now... Does this sound like crazy money to get it fixed? Does this sound normal?

Ron The Plumber · 02-19-2008, 10:14 PM

What is the brand on the vavle?

veggiechick · 02-19-2008, 10:16 PM

good advise, thanks...

Ron The Plumber · 02-19-2008, 10:20 PM

What is the name for this shower valve your working on?

troubleseeker · 02-19-2008, 11:11 PM

"Had a washer replaced" leads me to think older valve body, thus this possibility. Had moisture drop on 1st story floor one morning during remodel of kitchen located directly beneath upstairs master bath. Ceiling was open at this stage, so we inspected drain plumbing for leaks, opened both shower valves and ran for 20 minutes, no leaks found in anything. From experience we knew that one possibility was water leaking behind trim plates and getting in wall, so we removed all handles and trim plates, and sealed the penetrations around the tile, then reinstalled the trim plates in a bed of plumbers putty. Feeling confident that we had probably plugged the source of the leak, we proceeded with kitchen job, and a week or so after completion (at least two months) , owner calls and says that there is water spot on new kitchen ceiling. So we bring hose into bath and begin isolating one item at a time, water down drain only, plug drain and fill pan to top of curb, hose down tile walls and around valve penetrations. All to no avail, but while there we also replaced valve washers. Three weeks, no calls, then wet spot again. As last ditch try before cutting open back side of wall to examine valve body for crack, we replaced the entire stem assemblies with new ones. Close examination revealed a slight worn depression in one of the stems where the oakum packing sealed around it. My theory is that the valve only dripped slightly when it was opened to exactly the worn spot, as it has been a year now, and no more phone calls.

02-19-2008, 10:10 PM	#1
veggiechick Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	shower that leaks like a monsoon Ok... Had a washer replaced, it only leaked a little then, it stopped for a week or so. Then it leaked more. Got everything inside (behind) the spout replaced, it stopped for about two weeks. Now it sounds like someone is taking a shower. All the time! Seems to be cold water, its leaking into my livingroom now... Does this sound like crazy money to get it fixed? Does this sound normal?

02-19-2008, 10:14 PM	#2
Ron The Plumber Journeyman Plumber Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 1,994	shower that leaks like a monsoon What is the brand on the vavle? __________________ Fix it right the first time, so you won't have to fix it a 2nd time. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-19-2008, 10:16 PM	#3
veggiechick Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2	shower that leaks like a monsoon good advise, thanks...

02-19-2008, 10:20 PM	#4
Ron The Plumber Journeyman Plumber Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 1,994	shower that leaks like a monsoon What is the name for this shower valve your working on? __________________ Fix it right the first time, so you won't have to fix it a 2nd time. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-19-2008, 11:11 PM	#5
troubleseeker remodeling pro Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,399	shower that leaks like a monsoon "Had a washer replaced" leads me to think older valve body, thus this possibility. Had moisture drop on 1st story floor one morning during remodel of kitchen located directly beneath upstairs master bath. Ceiling was open at this stage, so we inspected drain plumbing for leaks, opened both shower valves and ran for 20 minutes, no leaks found in anything. From experience we knew that one possibility was water leaking behind trim plates and getting in wall, so we removed all handles and trim plates, and sealed the penetrations around the tile, then reinstalled the trim plates in a bed of plumbers putty. Feeling confident that we had probably plugged the source of the leak, we proceeded with kitchen job, and a week or so after completion (at least two months) , owner calls and says that there is water spot on new kitchen ceiling. So we bring hose into bath and begin isolating one item at a time, water down drain only, plug drain and fill pan to top of curb, hose down tile walls and around valve penetrations. All to no avail, but while there we also replaced valve washers. Three weeks, no calls, then wet spot again. As last ditch try before cutting open back side of wall to examine valve body for crack, we replaced the entire stem assemblies with new ones. Close examination revealed a slight worn depression in one of the stems where the oakum packing sealed around it. My theory is that the valve only dripped slightly when it was opened to exactly the worn spot, as it has been a year now, and no more phone calls.

shower that leaks like a monsoon