Can someone tell me why my bathtub faucet has water come out and run down the underside and then on to the tub surround as opposed to just straight down in to the tub and how to solve this issue?

I assume you are talking about tub spout... Also, you are not saying whether water runs directly on the wall from where spout meets the wall or if water is diverted form the tip of the spout towards the wall.

Spout is mounted on a gal. nipple or copper stub out. If copper stub-out then tighten the set screw so grabs the pipe and so it make a positive seal. If gal.nipple than see if you can turn the spout clock-wise and tighten it up.

If water is directed to the wall from the tip of the spout, than you may have damage to the "mouth" of the spout, or, perhaps, advanced stage of calcification build up.

Do visual inspection and inspect "mouth" of your spout with tips of your fingers. You should be able to feel abnormalities.

QUOTE=bredin01]Can someone tell me why my bathtub faucet has water come out and run down the underside and then on to the tub surround as opposed to just straight down in to the tub and how to solve this issue?[/quote]
Milo gave you a great place to start. Let me add a bit to it. You weren't specific in your question so you're forcing us to guess. I'm guessing that you have a slip on diverter spout, (see image) that's leaking from the back as you fill the tub, (how'm I doing so far? ) If that's the case then rwist the spout so the under side shows and loosen the Allen Set Screw so the spout pulls off. The reason it leaks is that the "O" ring has been rolled out of position. It should fit neatly into the slot previded for it. Now take a file or some sandcloth and file or sand off the burr on the end of the copper stub out. That's what caused the problem in the first place. Now grease the end of the copper pipe with silicon Lubricant or Plunbers Heat Proof Grease snd nslip the spout back on and tight against the wall. Tighten the Allen Head Screw and test your work. Leak all gone now? Good luck, Tom

Gentlemen,

It's leaking from the tip of the spout. So does it ned replaced or just "scrub" out the calcification?

If the tip of the spout itself diverts water towards the wall - then I would go to Home Depot and bought new spout.

So bredin are you saying you can see a clump of crud buildiung up at the tip of the spigot? If so just scrape it out with a pen knife.

The one with the shower diverter valve like ball pictured costs less than $ 17. At Lowe's. (Bought one last week) Without the valve they are less. You need allen wrenches to undo the set screw and be sure the end of the stub out has all the sharp edges filed down. I think you should replace it.

I removed the "crud" and it still goes about half way back down the spout on the underside from the front of the spout. Please advise.

Bredin,

You will be wasting your time on cleaning the spouts are cheap,Remove the spout take it with you to Home depot or low's buy one, if it is a threaded buy some teflon tap also if it a slip type make sure to clean the end of the nipple and use some lubricant on the Oring, good Luck.

John