Hello,

I live in a 2 story townhouse with the shower upstairs. A few days ago I replaced the Moen shower control handle (single) and splashplate behind it, and also the tub spout that has a diverter for the shower. All for cosmetic reasons only. There was a gap between the control handle splashplate and the wall so I caulked it well. After taking a shower this morning I had some water leaking downstairs. I don't think it is a pipe as it would have been going all weekend, and it stopped after the shower was done.

I have a feeling it is the diverter spout, as the one I got at Home Depot is slightly different than the old one. The old one just fit on the copper pipe and had a hex screw to secure it. The new one has some plastic fittings that secure on the pipe and then the spout is fastened to this. I wondered if maybe water was getting around this and leaking down when it is being diverted. Either that or somehow the drain is messed up, but I didn't change anything on it.

I also thought that maybe when I was putting on the control handle I knocked something loose where the line gets diverted to the shower. Like I said it was only leaking when the shower was on, so it shouldn't be a supply line problem.

The first step is I am going to try filling the tub a bit without diverting to the shower and then drain to see if anything happens. If that's all good then it must be the diverter spout or the diverter line, right? Have you ever heard of the diverter spout doing this?

Any advice would be very greatly appreciated!! Thank you in advance!

Hi Snosal:

I sure have heard of the tub diverter spout leaking after replacement! Quite common actually... ;)

Would probably just be best to get a new diverter tub spout exactly like the old one. If home supply store does not have it, then may be smart to check a PLUMBING SUPPLY HOUSE out for proper replacement.

We can also talk you through using the replacement you purchased, but can only guess at this time that somehow the o ring setup is getting pinched/displaced and causing this issue. A PICTURE SURE WOULD HELP US ADVISE BETTER!

I am confident that it is not your drain pipe... ;)

Anyway, let us know what you want to do... Mark

Mark,

Thank you for your post. I did some tests and put the old spout back on last night, and no water anywhere. I'll keep an eye on it to make sure, but looks like that was it. It was purely cosmetic, so it can stay on until I can find an exact match like you said. I'd rather find the same type than what I got at the Depot.

I've had the same problem with those universal toilet flappers. One size doesn't always fit all!

I will check the supply companies, thanks for the advice.

Have a great day!

--Steve