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chris_strawberry · Aug 21, 2006, 10:41 PM

We've recently remodeled our 50 year old bathroom. Replaced our tub shower with a new single handle blending valve. Now we're totally freaked out because the pipes appear to be vibrating when we set the handle for a warm blend of water. No vibration when full hot, or full cold, just when it's blended. Of course now that our $4000.00 tile job is done, our only access would be through the siding on the outside of the house two stories up. I don't know much about plumbing, but I feel pretty confident that this vibration can't be good, and will only cause us more problems/leaks if we ignore it.

We don't think our psi is too high since our water pressure is not great in this place (we are actually up hill from the main line).

Any advice would be very welcome!!

Thanks, Christine

speedball1 · Aug 22, 2006, 07:11 AM

Hi Christine,

Could you give me the brand and model number of the tub/shower valve that you installed? Thanks, Tom

chris_strawberry · Aug 22, 2006, 08:49 AM

Thanks for your help. We installed a Graff, Model # G-7150-S1-BN Pressure Balance Tub & Shower Set. Nice that they call it "Pressure Balance" huh...

Thanks, Christine

speedball1 · Aug 22, 2006, 10:32 AM

Thanks Christine,

I'm not familiar with your valve so all I can do is point you to the most likely culprit. Vibration's caused by water rushing by a loose object. I have put up images of the valve and trim in case you want to shut the water off and open the valve up. The one bright spot is that you won't have to tear up your new tile job or cut into a outside wall toy open it up. Simply remove the handle and trim plate. The valve will be exposed and you may check the innards for anything loose. If a plumber installed the valve it should still be under warranty. Good luck Tom

chris_strawberry · Aug 22, 2006, 05:42 PM

Thanks so much Tom. We had a plumber plumb the tub/shower for us, but we installed the valve ourselves. Today, I've had the water running several times and all different tempurature blends and the vibration seems to be gone. Could it have been caused by air in the pipes when we initially ran it do you think? Our water had been off for over a month.

Thanks again - Christine

speedball1 · Aug 23, 2006, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by chris_strawberry

Thanks so much Tom. We had a plumber plumb the tub/shower for us, but we installed the valve ourselves. Today, I've had the water running several times and all different tempurature blends and the vibration seems to be gone. Could it have been caused by air in the pipes when we initially ran it do you think? Our water had been off for over a month.

Thanks again - Christine

Good morning Christine,

Air in the line would cause a "sputtering" as it vented out so it's doubtful that it's the cause. A more likely explanation is that in plumbing the supplies some crud was dislodged from the existing pipe walls and found its way up in your faucet. You might have flushed it on through when you tinkered with the different temperature blends. Anyhow, all's well that ends well. Good luck, Tom