Tradies, bath/shower diverters, your opinion/experience please

[Cecile]

Our nearly new bathroom mixer/diverter is leaking, and it appears (to me) that the ceramic disc may have failed. It is not a cheap unit, and came from a plumbing specialist. I understand these ceramic taps should have at least ten years before they need attention. We don't use the bath tap all that often, but every time we do, when we turn the tap off it continues to dribble a steady stream from the bath spout. It only stops if you divert to shower. The diverter is a push-pull botton arrangement that's particularly fiddly to use, rather than a lever (I wish I had known this before I chose it). The shower does not appear to be dripping, and the shower head is nearly two metres above the bath.

I am very concerned that if the diverter itself is faulty, it will have to be replaced. I have NO idea who would be responsible for rectifying it, especially as brand new plaster walls and tiling may have to be damaged to do this.

Your experience and professional opinion in this is greatly appreciated.

[wonderplumb]

You'll probably find that it's got a bit of crap stuck in it somewhere. You should be able to pull it apart to service it. The brand or where you got it from or the guarantee doesn't mean anything if there's something caught in there.

[Cecile]

You'll probably find that it's got a bit of crap stuck in it somewhere.

Thanks. Had not considered this. I will ask though, how can a brand new (six months old) mixer have rubbish stuck in it? Old copper pipes shedding debris? Curious.

The operation of the diverter button is very fiddly and difficult to do...that's something you can't determine until it's plumbed in and you actually try to use it. THAT is something that we may very well be stuck with. I'm also guessing it may be part of the issue with the leak.

I'll sort it out somehow, thank you for your information.

[wonderplumb]

. I will ask though, how can a brand new (six months old) mixer have rubbish stuck in it? Old copper pipes shedding debris? Curious.


Quite easily. It could be a bit of stuff from manufacturing, could be some stuff come through from the water main, could even be some stuff in the pipe from when the rough in was done.

[commodorenut]

Could it be the residual water in the pipe going up to the shower head dribbling out the bath spout, until it's exhausted?

[looseless]

Could it be the residual water in the pipe going up to the shower head dribbling out the bath spout, until it's exhausted?

Yes it could well be. Sometimes the diverters need reasonable pressure to seal, so it is possible that once the water is turned off, that the water dribbles out the bath outlet until all the water has drained out of the pipe to the shower rose. If the water is not leaking out of the bath outlet when you are having a shower, then it is obviously sealing OK during normal use.

It doesn't appear to be anything to do with the ceramic disc, otherwise there would be a constant dribble from the bath outlet 24 - 7. Hope you have a win. Good luck.