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Summit Peak Plumbing LLC
Bathtub Faucet Leaking When the Shower Is On

Family-owned · Colorado Springs Local

Bathtub Faucet Leaking When the Shower Is On

Marvin Guida, CO licensed Master Plumber, locates the source and fixes it right the first time.

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Why Your Tub Faucet Leaks in Shower Mode

A bathtub faucet that leaks when the shower is on is almost always a failed diverter. The diverter is the mechanism that redirects water up to the showerhead; when it wears out, water splits between the spout and the head instead of going entirely one direction. Some drip. Some pour. Either way, it's wasting water every time someone showers and, if the spout leaks behind the wall rather than in plain sight, the damage compounds fast. Marvin Guida has been diagnosing exactly this kind of problem for 25 years. Call (719) 774-7451 and he'll tell you what's actually going on.

Hot water leaking from a tub faucet during a shower typically means one of three things: a worn diverter valve, a failed cartridge, or a loose spout connection letting pressure escape at the wrong point. The fix for each is different, and guessing wrong means you pull it apart twice. Marvin scopes the problem before he touches anything, confirms the root cause, and replaces only what needs replacing. He won't sell you a full fixture replacement when a cartridge swap is all that's needed. Cost depends on whether the diverter is integrated into the faucet body or a separate tub spout, the age and brand of your valve, and what access looks like behind the wall. Every job is different, contact Summit Peak Plumbing LLC for an accurate estimate.

What Causes a Tub Spout to Leak

Common causes and repair options are explained below.

01

Worn Diverter Valve

The diverter valve redirects flow from the tub spout to the showerhead. When the rubber seal inside wears down, it can't hold full pressure and water bleeds out the spout while you shower. This is the most common cause, and it's a straightforward fix when you know which valve type you're working with.

02

Failed Shower Cartridge

Single-handle shower valves use a cartridge that controls both temperature and direction. A cracked or worn cartridge lets water past the seal in ways that mimic a diverter problem. Marvin stocks common cartridge replacements and carries them on the truck for the most frequent valve brands.

03

Loose or Cracked Tub Spout

Slip-on spouts are held by a set screw. Threaded spouts screw directly onto the supply pipe. Both can loosen over time, and a gap at the connection point lets water escape before it ever reaches the diverter. This one's often visible. The spout wiggles, or there's moisture at the wall.

04

Hot Water Specifically Leaking

If hot water is leaking from the tub faucet but cold is not, the issue is usually pressure imbalance or a hot-side seat washer that's deteriorated faster than the cold. Hard Front Range water accelerates mineral buildup on valve seats, which speeds that wear. Worth checking your water pressure at the same time.

05

Valve Rebuilding

Some valves can be restored rather than replaced: new seats, springs, and a full seal kit instead of a new valve body. Marvin rebuilds the valve when the body itself is in good shape and the original brand parts are still available, which keeps the job smaller and the wall opening minimal.

06

Complete Valve Replacement

When a valve is too old, too corroded, or a discontinued brand with no parts support, repair isn't the honest answer. Marvin installs a complete new valve body, matched to your existing trim where possible, and confirms temperature and pressure balance before closing the wall back up.

The Process

How Marvin Finds and Fixes the Source

  1. 01

    Scope Before You Touch Anything

    Marvin inspects the spout, valve, and accessible supply connections before any disassembly. He'll run the shower, observe the leak point, and check water pressure. Skipping this step is why some repairs have to be done twice.

  2. 02

    Replace What's Actually Failed

    Once the cause is confirmed, diverter, cartridge, spout connection, or seat washer, he replaces that component. He'll recommend an upgraded part if the original was undersized for your water pressure, but he won't replace a whole valve assembly to fix a cartridge.

  3. 03

    Test Under Full Pressure

    After the repair, Marvin runs the shower at full pressure and checks the spout, the wall connection, and the supply lines. He doesn't call the job done until the system holds under the same conditions that exposed the leak.

