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Brian Elfert
01-20-2008, 7:53 PM
I've recently completed finishing a bathroom in my basement. The bathroom has a tub with shower.

The tub spout leaks from the back anytime the shower is activated. The tub spout has a 1/2" threaded connection near the front of the spout. I've tried two different spouts and also capped the end of pipe. It does not leak with the pipe capped and water on.

Any ideas?

Louis Rucci
01-20-2008, 8:22 PM
I Know this is obvious, but...
1. Did you use Teflon tape?
2. Check the shower/tub diverter. When installing make sure it's adjusted to the tub position. IF it's anywhere in between then it doesn't shut off completely when switching from one to the other.
3. Take out the diverter and check the condition of the washer and the valve seat in the fixture. The valve seat can be unscrewed with a special tool available at Home Depot or Lowe's and replaced.

4. Here's a link to Family Handyman. This is the information I used to fix my particular problem.
June 2003 http://www.rd.com/familyhandyman/content/17714/

March 2003 http://www.rd.com/familyhandyman/content/17727/1/

Just some of the things I've done to my own bathroom in the last 2 years.

Ben Grunow
01-20-2008, 9:00 PM
I usually use teflon tape and pipe dope inside tub spouts. Also can use mega lok or even blu block in there if you dont think you will ever need to take it off in one piece. Make sure the threads are properly matched and the nipple is brass or copper pipe with male adapters and not black iron.

Thats more than I know.

Brian Elfert
01-20-2008, 10:47 PM
This is a tub spout with the diverter built into the spout. From the design of the spout I don't see how any water could leak to the back of the spout. I've used both teflon tape and teflon pipe paste. The fittings are male copper adapters.

I suppose the particular tub spouts could be a bad brand as I bought two of them. I actually have two new bathrooms, one in a bonus room and one in the basement and they both leak the same way.

Brian Elfert
01-20-2008, 10:51 PM
I Know this is obvious, but...
4. Here's a link to Family Handyman. This is the information I used to fix my particular problem.
June 2003 http://www.rd.com/familyhandyman/content/17714/

March 2003 http://www.rd.com/familyhandyman/content/17727/1/

Just some of the things I've done to my own bathroom in the last 2 years.

It isn't the faucet itself that is leaking. The tub spout leaks water out the back when the diverter is placed in shower position. Removing the tub spout and placing a cap over male adapter stops the leak so the tub spout is leaking, but I have two of them and they both do it.

The bathroom is completely new with new faucets.

Cliff Rohrabacher
01-21-2008, 8:50 AM
This is a tub spout with the diverter built into the spout. From the design of the spout I don't see how any water could leak to the back of the spout. I've used both teflon tape and teflon pipe paste. The fittings are male copper adapters.

Have you got it tilted back just a tad? That might cause water to run back.

Mark Rios
01-21-2008, 10:25 AM
Go to your local BORG and buy a new spout w/diverter for a couple of bucks and see it it solves your problem. They are pretty cheap.

Ben Grunow
01-21-2008, 9:49 PM
rig it up to a garden hose and see where that leak is.

Brian Elfert
01-21-2008, 10:13 PM
Buying a different brand of tub spout has crossed my mind, but I wanted to be sure I wasn't doing something obviously wrong first. A new spout is about $15 at Home Depot and can't be returned if another one does the same thing.

Brian Elfert
01-24-2008, 10:52 PM
Ok, I bought a different spout from Home Depot and the leak seems to be gone. The only issue is the length is 3/16" different so I have to remove and replace the threaded fitting.