I recently had the cartridge replaced in my shower to fix a leak. The leak is gone, but after taking a shower, water drains out of the tip of the cartridge stem. I verified this by temporarily sealing the shower head. When covered, water stops draining from the cartidge stem and continues when uncovered. The drainage does stop after all the water has dissipated. Is it normal to have water drain from the cartridge stem?

Thanks.

The water isn't draining out of the cartridge, it's draining back from the shower raiser. This is normal and is harmless to the system. Regards, Tom

Thanks again for the answer. Just to clarify (I can be a bit thick about such matters), but it's normal (OK) after I stop my shower, for water to drain from the shower raiser through the cartridge and cartridge stem (the water drips out from the threaded opening in the stem where my combo hot/cold handle screws into the stem) and into my shower stall? It does stop once all the water has drained.

Thanks.

You are entirely correct. My bad! I was thinking about the shower raiser draining back through the tub spout. Either the "O" rings in the cartridge were bad or you didn't lube the cartridge with Silicon Jel when you installed it and the "O" rings rolled back allowing water to seep back.
What puzzles me is that, since you don't complain about water spraying out under pressure you doe complain about it seeping out with no pressure behind it. Very strange! Regaqrds, Tom