Proof

What Customers Say About Marvin's Work

5.048 verified Google reviews
Great price. Summit Peak Plumbing is the perfect example of exemplary workmanship and customer service. Marvin was punctual, extremely knowledgeable, budget friendly and affordable. The quality of his workmanship was flawless. He was very personable and accommodating. His work ethic and character made the water heater replacement a great experience. For any plumbing need I would recommend Summit Peak Plumbing and Marvin, hands down. Everything about this business predicts an exceptional future for Summit Peak Plumbing.
Sebrone DensonOct 2026 · Google
Great price. I had a great experience with this company! Very professional and friendly! Very informative as well! Walked us through the whole process and made it very easy to understand! Would definitely use them again! Also has very reasonable pricing!
Gina BuenoOct 2026 · Google
Melvin is a TRUE professional. Great service, arrived on time, worked clean and efficient. HIGHLY Recommend using him for all your plumbing needs.
Dave CleaverOct 2026 · Google
Water heater inspection/problem solved - Marvin is friendly, knowledgeable, showed up early, thorough job, went above and beyond, reasonably priced.
Jenifer LangdonOct 2026 · Google
Marvin at Summit Peak Plumbing provided exceptional service in a short time frame which helped us close on our real estate transaction quickly. He's also very reasonably priced compared to other plumbing estimates that we received. He did an excellent job and we highly recommend him!
Eileen AOct 2026 · Google
Marvin is thorough and detailed about his plumbing work! His knowledge and professionalism assures me of the work done right!
Cathy BessenbacherCathy BessenbacherOct 2026 · Google
Marvin was extremely professional, helpful, and knowledgeable. He was very communicative and didn’t try to upsell for the sake of it. He gave honest opinions and helped us decide what was best for our home. Highly recommend!
tricia lorrenetricia lorreneOct 2026 · Google
Had a great experience with Summit Peak Plumbing. Communication was excellent from the beginning, he showed up right on time, and took the time to walk me through the different options for fixing the issues I was having instead of just pushing one solution. Pricing was very reasonable, especially for the quality of the work and service. Everything was straightforward, professional, and easy from start to finish. I’d definitely recommend Summit Peak Plumbing and will be using them again in a few weeks.
Mark YoungMark YoungOct 2026 · Google
Read all 48 reviews

When a Tub Leak Points to a Bigger Problem

Copper plumbing components and valves used in tub and shower leak repair
Most tub faucet leaks are isolated to the diverter or cartridge. But some point to something further upstream. If your leak comes with low hot water pressure at the showerhead, that can indicate a failing water heater or sediment buildup in the supply line. If you're seeing pressure drop across multiple fixtures at the same time, a failing pressure reducing valve is worth investigating, homes on the Front Range sit at elevation where municipal supply pressure can swing significantly. And if there's water in the wall cavity around the valve, the repair scope expands: Marvin will confirm what's wet, what's structural, and what the repair path looks like before any drywall comes out. He doesn't guess and he doesn't cut corners on the investigation because a missed leak path means you're calling a plumber twice.

Credentials

Licensed, Experienced, and Available Every Day

Marvin Guida holds Colorado Master Plumber License #MP.03001524 and has 25 years of hands-on plumbing experience. Summit Peak Plumbing LLC carries 47 five-star Google reviews.

CO Master Plumber License #MP.03001524
Colorado Master Plumber credential
25 years of personal plumbing experience
Marvin personally handles every job. You're not getting a crew you've never met
Open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM
Same hours, same person, every time you call.
47 five-star Google reviews
Real customers, real names, publicly verifiable

Common Questions About Tub Faucet Leaks

Why does my bathtub faucet leak only when the shower is on?
When the shower is on, the diverter is blocking flow to the tub spout and routing it upward. A worn diverter can't maintain that seal under pressure, so water escapes at the spout even though it should be diverted. The leak typically gets worse as pressure increases. If it leaks only in shower mode and not when filling the tub, the diverter is almost certainly the culprit.
Can I fix a leaking tub diverter myself?
Diverter replacement on a slip-on or push-button spout is manageable for a handy homeowner. Cartridge-style diverters integrated into the valve body are different. Getting the cartridge out without damaging the valve seat takes the right puller tool and knowledge of the specific valve brand, Moen, Delta, and Price Pfister all use different extraction methods.
How long does a tub diverter or shower cartridge last?
In average municipal water conditions, a cartridge typically lasts 10 to 15 years. Hard water with high mineral content, which is common across El Paso County, accelerates wear on the rubber seats and seals inside the valve. If you're in an older home and haven't had valve work done since it was built, a leaking shower is usually the first sign the cartridge is past its service life.
My tub spout leaks hot water specifically: what does that mean?
Hot-side leaks usually point to a hot-side seat washer that's deteriorated, or a cartridge that's lost its hot-port seal. It can also signal a pressure imbalance between your hot and cold supply lines, which puts extra stress on the valve. Marvin checks supply pressure at both sides before attributing the fault to the valve itself, pressure problems need to be addressed at the source, not patched at the fixture.
What happens if I ignore a leaking tub faucet?
A dripping spout during showers wastes water every time. That's a higher water bill, month after month. More seriously, if the leak point is at the spout-to-pipe connection rather than the valve face, water can migrate into the wall cavity over months. By the time you see staining on the ceiling below or on the adjacent wall, the drywall is already compromised. The pipe repair is still simple; the drywall and mold remediation are not.
Do you handle tub faucet leaks in older homes with outdated valve brands?
Yes. Older homes often have valve brands that are discontinued or that require specific parts not carried at hardware stores. Marvin identifies the valve manufacturer and model before sourcing parts, and he'll tell you upfront if a valve is so outdated that replacement makes more sense than repair. That conversation happens before any work starts, not after the valve is already apart.

Get the Leak Fixed This Week

A tub faucet that leaks when the shower's on isn't going to seal itself. Call Marvin today. He's available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

Call Marvin, (719) 774-7451

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