Hello... I am having problems with an old twin ell valve. I believe it is an American Standard. It work OK when running the water through the tub spout. However, when I pull up on the spout diverter to run the water through the shower head, a small leak starts. It is difficult to see exactly where it is leaking, but I believe it is around the corner of the water inlet and the spout outlet. Maybe a crack or something, cannot really tell? I was wondering if it would be easier to get a new one of these or just take it out and repipe it with a Tee and a 90 degree elbow connected to it?

What is the difference between this twin ell valve and the tee and 90 degree elbow combination?

Thanks,
Frank

A twin ell is built in a manner that when you are only using the tub filler part of the tub faucet the water traveling through the twin ell hits a baffle that more or less forces the water to go down and out the tub spout, otherwise you would have a dribble of water coming out of the shower head all of the time that you are filling the tub.

Now about the leak that you have. It is very unusual for the twin ell to have any problem because it is brass, what are the pipes made of that go from the twin ell up to the opening that comes out of the faucet body. Also what is the pipe made of that goes to the spout and also the shower head from the twin ell. If these are galvanize pipe it could be that the leak is in the galvanize if that is what they are.

Let me know what you find out.

Pipes coming in from the faucet and going out to the spout are galvanize. Pipe going up to the shower head is copper...

We have the very same problem with the twin ell. It is leaking (seeping) water through the brass . It is a brand new grohe twin ell and this is a second one that we are trying with the same leaking. It is only a drop of water when the shower head is on but nevertheless , it is leaking. This is frustratiing and if the experts in this post don't know about such instances, then your not paying close attention to your plumbing before you cover the wall. Because brass twin ells (even new) may leak.

Werwrew

I understand you are frustrated but to attack anyone (expert or not) by making a foolish statement like, "and if the experts in this post dont know about such instances, then your not paying close attention to your plumbing before you cover the wall" is not something that is likely to go over super well here, OK?

If you are unhappy, contact Grohe and place the blame where it belongs, but take your frustrations out elsewhere as we don't appreciate you dropping your baggage on us!

Mark