Leak above shower valve...between the pipe and the valve

[Hudson]

I bought a replacement washer at Lowes, a Danco 80925.
I put 2-3 turns of grey teflon tape and tightened it finger tight.
It leaked.
I gave it 1/8 turn with a wrench.
It still leaked.
I took it off. The washer had gone into the pipe and wasn't working.
The guy at the plumber supply said to forget the washer, tape it again and tighten.
It still leaked.
I speculate that the washer is too small?

Note the "valve" is actually a Delta 3-Way Water Diverter; the leak is where it attaches to the pipe coming out of the wall. The diverter switches between a shower head and a hand shower.

 

[GReynolds929]

Hard to follow your description. Where is the joint that is leaking, showerhead, spout, in the wall at the diverter valve? Pictures would help.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Hudson]

Thanks for asking. The leak wasn't where I thought it was. The leak was down lower in the diverter where the arrow is.
The connection near the pink tape was surprisingly dry even though there was no washer...just Teflon tape.
Bottom line: leak is at arrow.
Replace diverter?

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

Its difficult to say how that particular device is sealed without knowing exactly the model. Some seal with teflon on the threads but most seal with a washer that is sandwiched between the shower arm and the showerhead(or whatever device). Sometimes the washers arent thick enough to make full contact and lack compression, or often times the shower arm is too thin to actually compress the washer and the washer ends up inside the shower arm.

 

[Jeff H Young]

teflon tape no bueno ! remove it

 

[Hudson]

Thanks Tuttles Revenge!
The shower arm is to thin; the washer did go inside the pipe.
I replaced the washer with just teflon tape...no washer.
Now it doesn't leak above the washer, but down below where the arrow points in the picture.
I ordered these rubber washers because I speculate that they are larger and might still fit?

uxcell Rubber Flat Washers 20mm OD 10mm ID 3mm Thickness​

 

[Hudson]

teflon tape no bueno ! remove it

Thanks Jeff!
Recommendations to replace the tape?

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

Jeff mentioned that because this model doesn't use the threads to seal. It uses the washer to compress the washer between 2 flat surfaces. Likely a thicker walled shower arm is the thing that will ultimately fix the issue. Tho sometimes you can apply Just Enuf pressure to stop the drip before the washer sinks into the tube.

 

[Hudson]

Jeff mentioned that because this model doesn't use the threads to seal. It uses the washer to compress the washer between 2 flat surfaces. Likely a thicker walled shower arm is the thing that will ultimately fix the issue. Tho sometimes you can apply Just Enuf pressure to stop the drip before the washer sinks into the tube.

"Thicker walled shower arm" That make sense. I guess that takes a plumber going inside the wall? Is there an adapter or a cheat method of some kind. I'll try the wider rubber washer when it comes in.

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

The shower arm is just threaded into a fitting behind the wall. No opening of the wall should be necessary

 

[Hudson]

Success!
The uxcell "Rubber Flat Washers 20mm OD 10mm ID 3mm Thickness" worked.
I removed the teflon tape.
The washer did not fit easily, I had to push it down with the back of my knife.

Bottom Line: The thin wall shower arm was the problem allowing the washer to slide inside.
An oversized washer fixed the problem.
Thanks to all!

 

[Hudson]

The shower arm is just threaded into a fitting behind the wall. No opening of the wall should be necessary

I wouldn't have figured that out in a million years! Thanks!