New 2 handle shower faucet - water out spigot & shower

[piz]

This is a 2 handle American Standard Hampton collection kit. It comes with handles, shower, faucet, and rough in valve. When you turn on the water, water comes out of the spigot AND the shower at the same time. We bought this a few years ago and now it's discontinued. No one knows what to do, including the plumber, me, and American Standard.

Is it the rough in valve, because the previous shower worked? American Standard doesn't carry any parts for it, so if I need a new rough in valve assembly, is there another brand that would work, or am I screwed?

 

[piz]

When you turn on the tub water, it comes out the tub spigot and the shower. When you turn on the shower, it only comes out of the shower. Would it be ok to put on a shower shut off valve at the shower head to keep the water from coming out of the shower when I don't want it to? I'm wondering if this is a rough in valve issue of too much pressure.

 

[Geofd]

is there something to switch it from tub to shower head
most of that type of valve usually have a third handle to divert
the water or a knob on the tub spout you would pull up
if it is a spout diverter pull up/ push down see how easily
it moves there is a peice of rubber that blocks the spout diverting
it to the shower head

 

[Mr_David]

did you just install it? Could be you installed it upside down.
Have any pictures. Of it.

I just made this drawing for another topic.
But as you can see if it upside down it wont work right

Inside the cross on a 2 handle T & S valve where the Hot /cold mix,
there is a tube that often protrudes down into the direction of the tub spout.
this directs the water to the tub and the reason why you don't get water from shower head until you block the flow with spout diverter.
when you divert, the flow makes a U-turn up the center of tube to the head.
It very possible that clearance around the inner tube is blocked.

 

[TomFOhio]

Before you go buying a valve for the shower head I would try a different tub spout with the pull up divertor It sounds like the spout is letting water go up to the shower and come out the spout too.
Let us know what you find out.

 

[piz]

Now my wife tried it. She says if she turns the water down to not full force, the water does not come out of the shower. She was right. The water came out of the spout at a decent rate, and if you turn it up all the way, it comes out of the spigot and the shower. When I say out of the shower, I mean it comes out enough to take a shower. The valve looks to be installed correctly. Attached is a pic. Still think I should try a new spout? Never thought that could cause the problem. I have to say I don't like the spout setup....it is slip on.

 

[Mr_David]

What kind of water pressure do you have?

 

[piz]

Yes, I just installed it by the way.

I'm not a plumber, so I don't know how to test the pressure. It is strong water pressure in my opinion but I don't know how much.

 

[Mr_David]

$10 gauge at HD. Check it on a hose bib or auto washer valve.Test gauge

Ideal water pressure is 50 - 65 psi
over 80 psi is considered excessive and most building codes require a pressure reducing valve for water service over tthat

 

[piz]

Thanks. I will check that out.

 

[TomFOhio]

Now my wife tried it. She says if she turns the water down to not full force, the water does not come out of the shower. She was right. The water came out of the spout at a decent rate, and if you turn it up all the way, it comes out of the spigot and the shower. When I say out of the shower, I mean it comes out enough to take a shower. The valve looks to be installed correctly. Attached is a pic. Still think I should try a new spout? Never thought that could cause the problem. I have to say I don't like the spout setup....it is slip on.

I like the moen slip fit spouts better than the screw on type anyday. But if your pressure is that high maybe you should check it out first like Mr David said.

 

[piz]

Pressure was 110. I assume that is high enough to be the culprit? The water company is scheduled to shut off my water so that I can replace the faulty main shut off valve. I nearly broke it off the other day.

 

[SHR]

Your problem is a common simple installation error. It is evident in the picture you posted of the valve rough-in. Your "plumber" (definitely NOT a Plumber) used Sharkbite-brand connections for the tub spout. Sharkbites only work in this installation if THE PLASTIC STIFFENERS IN THEM ARE REMOVED PRIOR TO INSTALLATION! Have your "plumber" disassemble his work and remove all stiffeners in Sharkbite fittings for the tub spout plumbing. Reassemble and your shower will not dribble when tub spout is on. Reason why?...The stiffeners in the fittings reduce the size of the inside diameter to LESS than that of 1/2" PEX size which inevitably causes water back pressure up through the shower head.

 

[piz]

I wondered about that. Actually, it was our contractor. Our real plumber said that's the easy way out. He actually mentioned shark bite, which I never heard of. My plumber will solder everything but I wonder if I need him to rip open the wall to solder the new pipe up by the shower head? Will these shark bite unions be enough to make the water actually come equal force out the spout and the shower at the same time? I literally could take a bath and a shower at the same time....it comes out that strong.

 

[piz]

I remember reading about removing that plastic fitting when I put one on my outside spigot...

 

[CT-18]

Did you say your house psi was 110. You should install a PRV, that pressure is tough on faucets.

 

[TomFOhio]

I'm surprised the water heater wasn't blowing water at the relief valve with that pressure.

 

[SHR]

I wondered about that. Actually, it was our contractor. Our real plumber said that's the easy way out. He actually mentioned shark bite, which I never heard of. My plumber will solder everything but I wonder if I need him to rip open the wall to solder the new pipe up by the shower head? Will these shark bite unions be enough to make the water actually come equal force out the spout and the shower at the same time? I literally could take a bath and a shower at the same time....it comes out that strong.

If the contractor removes the stiffener inserts in the tub spout plumbing you should be OK. Then the water will only come out of the outlet you choose. This was an installer MISTAKE. You should not have to pay a plumber to re-do work you paid someone else to do.

Like everyone else says: install a water pressure regulator!

 

[piz]

What are the stiffener inserts? This shark bite video shows the plastic at the end. Are the stiffeners somewhere else? Still waiting for water company to shut off the water main so I can replace the main shutoff in my basement.

http://www.sharkbite.com/how-to/how-to-fix-copper-pipe-copper-pipe-leak-repair/

I see the insert you are talking about now.......looks like the white insert in this video was left in the shark bite:

http://www.sharkbite.com/how-to/sha...all-pex-tubing-copper-tubing-and-cpvc-tubing/

 

[piz]

Before you go buying a valve for the shower head I would try a different tub spout with the pull up divertor It sounds like the spout is letting water go up to the shower and come out the spout too.
Let us know what you find out.

Still trying to figure this out. Put in a pressure regulating valve that is present to 50. Water still comes out of the spout and shower head. Plumber did this. I'm wondering if it is the spout. It's brand new so I don't know how it's bad. I tried to find a video to see how the pull up diverter actually works on the inside, but I can't find any. So, I'm going to either suggest to the plumber that he try (they love suggestions from the homeowner right?) a new spout or I'll attempt it myself.