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About Sharon McCarthy
Expertise
I can help with most questions about residential plumbing problems including septic systems, and some questions about irrigation. I have no experience with commercial installations or codes.

Experience
I have been a sole-proprietor service plumber in two small towns north of Phoenix Arizona for 26 years.

Publications
I had a monthly column in the United Steelworkers of America, local 1033, newsletter 1978 to 1982. I wrote an article for "The Theosophist" in 1977. I've written dozens of letters to the editor in many newspapers.

Education/Credentials
High school and three years of college. My step-father, having worked 40 years in the plumbing trade in Chicago, taught me for two years. The rest has been hands-on experience.

Past/Present Clients
Many hundreds of good people in Cave Creek and Carefree Arizona

You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Home Improvement/Repair > Plumbing in the Home > Tub and Shower 3 handle faucet leak

Plumbing in the Home - Tub and Shower 3 handle faucet leak

Expert: Sharon McCarthy - 11/6/2009

Question
QUESTION: We have a 3 handle tub and shower faucet. Replaced all parts in hot and cold -- leak better, but still very small leak. Then replaced guts of diverter and even nozzle. Leak appears to be completely gone, but hot water faucet now chatters loudly when turning water off. It did not chatter before replacing the diverter and nozzle. Could the diverter cause hot faucet to chatter. Faucet was old, but to replace would be major job as wall would have to be cut out and have been quoted price of about $700 so opted to replace all parts (have spent $180 in parts so far). Any help you can give would be appreciated.

P.S. If you turn the hot water handle SLOWLY to off, it does not chatter -- however, turning it normally causes a loud chatter.

ANSWER: Dear Shirley,

  I'd bet you have a trusty old Price Pfister fixture. Virtually indestructable! Too bad all the newer fixtures aren't built like this one was. I have a hunch the screw is either loose or it came out of the washer on the stem on the hot side. I suggest you remove the hot-side stem and check.

  There are two kinds of washers to use for PP stems. There are the more common flat washers [I think the size is 1/4L] and there are also thicker washers called "beveled" washers. They are kind of cone-shaped but flat on top.

  If you put new beveled washers in, and the old ones were flat, sometimes the screw only threads in a few turns because the beveled washer is so much thicker. The screw can come out if it wasn't tightened down well. Also, if you put flat washers in, and there were some particles in the hole where the screw goes in, the screw may not have tightened down and the washer is loose. This can also cause it to chatter.

  The fact that this started when you replaced the diverter is probably just a coincidence. The diverter stem would not have any effect on the hot or cold stems. The diverter only switches water from tub spout to shower.

  Did you replace the "seats"? If either "seat" has a nick in it, that nick can tear up a new washer very quickly. The "seat" is the part way in back, the part the washer presses against when closed. Seats can be removed and replaced. You'll need a "seat wrench", available at any hardware store. The PP seat has a square opening in the center. Seat wrenches have two ends, one end is hex-shaped, the other end square-shaped.

  There are "steps" on both ends, different sizes. Place the square end into the seat until it fits snugly. Press it in as you turn it, if you don't have it all the way in you can strip the hole. Unscrew the seat. Take it with you to the hardware store so you get the same size. Be sure and put teflon paste on the threads first. Teflon tape often unwinds off of seats and water will leak through. If you replace the seats, the washers will be good for a long time. Hope this helped! Sharon

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We did replace the seats -- everything that could be replaced was replaced. We will check into your suggestions and let you know what happens. Thanks for your fast answer.

ANSWER: Dear Shirley, I'm glad you posed you answer as a new question, otherwise I can't respond, the way this site is designed. Frustrating sometimes when a questioner makes a comment later and I can't get back to them.

I do like feedback. I based my suggestion about looking at that washer on the hot side from my own personal experience, I have had times when a screw wasn't tight and the washer chattered when the valve was being closed. Now that I'm answering questions here, follow ups are very helpful. Thanks. Sharon

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: When we went to follow through with your suggestion, we turned the hot water handle on and then shut it off several times. Lo and behold, without doing anything at all, the chatter was gone. Unfortunately, we do have a very small leak. To check to see if the faucet was leaking, we took a disposable plastic cup, poked holes through each side of the cup and put strings through the holes and made loops to attach to the handles (the cup was under the nozzle to catch any drips -- kind of like a horse feeding bag). After taking a shower, we left the diverter open to drain all water and left it for about 3 hours. We then turned the diverter to tub and put the platic cup contraption on the faucet and left it overnight. The drip amounts to about 2 teaspoons of water. Any suggestions on this? If we can't fix it, we can live with the small drip -- it is a lot better than what we had.

P.S. You are right -- we put all new Price Pfister parts in the faucet -- approximately $140.

Answer
Dear Shirley,

  Isn't it a kick when a plumbing problem just stops all by itself? I loved that! So let me get this straight, you used the shower and you said you left the diverter open for 3 hours, then put it to tub spout only and got two teaspoons of water overnight.

  When you say you left the diverter "open", I'm not quite sure what you meant. When the diverter handle is all the way to the left, I believe that would be tub only, and when it's all the way to the right it's shower only. So you left it set in the middle? So the water could drain out of the shower pipe down through the spout? If so that was good idea because there is a lot of water in that upper pipe.

  You said you replaced the seats. I mentioned that the seats need a good coating of sealant, like teflon paste, on the threads. Without that, it's almost certain water will seep through the seats. The washer presses up against the inner raised part of a seat. That is what keeps water from coming through. The outer part of the seat where the threads go in can leak. Just wanted to mention this again, it may be why you have a slight drip.

  Two teaspoons overnight is not going to increase your water bill very much. Really no big deal unless the drip is keeping someone up at night! Good job!! Sharon

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