Replaced shower valves and seat

Posted by p@ on June 21, 2005, 4:45 pm

I have an older 3-handle system in my bathroom shower: hot, diverter,
cold. The water was never quite shutting off all the way - more than
a drip, slightly less than a constrant stream. I took the handles
off, pulled the valve stem out and took it to Home Depot and matched
it perfectly. I took them home and removed the valve seat, put the
new valve seat in (I couldn't get the hot water valve seat out but it
looked pretty good so I left it), put the new valve stems/bodies in
and there's no change. I turned the water on to each handle one at a
time and they both still leak. If it was just the one with the old
valve seat I could maybe see it but the new one is just as bad.

Any ideas on :

1. what I might've done wrong (going to HD notwithstanding]
2. how to fix ?

Thanks,
p@

Posted by Speedy Jim on June 21, 2005, 5:19 pm

p@ wrote:

> I have an older 3-handle system in my bathroom shower: hot, diverter,
> cold. The water was never quite shutting off all the way - more than
> a drip, slightly less than a constrant stream. I took the handles
> off, pulled the valve stem out and took it to Home Depot and matched
> it perfectly. I took them home and removed the valve seat, put the
> new valve seat in (I couldn't get the hot water valve seat out but it
> looked pretty good so I left it), put the new valve stems/bodies in
> and there's no change. I turned the water on to each handle one at a
> time and they both still leak. If it was just the one with the old
> valve seat I could maybe see it but the new one is just as bad.
>
> Any ideas on :
>
> 1. what I might've done wrong (going to HD notwithstanding]
> 2. how to fix ?
>
> Thanks,
> p@

Did you apply sealant to the seat threads? If not,
even a perfect seat will leak.
I don't like Teflon tape in this application;
too hard to wrap and be sure it's on there.
A good pipe dope is better.

The hot side is the seat that usually goes;
I would change it too,.

Jim

Posted by p@ on June 21, 2005, 5:29 pm

>p@ wrote:

>> I have an older 3-handle system in my bathroom shower: hot, diverter,
>> cold. The water was never quite shutting off all the way - more than
>> a drip, slightly less than a constrant stream. I took the handles
>> off, pulled the valve stem out and took it to Home Depot and matched
>> it perfectly. I took them home and removed the valve seat, put the
>> new valve seat in (I couldn't get the hot water valve seat out but it
>> looked pretty good so I left it), put the new valve stems/bodies in
>> and there's no change. I turned the water on to each handle one at a
>> time and they both still leak. If it was just the one with the old
>> valve seat I could maybe see it but the new one is just as bad.
>>
>> Any ideas on :
>>
>> 1. what I might've done wrong (going to HD notwithstanding]
>> 2. how to fix ?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> p@

> Did you apply sealant to the seat threads? If not,
> even a perfect seat will leak.
> I don't like Teflon tape in this application;
> too hard to wrap and be sure it's on there.
> A good pipe dope is better.
> The hot side is the seat that usually goes;
> I would change it too,.
>Jim

Aha. I'll get some pipe dope and apply. I'll work harder to get the
hot side seat out.

Thanks

Posted by Don Young on June 21, 2005, 11:27 pm

I once had a shower valve with a channel corroded through the seat threads.
It leaked with new seat and washer but I was able to seal it with some real
thick sealer.
Don Young

>>p@ wrote:

>>> I have an older 3-handle system in my bathroom shower: hot, diverter,
>>> cold. The water was never quite shutting off all the way - more than
>>> a drip, slightly less than a constrant stream. I took the handles
>>> off, pulled the valve stem out and took it to Home Depot and matched
>>> it perfectly. I took them home and removed the valve seat, put the
>>> new valve seat in (I couldn't get the hot water valve seat out but it
>>> looked pretty good so I left it), put the new valve stems/bodies in
>>> and there's no change. I turned the water on to each handle one at a
>>> time and they both still leak. If it was just the one with the old
>>> valve seat I could maybe see it but the new one is just as bad.
>>> Any ideas on :
>>> 1. what I might've done wrong (going to HD notwithstanding]
>>> 2. how to fix ?
>>> Thanks,
>>> p@

>> Did you apply sealant to the seat threads? If not,
>> even a perfect seat will leak.
>> I don't like Teflon tape in this application;
>> too hard to wrap and be sure it's on there.
>> A good pipe dope is better.
>> The hot side is the seat that usually goes;
>> I would change it too,.
>>Jim

> Aha. I'll get some pipe dope and apply. I'll work harder to get the
> hot side seat out.
> Thanks
>

Posted by p@ on June 29, 2005, 5:54 pm

It's not from behind the handle - it's down the spout. Yes, the stem
came with a new washer.

Thanks.

>You didn't say where it leaks. If it drips from the spout then as Jim
>suggested, seal the threads on the seat. We are also assuming there is a
>washer on the end of the new stem.
>Now, if the leak is from behind the handle then you have a problem with the
>packing. You can get some graphite packing and wrap the stem and then
>tighten up the stem nut.

>>I have an older 3-handle system in my bathroom shower: hot, diverter,
>> cold. The water was never quite shutting off all the way - more than
>> a drip, slightly less than a constrant stream. I took the handles
>> off, pulled the valve stem out and took it to Home Depot and matched
>> it perfectly. I took them home and removed the valve seat, put the
>> new valve seat in (I couldn't get the hot water valve seat out but it
>> looked pretty good so I left it), put the new valve stems/bodies in
>> and there's no change. I turned the water on to each handle one at a
>> time and they both still leak. If it was just the one with the old
>> valve seat I could maybe see it but the new one is just as bad.
>> Any ideas on :
>> 1. what I might've done wrong (going to HD notwithstanding]
>> 2. how to fix ?
>> Thanks,
>> p@

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Replaced shower valves and seat - still leaks