Water flows through spout no matter what

billyh

Long time lurker working on a lot in my new house.

I just hooked up a moen shower/spout combo and as soon as I turn on the cold water supply to the faucet, it comes out the spout. If I turn the faucet all the way, both ways, it doesn't change the flow at all. It is a very slow flow.

There is a good chance I did something wrong (well duh) but I thought I followed the directions.

I crimped the pex supply lines to a 1/2" nipple that is threaded on the opposite side and screwed them in the back of the faucet.

I used a copper pipe piece to drop down to the spout, attached with sharkbites.

The piece going to the showerhead is pex and is well secured.

I do not have any hot water going to this faucet yet. Could that cause this problem? Or regardless of having hot water, water should still not flow out?

If it isn't getting enough pressure, should this happen?

Someone told me that I should have put a small length of copper at the end of the supply lines and attached this length of copper to the faucet. Is this true?

I'd like to know what I should check out first. I thought I had all the ducks in a row!! Thanks.

TheEplumber

what moen valve did you install?

billyh

It is a Monticello:

http://www.moen.com/bathroom/faucets.../N-683Z1z141uv

Thanks!

iamrfixit

That is your problem, it is a pressure balance faucet. You must have both hot and cold lines connected for the faucet to work.

AllanJ

You mean you cannot shut the water off?

You mean, if the hot water is shut off down in the basement, say, to do work on the water heater, the faucet will start dripping (cold water)?

Either way it's either a defective faucet or a bad design.

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billyh

Well, if it is defective, this is unfortunate.

I wonder if they will just take back the defective part?

Jackofall1

Welcome billyh to the best darn DIY'r site on the web

In step 7 of the installation instructions, did you fall that to a tee, or is the stem upside down?

Mark

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billyh

Thanks Jack,

Truth be told, I installed one of these about 3 years ago and, when I got to Step 7, I didn't know what they were talking about at all. I remember that I eventually figured it out, but this time I have no clue. I still can't figure out what they are saying in step 7.

Can you decode it for me?

iamrfixit

Somehow I missed that it did not shut off.

You may have just gotten some debris from the water lines under one of the seals. Before you can diagnose any problems you need to get the hot connected first; these valves just will not work correctly with either hot or cold shut off.

Once that is done if the problem does not correct itself then you may need to pull the cartridge for inspection. You may need to adjust the stem to correct position, if it is 180 off then I believe you get hot water first instead of cold. I installed the same valve in my shower 5 or 6 years ago, I remember having to make an adjustment during installation so I could get the water temp higher but otherwise it has been problem free.

billyh

Thanks for the reply Mr.

I haven't hooked up the hot yet because I have to get a new hwt installed (waiting for gas fitter).

I just called moen and they said that although I used copper from the faucet to the spout, that I shouldn't have used sharkbites to connect it.

Now, I know professional plumbers in here will groan that I used sharkbites but, would that really cause the problem?

It doesn't seem to make sense that the attachment from the faucet to the spout has anything to do with water pouring out whether on or off.

iamrfixit

No; sharkbites are certainly not going to cause any of these issues. You problem is something in your valve, I would bet all will be fine when you turn on the hot line.

For the record I know several pros who do not hesitate to use sharkbites in all sorts of places!

I have used them a few times but have been hesitant to use them buried inside a wall; though I have never seen any type of failure with them.

As long as the tub spout is not able to turn in the sharkbite it should be fine, that would be my only concern. I usually use a soldered elbow and soldered nipple to the spout or sometimes I use a winged elbow soldered on and screwed to framing with a brass nipple to the spout. It depends on the type of spout I am using. If I'm not using the winged elbow I will fasten the copper down pipe to framing with copper straps so everything is secure. You don't want a bunch of movement at the tub spout, kids will sometimes use the spout for a handle!

billyh

I have the whole spout secured very well.

I pulled the cartridge and it looks fine (although I'm not certain of what to look for exactly). There was no debris on it and there was a little bit of grease.

I will wait until I can get hot water to it as well.

Maybe, somehow, having only cold water flow in is torquing the cartridge?

just a guy

are you sure you have the faucet oriented correctly and you are connected to the cold outlet? the notch on main stem must be pointing up

billyh

It is oriented correctly I believe. The body says "up" on it and the cartridge has H|C on the top. I connected the cold line to the C side.

bartnc37

A moen posi temp faucet will leak by even with the handle off if you only have pressure to one side. It isn't defective its just a function of the design.