Bathtub Faucet Leaks When Shower Is On? Do This

Bathtub Faucet Leaks When Shower is On: Causes and Solutions – A Brief Summary

Causes

Worn-out Washer or Cartridge: Over time, the washer or cartridge inside the bathtub faucet handle may deteriorate, causing leaks when the shower is turned on.
Faulty Diverter Valve: The diverter valve is responsible for directing water from the bathtub faucet to the showerhead. A malfunctioning or worn-out diverter valve can lead to leaks.
Loose Connections: Loose or improperly connected plumbing connections, such as pipe fittings or shower arm connections, can result in water leakage when the shower is in use.

Solutions

Replace Washer or Cartridge: If the bathtub faucet has separate hot and cold handles, turn off the water supply, remove the handle(s), and replace the worn-out washer(s) or cartridge(s). For single-handle faucets, replace the cartridge as needed.
Diverter Valve Replacement: If the issue is with the diverter valve, replace it with a new one. This may require access to the plumbing behind the wall, and it’s recommended to consult a professional plumber for this task.
Tighten Connections: Inspect all plumbing connections leading to the bathtub faucet and showerhead. Ensure they are properly tightened and sealed with plumber’s tape (Teflon tape) to prevent leaks.
Showerhead Replacement: Sometimes, leaks may appear to originate from the bathtub faucet when they are actually coming from a worn-out or damaged showerhead. Replacing the showerhead with a new one can resolve this issue.
Professional Inspection: If you are uncertain about the cause of the leak or if DIY solutions do not resolve the problem, consult a professional plumber. They can diagnose the issue accurately and perform any necessary repairs or replacements.

How to Fix a Shower Diverter that Leaks when the Shower is on

If you have a single or double handle shower/bathtub faucet, you will see a small knob at the top of the tub spout. This is the knob that you pull up to send water to the shower head or push down to have water flowing through the spout.

The knob is connected to a piece of nylon inside the spout which works like a gate. There is a groove inside the spout where the piece of nylon moves up and down.

When the knob is pulled up, the piece of nylon blocks off the spout’s opening so that the water can flow to the shower head. Pushing the known down opens the spout and water flows out through the spout thanks to gravity.

Sometimes minerals deposits or corrosions can inhibit the full length up and down movement of the diverter, preventing it from making a good seal. When that happens, water will leaks from the tub spout when you turn on the shower.

Another thing that can happen is that the piece of nylon can also break off, again preventing the diverter from making a proper seal.

With a broken shower diverter, you will need to replace the tub spout. If the groove is just dirty or corroded, cleaning it might be enough to fix the problem.

Bathtub spouts also have a washer which if worn out will also cause the tub spout to leak when you turn on the shower. In this case you will also need to replace the spout.

Let us now look at the different ways to fix a shower diverter that is leaking.

1. Soak the Diverter in Vinegar

Vinegar is very effective in removing mineral buildup in faucets. It is a mild acid which dissolves the calcium and in this case allowing the shower diverter to move freely and make a proper seal.

Fill a plastic bag with white vinegar up to the ½ full level.
Insert the tub spout in the vinegar and secure the bag with a rubber band at the back of the spout.
Let the vinegar do its magic for a few hours or preferably overnight.
Remove the vinegar and pull the diverter knob up and down a couple of times
Pull it up one more time and turn on the faucet so that water flows to the shower head.
Check if the tub spout is still leaking.

If the leak stops, your problem is fixed while if it doesn’t, you will need to do more.

2. File the Shower Diverter Groove

A quick method to fix a sticky and leaking shower diverter is to file the groove inside the spout. It will however require you to have a small file.

This is how to do it:

Pull the shower diverter knob all the way up. This lifts the nylon piece off the groove allowing you to work on it.
Use the file to scrape off mineral deposits and corrosion from the groove.
Push and pull the knob a couple of times to make sure you have removed as much dirt as possible.

Check if this solves your problem.

If while trying to clean the shower diverter grove you notice that the piece of nylon is broken, a replacement is the only solution. Lucky for you, replacing a shower spout is quite easy.

3. Replace the Bathtub Spout

There are 2 types of bathtub spouts with a shower diverter. You will either have a slip-on tub spout or a threaded spout.

Slip-on bathtub spout are simple slid in the water supply pipe and fastened using an Allen screw. Threaded bathtub spouts as their name suggests are usually threaded on the water supply pipe.

So, how do you know what type of tub spout you have? Just run a finger under the base of the spout. If you feel a hole, that is the Allen screw hole and you therefore have a slip-on spout. When there is no hole you have a threaded spout.

Before replacing a bathtub spout, make sure you buy a similar one to the one you already have. If possible, buy an original replacement from the manufacturer.

How to Replace a Slip-on Bathtub Spout

Start by plugging off the bathtub spout so as not to lose anything down the drain.
If the spout is caulked to the wall cut through the caulk with a putty knife.
Use an Allen wrench to remove the Allen screw from underneath the spout.
Put the screw in a safe place just in case you might want to reuse it.
Hold the spout with both hands and pull it out. You may need to wiggle it as you pull it at the same time.
Slide in the new spout until it touches the bathroom wall.
Secure it with the screw.
Caulk it against the wall if need be.
Pull up the shower diverter and turn on the water to the shower.
Check if the problem is fixed.

This method is almost guaranteed to fix a tub faucet that leaks when the shower is turned on.

How to Replace a Threaded Bathtub Spout

Check if the tub spout is caulked on the bathroom wall. If so, cut through the caulk with a knife.
Use a slip-joint pliers or a wrench to loosen the spout by turning it counterclockwise.
With the spout out, use a wire brush or an old toothbrush to clean the threads on the water supply pipe.
Apply about 6 wraps of Teflon tape on the threads. Since you will be screwing in the spout in a clockwise direction, apply the Teflon in a counterclockwise direction.
Thread in the spout on the water pipe starting off slowly, to avoid cross-threading.
When the spout is hand tight, use the wrench or pliers to tighten it further. To prevent peeling off the finish from the spout, wrap duct tape or a piece of cloth on it. You only need to tighten it a little not crazy tight.
Caulk the spout to the wall if you need to.
Pull the shower diverter knob up and turn on the water.
Check if the problem is fixed.

And basically that is how to fix a bathtub faucet that leaks when you turn on the shower if you have a single or double shower faucet handles.

4. Replace the Shower Diverter Valve

If you have a three valve shower diverter, the valve in the middle is usually the shower diverter. It diverts the water to the shower head or bathtub spout depending on which direction you turn the handle.

The shower diverter valve handle is connected to a stem which has a washer at the end. Turning the handle across a 180 degrees angle pushes the washer against a valve seat, which plugs off the spout and forces the water to flow out through the shower head.

When you turn the handle across a 180 degrees angle but this time in the opposite direction, the stem pulls the washer off the valve seat allowing water to flow out through the spout.

Due to friction of the washer against the valve seat, it wears off with time and hence the reason why the bathtub spout will leak when you divert water to the shower. Replacing the washer will in most of the time fix this problem.

Shower faucet manufacturers like Moen will replace the faucet for you for free. Just grab the phone and give them a call with the faucet part number. They will mail the exact replacement part to you in a few days.