[mcinem]

Hi, I have a bathtub faucet that runs even when turned off. It's hot water and it started at a slow drip but within a few months has turned into running not yet full force. There are three knobs even though there is no shower. At first, we were able to get the water off by turning the middle knob, but now that doesn't even work. I'm a single mother with 3 daughters and can't really afford a plumber. Anyone with any suggestions would be most appreciated.:eek:

[robertva]

Sounds like it MAY be old fashion hot and cold valves with a shower diverter in the center. Apparently someone removed the shower head, hopefully capping the pipe off. And covered the opening where the shower came out of the wall. That type of valve eventually experiences leaking past a worn rubber component called a faucet washer. The constant flow, even a drip, from the faucet can add a substantial cost to the household's water bill.

Repair requires temporary interruption of water flow to the tub at some other point between the tub faucet valves and the water meter. There's sometimes separate hot and cold cutoff valves located behind a hinged wall panel near the tub faucet, sometimes in a closet, utility room or another bathroom behind the tub faucet. I've heard a suggestion from a professional that shutting off the supply to the whole household results in less risk of leakage around the cutoff's valve stems though.

Replacement of the faucet washers require removal of the handles, sometimes after loosening a screw in the center of the handle, but sometimes after loosening an allen screw on the side of the handle. A trim sleeve around the valve might need to be removed between handle removal and valve disassembly. The disk shaped washer is usually held in place on the end of the valve stem by a screw. Fell free to take the valve stem to your hardware or home improvement retailer (in a plastic bag) for comparison when purchasing replacement washers, although the water WILL need to remain cut off until the valves are reassembled. Many hardware and home improvement retailers offer a variety of washers and parts required to service more modern valve stem assemblys.

I'm not affiliated with a site illustrating a typical repair located at Replacing A Faucet Washer

[mcinem]

Wow, Thank you Robert!

Great information. I was wondering if that might be the problem from all the research I've done online, but wasn't sure and had no idea how to go about it.

I have tried to find a valve to shut off the water but can't seem to locate it. I know there is a main shut off but not sure how to identify it. I see a pipe in the basement that runs up the wall and has a flat turn handle to the side of the p ipe. But not sure if that's it. I don't know how to tell the gas shut off from the water. I apoligize for not being too knowledgeable in that department.

I did try to remove the water knob while waiting for an answer on this site, took the screw out of the end, but the knob wouldn't budge. I didn't see anywhere an allen wrench would go, so I'm wondering if the knob is stuck or something else I need to do. I guess it's a good thing it wouldn't come off since I failed to shut off the main water.

When I do manage to get the water off, shouldn't the knob just pull off once the screw in the end is removed? Do I need to do anything with the handle in the middle (shower diverter) or should replacing the washer in the hot water handle do the job?

Thanks again for your help.

Them