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Plumbing question...

MaggieD

MaggieD

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We had a plumbing leak on a shower head and faucet. The shower head was squirting, like it was a bit blocked, and the on off categories due was leaking. So here's the question. Tom says it's not leaking now...that the shower head is completely clear shooting out water like crazy...I soaked it for a couple days in vinegar...and now, since he put it back together, the cartridge isn't leaking. (It was leaking enough that there was a slow drip from it down in the crawl space). But no more.

Is it possible that the blocked shower head was causing the cartridge to leak?
 
Yeah.


Waters gotta go someplace.
 
I would have to say no.

If the drip is out the shower head, its was not completely blocked. Water has to get past the cartridge/valve to fill up the stand pipe to the shower head to have it drip.

It may have been possible that a bit of buildup in or around the cartridge was causing the leak. With the work you had done the buildup was broken free, allowing the gaskets to seal properly. This is all a guess on my part.
 
mike2810 said:
I would have to say no.

If the drip is out the shower head, its was not completely blocked. Water has to get past the cartridge/valve to fill up the stand pipe to the shower head to have it drip.

It may have been possible that a bit of buildup in or around the cartridge was causing the leak. With the work you had done the buildup was broken free, allowing the gaskets to seal properly. This is all a guess on my part.
Click to expand...

That makes sense, too.
 
The cartridge in a faucet (or diverter valve) rarely leaks but deposits can build up and mess up the O-ring seal around the cartridge. Cleaning these parts occasionally in vinegar, lime-away or CLR (mild acids) will greatly reduce the build up of deposits which can clog the aerator on a faucet or a shower head. It is also a good idea to occasionally (at least annually) clean the washing machine fill hose inlet screens and to put CLR in the fill hoses letting it run through the internal washing machine temperature mix valves.
 
MaggieD said:
We had a plumbing leak on a shower head and faucet. The shower head was squirting, like it was a bit blocked, and the on off categories due was leaking. So here's the question. Tom says it's not leaking now...that the shower head is completely clear shooting out water like crazy...I soaked it for a couple days in vinegar...and now, since he put it back together, the cartridge isn't leaking. (It was leaking enough that there was a slow drip from it down in the crawl space). But no more.

Is it possible that the blocked shower head was causing the cartridge to leak?
Click to expand...

the bolded part, what does that mean?

and what are you referring to when you say cartridge?

do you mean water was coming out when the faucet was off?
 
Derp said:
the bolded part, what does that mean?

and what are you referring to when you say cartridge?

do you mean water was coming out when the faucet was off?
Click to expand...

The bolted part means that my IPad autocorrect is a stupid face. Lololo. I never even noticed it. God, I hate that.

------------

So, here's what I found out. The plumber came to make sure it wasn't leaking, and it wasn't. So soaking the shower head in vinegar and scrubbing with a toothbrush restored full shower head flow. The on-off faucet three feet down from the shower head that HAD been leaking? Stopped.

Thanks all.
 
Maybe the partial block meant the water pressure in the pipe was raised enough to weep past the joint in the faucet.
 
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