Shower dripping - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

eagle1 · 02-27-2004, 03:26 PM

I put in a new shower stall last summer. As far as I know, I did everything correctly in regards to the plumbing.

The problem now is that every once in a while, water will start dripping/streaming from the showerhead. It will last about 10-15 seconds and then stop. It's not like someone has turned the shower on, but more like someone has taken a large glass of water and poured it through the showerhead. It happens at different times of the day, sometimes it will wake me up in the middle of the night and no one has taken a shower in it since that morning. It doesn't happen everyday and is totally random (from what I can tell) of when it happens.

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

hotdogg · 02-27-2004, 05:39 PM

Sounds like your water pressure is fluctuating, and some of your seals or "o" rings are not seated properly (somtimes they are imperfect and have to be replaced). Do you have a well? Re-check your connections.

iamnormal · 02-27-2004, 10:18 PM

It maybe the water left in the pipe from the shower head to the valves flowing out.
Try turning the diverter valve back to the spout after you shut the water off to see if that helps.

seejay · 02-28-2004, 01:20 PM

As long as the diverter on the spout is down (given the diverter is on the spout) the water will always drain through the spout when the water is off and air will displace the piping going up to the shower head. The dripping could be water that gets trapped in the head itself that for whatever reason doesn't drain down to the spout when the water is shut off. Try shutting off the water with the water diverted to the shower head, then once the water stops push down the diverter. The water should drain from the head out the spout leaving nothing but air.

kazoo · 02-28-2004, 07:53 PM

Note that the OP stated it was a shower stall, which typically precludes the presence of a diverter.

If the scenario you describe is repetitive, it is likely a very slow leak from either of the supply valves, or if singular, the control valve. Water slowly rises until sufficient volume exists to spill through the shower elbow and head.

If it only happens once, then I'm stumped.

eagle1 · 02-29-2004, 03:04 PM

It has happened on several occasions. My first guess is that it's the o-rings in the shut off valve. I had to take the valve apart when I first got it hooked up because I put too much bread in the pipes when I was sweating the fitting on the main line.

We are on a private well. I didn't think that would make a difference though.

agball · 03-10-2004, 07:55 AM

I have to agree, its the pressure or the rings/seals

seejay · 03-14-2004, 12:28 AM

I have low pressure due to older galv. water pipes and when I flush my toilet, my faucet starts leaking slowly until the toilet is finished filling. I guess the same could be happening with your shower faucet valves. Low pressure causes the seals to lose their seating.

02-27-2004, 03:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
eagle1 Insane Location: Foothills of the Cascade Mtns.	Shower dripping I put in a new shower stall last summer. As far as I know, I did everything correctly in regards to the plumbing. The problem now is that every once in a while, water will start dripping/streaming from the showerhead. It will last about 10-15 seconds and then stop. It's not like someone has turned the shower on, but more like someone has taken a large glass of water and poured it through the showerhead. It happens at different times of the day, sometimes it will wake me up in the middle of the night and no one has taken a shower in it since that morning. It doesn't happen everyday and is totally random (from what I can tell) of when it happens. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks! __________________ "My wife is a sex object. Everytime I ask for sex, she objects."

02-28-2004, 01:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
seejay Upright	As long as the diverter on the spout is down (given the diverter is on the spout) the water will always drain through the spout when the water is off and air will displace the piping going up to the shower head. The dripping could be water that gets trapped in the head itself that for whatever reason doesn't drain down to the spout when the water is shut off. Try shutting off the water with the water diverted to the shower head, then once the water stops push down the diverter. The water should drain from the head out the spout leaving nothing but air. __________________ - - I've finished the internet, TF is all there's left.

02-28-2004, 07:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
kazoo Psycho Location: Where the night things are	Note that the OP stated it was a shower stall, which typically precludes the presence of a diverter. If the scenario you describe is repetitive, it is likely a very slow leak from either of the supply valves, or if singular, the control valve. Water slowly rises until sufficient volume exists to spill through the shower elbow and head. If it only happens once, then I'm stumped. __________________ There ain't nothin' more powerful than the odor of mendacity -Big Daddy

03-10-2004, 07:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
agball Insane Location: Long Island	dripping I have to agree, its the pressure or the rings/seals

03-14-2004, 12:28 AM	#8 (permalink)
seejay Upright	I have low pressure due to older galv. water pipes and when I flush my toilet, my faucet starts leaking slowly until the toilet is finished filling. I guess the same could be happening with your shower faucet valves. Low pressure causes the seals to lose their seating. __________________ - - I've finished the internet, TF is all there's left.

02-27-2004, 05:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
hotdogg Crazy Location: NYC Metro Area	Sounds like your water pressure is fluctuating, and some of your seals or "o" rings are not seated properly (somtimes they are imperfect and have to be replaced). Do you have a well? Re-check your connections.

02-27-2004, 10:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
iamnormal Addict Location: In the id	It maybe the water left in the pipe from the shower head to the valves flowing out. Try turning the diverter valve back to the spout after you shut the water off to see if that helps.

02-29-2004, 03:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
eagle1 Insane Location: Foothills of the Cascade Mtns.	It has happened on several occasions. My first guess is that it's the o-rings in the shut off valve. I had to take the valve apart when I first got it hooked up because I put too much bread in the pipes when I was sweating the fitting on the main line. We are on a private well. I didn't think that would make a difference though.