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imrsarge · Feb 5, 2009, 09:38 PM

I have just installed a shower/tub faucet in my newly remodelled bathroom (my wife and I decided since the economy was so bad why not remodel). So, the faucet is a Design house Faucet with 2 handles, a spout w/diverter, and a shower head. I installed the first faucet and it worked great except when I was filling the tub, after about 30 seconds, water would start coming out of the shower head; not a lot but enough to cause trouble. So I wrote to Design house about the issue and they sent another faucet out. When installed, it did the same thing.

Now I know that this faucet works with gravity and that is the only thing that keeps the water from coming out of the shower head when filling the tub. At first I thought it was the diverter. However, when I removed the spout it still after 30 seconds or so, came out of the shower head.

So basically, my question is: is it possible that there is too much distance between the spout and the faucet supply lines (handles)?

If this is the case, then would adding some line between the shower head and the faucet stop the additional water from coming out of the head?

Milo Dolezal · Feb 5, 2009, 11:15 PM

You may have one of the two:

1. too much pressure
2. shower head is too low

Check pressure. Reduce to 55 psi. Raise shower head to no less than 72" from the floor.

afaroo · Feb 6, 2009, 12:23 AM

Milo, Excellent advice, Sorry I can't rate you it will not let me, Thanks.

Regards,
John

speedball1 · Feb 6, 2009, 07:25 AM

I agree with Milo. If it worked before I would suppect that you have too much house pressure. The average house pressure's 45 PSI, ( that's why city water towers are 100 feet high) How high is your pressure? Regards, Tom

imrsarge · Feb 7, 2009, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by speedball1

I agree with Milo. If it worked before I would suppect that you have too much house pressure. The average house pressure's 45 PSI, ( that's why city water towers are 100 feet high) How high is your pressure? Regards, Tom

I'm not sure what my water pressure is. How is it that you would go about testing it without spending a boat load?

afaroo · Feb 8, 2009, 12:17 AM

The range of normal residential water pressure is from 30 to 80 psi. Ideally, the pressure should be set between 45 and 60 psi in most residential plumbing system, you need to buy a water pressure test gauge see the image below, Thanks.

John

This pressure gage screws on to a outside hose bib for a reading

imrsarge · Feb 8, 2009, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by afaroo

The range of normal residential water pressure is from 30 to 80 psi. Ideally, the pressure should be set between 45 and 60 psi in most residential plumbing system, you need to buy a water pressure test gauge see the image below, Thanks.

John

Thanks I will get one tomorrow

If the pressure is too high, is there a regulator you can buy for just that shower? The reason I ask is; I like the water pressure in the rest of the house just need to stop the water from coming out of the shower head in the one bathroom

speedball1 · Feb 8, 2009, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by imrsarge

thanks I will get one tomorrow

if the pressure is too high, is there a regulator you can buy for just that shower? The reason I ask is; I like the water pressure in the rest of the house just need to stop the water from coming out of the shower head in the one bathroom

There is , indeed, a PRV(Pressure reeducing Valve) (see image) that you can install on the water service to reduce the house pressure but I see you don't want to reduce the pressure that you currently enjoy.
If you don't want the hassle of increasing the length of the shower raiser I might just have the solution that you're looking for. They make a " chrome shower arm stop",(see image) that will prevent water from reaching the shower head. Just think! For a few bucks no more leaky shower head.
Hope this helps and thank you for rating my answer. Tom

imrsarge · Feb 10, 2009, 06:33 PM

I elected to go with speedballs answer and went out and for 4 bucks picked up a shower head switch. It looks similar to the one speedball showed except it has a push button on it. Thanks all for your answers; I also bought a water pressure gauge and tested my water coming into the house (it was 45 psi). The shower head is approximately 76" from the floor so there was no problem there either. Came to the conclusion that the shower faucet was faulty. Even had another one sent out to us and found it to have the same problem. So we just got the switch. It's the guest bath and very few people other than my little girls use it (and they don't use the shower) so were good.