Shower plumbing question

[drewmo]

I'm noticing when taking a shower, a small but steady stream of hot water leaks from the faucet although I have fully engaged the handle to direct the water to the shower head. I've removed every knob and access panel, but see no way of making an adjustment so that ALL of the hot water goes to the shower head. Any ideas on a solution? I might be losing a gallon of hot water (more like two when my wife showers), so over a course of the year, it could be a considerable amount wasted. All the cold water goes through the shower head.

 

[lukem]

So there is a separate valve that turns on the shower, not something on the tub spout...correct? If that's the case you probably have a bad o-ring in that valve allowing water to pass.

 

[fishingpol]

If you have a diverter lever, the spindle may be getting worn or some debris stuck in it causing it not to actuate completely.

 

[drewmo]

I was afraid of the technical jargon. The hot and cold is turned on individually. In the middle is the lever that directs the flow to faucet or the shower head. When diverted to the shower head, that's when there's a small stream of hot (and only hot) water flowing from the faucet. I don't see any way to adjust the flow, but maybe there's some other remedy?

 

[heat seeker]

I'd pull out the diverter mechanism and see what's going on. I agree with lukem that it could be a bad o-ring.

 

[billb3]

Get a 5 foot hose. Connect one end to the faucet and drape the other end over the shower head directed at the standee's noggin'.


Or
take the diverter valve apart

might just need cleaning out, might need a new ring.

You could also try whacking it with a mallet.
You might get lucky and fix it by jarring some crud loose.
Try not to hit the toilet.
They break easy.

 

[woodgeek]

Google 'replacing a diverter valve'....lots of step by step instructions with pictures. I did mine and it was a 2 hour, three trip to the hardware store job. You will have to take the valve apart, take the inner works to a hardware store, find a match for what you took out, and install that. (My hardware store had about 5 different flavors of diverter stems.) To get it apart, you will prob have to buy an (inexpensive) tool called a valve puller. Prob still cheaper than having a plumber do it, depends on the plumber I suppose.

Mine was in v bad shape when I tackled this, now it only leaks a tiny trickle.

 

[DAKSY]

Is there an ID on the mechanism? Moen & other manufacturers have schematic breakdowns of all their assemblies posted on their respective websites. I just replaced mine & if you have a Moen, their stuff has a lifetime warranty...

 

[drewmo]

Is there an ID on the mechanism? Moen & other manufacturers have schematic breakdowns of all their assemblies posted on their respective websites. I just replaced mine & if you have a Moen, their stuff has a lifetime warranty...

Appears I have some investigating to do. I'm fortunate to have an Ace Hardware in walking distance as this is sounding like a multi-trip job in the making. Thanks for the advice, everyone.