Phister bathroom tub faucet leak

[TexasDIY]

Hello from Texas, y'all! I'm the new DIY gal here and I'm trying like hell to fix a leak in my bathroom.

When the water is turned off at main, and I have extracted the stems, washers and seat to the tub fixtures, the cold water still runs.

I have replaces the seats, washer and stems THREE times (each with new parts).

The first time I used teflon tape.

The second time, I didn't. And the leak went from a drip to a small drizzle.

The third time (today), I cleaned the insides of the pipes with vinegar and a good brushing, then applied silicone gel to the seat threads before replacing. Still a drizzle.

I suspect the issue isn't with the seats but with the main pipe.

We also have very hard water here and the house is about 4o years old.

Is it time to call a plumber?

 

[TexasDIY]

I forgot to add they are a Price Pfister unit.

Have already contacted Price Pfister - they had no idea why the leak would go from a drip to a drizzle upon replacement of new parts.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Terry]

When installing new seats, I use a little pipe dope, no tape. I never use tape on PP tub shower stems or seats.

 

[TexasDIY]

After I posted, we decided to try using Tplus2 ( is that pipe dope?) and NO LEAK!

Thanks for offering your help.

 

[Reach4]

Tplus2 ( is that pipe dope?)

Yes. That is a pipe dope (compound) suitable for metal and plastic.