We just had new copper pipes installed and are trying to attach our new tub faucet (Delta Universal Trim.) When we attach the faucet so that its flush to the wall, water leaks from the back. When we pull it away from the wall about 1/4", the leak stops. All we did to install it was slip the fauct onto the nipple and tighten the screw. I'm wondering if the nipple may be too long. Its only about 2 1/2" though. (note: the copper nipple is NOT threaded.)

Any ideas?

Thanks!

It's brand-new copper pipe sticking out of the wall? Do you see any solder joints?

XenoSapien

Nope, just see the plain copper pipe sticking through the wall.

Are we missing something?

We just had new copper pipes installed and are trying to attach our new tub faucet (Delta Universal Trim.) When we attach the faucet so that its flush to the wall, water leaks from the back. When we pull it away from the wall about 1/4", the leak stops. All we did to install it was slip the fauct onto the nipple and tighten the screw. I'm wondering if the nipple may be too long. Its only about 2 1/2" though. (note: the copper nipple is NOT threaded.)

Any ideas?

Thanks!
Tell you what I think has happened. The copper pipe has a burr on the end when it was cut. You have a slip on diverter spout with a "O" ring. When you sliupped the spout on, the burr caught the "O" ring and peeled it back causing a leak. When you pulled it back a bit the "O": ring slipped back in place. This happens a lot but the solution's a simple one.
Remove the spout and position the "O" ring correctly. Take and sand off the burr on the copper pipe until you have a slight bevel. Lube the end of the pipe with a small amount of Vaseline and reinstall the spout. Work better now? Regards, Tom

Thanks for your responses.

I just called Delta for help and the lady said I need to sweat solder the plastic adapter to the copper pipe, replace the O ring and slip the spout back on.

All of a sudden this got a lot more complicated. I have no idea how to sweat a plastic adapter to a copper pipe.

I see lots of posts about sweating copper to copper, but none about attaching a plastic adapter. Is that fairly easy to do?

Thanks again for your help!

Arrr... there's confusion here...

You CAN'T solder a plastic fitting to copper... just not possible. Sweat soldering is used to join copper pieces (and sometimes brass) only, plastic will melt and besides, tin-based solder doesn't stick to plastic.


SO.

Are you sure that the plastic piece the Delta lady was referring to wasn't just a retainer ring or similar for the O-ring? Tom/Speedball's advice is almost always spot-on, and slip-on tub faucets are the most common type.

~aaron

Hmmm, I've got one I think is like yours. Is there a brass fitting that slips over the copper stub? Then the o-ring goes on that, slips over the whole assembly?