I have a leak in my tenants apt. (2 family house). I do not know when it started, found it when they moved out. Water was leaking continuously from the shower head... the diverter valve knob is missing and if you use a screwdriver, you can "divert" the leak from the shower head to the faucet. It is a 3 handle system, unknown what brands. It you tighten the screw on the diverter valve all leaks stop, but you still hear running water(in the wall?) and then when you loosen it the water comes out fast like it was building up. Read up on this site about removing the whole diverter valve, and I will try that. Rookie question- should there be any water turn off for the shower? I can access the area under the shower(inside my basement ceiling).


OK I played around a little. I took off all the knobs and the sleeves. On the hot knob, I tightened the 2 bolts furthest back and it slowed the water drastically, but not totally. It seems like I was on the right track, but haven't completed it yet. Does it sound like it would stop if I kept tightening (reminder: it doesn't feel like it will tighten much more) Any other ideas?

Check this web page out at http://www.plumbinglessons.com/sup/tubspout.htm and you may want to browse more of the site. If you have specific questions about your shower valve after you view the page click on my name and I'll try to help. Regarding the shut off, yes in an apartment you may have an individual shut off for the valve. If you have an access panel on an adjacent wall to view the drain assembly it may be in there, otherwise there may be shut offs on either side of the valve itself. Hopefully you can see to the right and left of the valve once you have all of the trim off providing they didn't put cement up to it which is actually quite common. If that is the case you might have to chip some of it away until you can get a shower socket on it to remove the stems. Pictures will help if you can provide them.