I guess it's just a matter of principle but I don't want to give up
yet.
I'm on month #3 of having replaced everything and once again a slow
drip is developing. Someone came up with a few other suggestions. What
do you guys think?

1. Try using "no-rotate" or swiveling washers. Anyone have any luck
with these? Any installation tips would be greatly appreciated.

2. Try stainless steel seats. I noticed that after only a few months
of use, a brand new seat has almost a sandpaper like tarnish/coating to
it.
Would stainless seats prevent this? I think this may be causing the
washer to fail so quickly. Does anyone know of a supplier for
stainless steel valve seats?

Thanks,
Tony G.

tony g wrote:
Help - this is really aggravating,

I have an old Sterling two handle shower faucet with a standard
washer/valve-seat arrangement(compression faucet I believe its
called,
not a cartridge type).
The washer on the HOT faucet only lasts about 3-4 months before it
drips.

I always replace both the seat and the washer. I have also replaced
the whole
stem assembly as well as putting in a new washer and seat at the same
time. What is causing the leak after such a short period of time?
Everything works fine right after the washer and seat on the hot side
are replaced, so I know that water is not leaking past the washer due
to the seat not being in correctly, etc. Its just that after a few
months of use I can feel that more force is needed to shut off the
hot
water and by about 4 months no matter how hard you tighten the handle
(without really torquing it to the point it might bteak off!) the hot
water side still drips. Cold side washers will last about 3 years.

Someone had suggested that the water may be too hot but for over 15
years that I have been in the house I was replacing the washer only
about once every five years. The water temp is the same as back
then,
and in any case it was never really scalding hot since its from a
tankless coil arrangement on a oil furnace. Also the seat does not
appear to have any nicks in it so I don't think that I am damaging
the
seats when I install them.

What am I doing wrong? Is there anything else I can try short of
ripping it out of the wall and getting a new unit? There is no access
from the back, I would have to break up the tile. Seems silly to
have
to do this for a lousy washer.

Thanks,
Tony G.