Water dribbles out of shower head when filling the tub with diverter down

Hello

We just had our bathroom renovated and the plumber installed a new American Standard " cadet model 1675 " tub and shower set. When you turn on the tap to fill the tub some water runs out of the shower head even though the diverter is down.I called American Standard and they said that the distance from the centre of the valve body to the centre of the shower arm connection has to be a minimum 48 inches and even though it does not say that in the instructions that it is common plumber knowledge. Can somebody help me out here please? The water pressure isn't too high and the plumber says the valve body isn't installed upside down. I don't think they tested their installation and now the drywalling and tile is all complete and we have this problem.

Thanks!

Paul

The possibly bigger issue is: what kind of pipe did they use to make the connection to the tub spout? The installation instructions specifically state to not use pex or cpvc pipe for that connection (their internal diameter is too small - you must use copper or brass). If you do, there is too much restriction, and the water will build up and dribble out of the showerhead since it can't escape out the tub spout fast enough.

As to the minimum height of the showerhead, that may not be an issue if the connection to the spout is correct. All the divertor does is shut the spout connection, so there's no place else for the water to go but the showerhead...it does NOT shut the path to the showerhead off, it is always open - the shortest path with the least restrictions is where the water will go.

jadnashua said:

- the shortest path with the least restrictions is where the water will go.

Click to expand...

Not to put too fine a point on it, but in this case the water is taking multiple paths. Otherwise, you are correct, that there is too much resistance in the shortest path for 100% of the flow.

Odds are he used PEX or CPVC to plumb the tub spout. THat will cause your problem.

Water periodically seems to drain down through Am Std Shower

My problem is not exactly like the other poster's but it is close.

It is a shower only, with added side jets. With the shower valve on, it works normally. With the valve off, water will only come out periodically, and it is as if the system is draining down from above, so you get a few seconds of gurgling, and it stops. Ten seconds later the same thing. After 3-4 cycles of this it stops. Total water through the shower head might be 10 oz. (There is a bathroom above this one, but how could that be related?)

My setup is a little more involved as well. We have a center valve which may act as a manifold, though we don't turn this valve. Above this center valve are two manual valves. One controls the shower heads, the other controls the side jets. Below the center valve is a standard looking one-lever temp control for the shower.

All of this has been installed for 7-8 years, and the gurgling just started, though it does not happen except every now and then - maybe even once a day - it's hard to say.

So the $64,000 question remains. With the shower valve off. How can water come through the shower head - even if it is only gurgling - as if it is draining down?

It pays to read the directions

IT is probably draining down. IF the valve is turned off, and it is NOT leaking, that is the ONLY way for water to drain from the head. Is it a conventional wall shower head or an overhead "rainfall" head?

Water periodically seems to drain down through Am Std Shower

To the Einstein who mentioned reading instructions, was that intended to help or to harass? but thanks anyway!

To the kind gentleman who asked if it is a rain head or a shower head, it's both.

And now the ah-ha moment, the gurgling then must be the rain head and the line supplying it, draining backwards into the shower head which is lower.

Seems we have a perfect answer, just not sure why it took years to begin.