Tub faucet drips - single knob control valve

[pretzelb]

My guest bathroom has a full shower with one of those single knob controls for on/off and hot/cold water. It's the type found in many hotels where you pull to turn the water on and rotate to get the right blend of hot and cold water. To make the water go to the shower there is a lever you pull on the tub faucet.

The problem is that I have slow dripping on the tub faucet. It doesn't always happen but when it does it's about a drop every 1/2 hour or so. Anyone know of a guide on how to fix this?

My neighbors think it's something in the control knob. I thought it ad to be something in the faucet. If tile work is involved I'll probably get a plumber but if it's simple work I might try the fix myself.

[kactuskid]

It sounds like you need a new cartridge. They are pretty simple to replace. It sounds as though your faucet is NOT the pressure balance type of faucet so make sure you buy the proper cartridge for your faucet. Should be around $10.00. Here's a link that'll show you how to replace it. http://www.moen.com/Consumer/product...3/moen0133.cfm

Make sure you close the main water supply comming into your house before replacing this, and open the sink faucet and one in a lower level if possible to drain the pressure down if necessary.

[pretzelb]

Well, the link you sent does look easy, but they always make it look easy! Your description of the problem sounds like what my neighbor was describing too. I'm not sure if the faucet is what you called a pressure type so before I hit the store I will try to memorize the faucet so I'm sure to get the right parts. I will post back when I make some progress.

[Hawk]

Nice find on the web page kactuskid. And I concur that it's not pressure balancing unit. Otherwise it would be the posi-temp or have the older spool.

Do pay particular attention to #4c in the instructions. With the horseshoe clip out, try and spin the entire cartridge with the white adapter included. If you can't, stop and put it all back together.

What may happen is you will only extract the stem and not the body of the cartridge. This is not good if your not familiar with the problem. I carry ona extractors and moen cartridge pullers at the tune of $80 bucks a tool. Just a caveat!

[pretzelb]

Step 4c did seem like the key to the project. This does seem a bit scary so I should probably start it in the morning just in case I need to make an emergency plumber call.

Those instructions are great. The only problem is that my shower knob can't be removed with an allen wrench. I think it just may need to be pulled straight out. I hate when brute force is the solution because it always seems like you're just a few psi short of doing some major damage.

[Hawk]

You can do it.

[pretzelb]

Went to Lowe's and got hit with my first curve ball. I didn't realize there were different mechanisms inside the control knob. I saw the Moen type plus a few others. Looks like I will have to open mine up first before buying the replacement part.

Do you need the water off just to take the knob off? I'd like to at least get a look at the parts inside.

[kactuskid]

I would turn off the water first just to be on the safe side.