I've been dealing with this frustrating issue where my bathtub faucet won't stop dripping hot water, and it doesn't seem to stop even when I turn the water off to the house. I called a plumber about a year ago after trying to fix it myself by replacing a washer, but that didn't work. The plumber suggested I replace the entire set of faucets, so I bought two new American Standard stems that were supposedly ready to install. I replaced both the hot and cold stems, but after a week, the drip came back. I'm out of ideas and don't want to call another plumber. Any suggestions?
3 Answers
You might want to try using a reseating tool. It helps grind the end of the pipe to ensure the valve sits flush. Just turn off the water, take out the tap, and use this tool to make sure the seat is even and smooth. If there are rough spots, you'll want to grind them down carefully. If you're feeling adventurous, consider switching to a 1/4 turn valve that has the valve integrated!
It's really weird that the drip continues even with the water turned off. My guess is it's related to the hot water tank being positioned higher than the faucet, causing gravity to pull the hot water down into the pipes. For the leak itself, there might be an issue with the "seat" where the stems screw in. Sometimes dirt or damage can cause them not to seal properly, so you might need to check the plumbing inside the wall itself. It could be as simple as replacing the housing where the stems fit in.
I had a similar issue when I bought my house—hot water kept dripping even with the main off. I ended up tearing out the wall behind the faucet and replaced the plumbing myself. If you're handy, I promise it's not as hard as you might think!