AboutDana Bostick Expertise Pretty much any residential plumbing questions. Note: I live and work in Southern California. We do not as a rule use boilers, hot water or steam heating systems or wells so my knowledge in those areas is limited. There are others here that can probably answer those questions better.
"We all is city folk" out here! What is a "well" LOL
Experience Licensed General Contractor with Plumbing, HVAC and Electrical sub-licenses
Question I posted this question last week and received your answer. I verified that we do have an expansion tank on the cold water supply side for the water heater so the intermittent dripping does not seem to be caused by not having the tank installed. We also have a pressure regulator on the main just inside the basement wall (rated at 25-75 PSI). The plumber who roughed in the bathroom installed shutoffs to the hot and cold supply lines for the bathroom so I shut both of those off last night just to get the dripping to stop. I opened the shower and sink valves to drain any water from the pipes and shut them off. About 30 minutes later, the dripping started again!
I am at a total loss and am about to call a plumber. I find it hard to believe that both shutoffs are bad, but there is no other way that water can be getting into that part of the system since the supply lines all terminate at each fixture.
Any more ideas?
Thank you.
Answer Hi David,
Okay, it's for sure now, your shower is haunted! LOL
This is pretty strange. With the shut off valves closed, it's still dripping? Very weird. Unless, as you say the shut off valves are both leaking AND the shower valve needs rebuilding, I don't see how this is happening.
I think I would start by checking the expansion tank. They can become "flooded" and fail to function properly. The are a two part tank with a bladder or diaphragm in the middle. One side has air and the other water. If the bladder has failed, it just becomes a tank full of water and it does nothing to buffer the expansion.
The pressure regulator could have failed as well and is allowing too much pressure in the system.
I think it is time to have the plumber come by and investigate this. Without being there to "dope it out", I'm at a loss here.
Sorry I cannot be of more help.
Dana
