Is the water still coming out of the tub’s faucet when you turn on the shower and move the water to the showerhead from the tub?
If this is the case, you may need to replace the valve of the shower diverter. The diverter valve may also need to be replaced if your shower will not convert to the showerhead from the tub spigot at all.
Your home warranty company can send a plumber to diagnose the valve shower diverter for a modest service call cost if you think it has broken.
The diverter valve can be repaired or replaced for that amount if it fails due to regular wear and tears.
This detailed article will teach you how to fix the diverter valve on your own if you don’t want to hire a professional to do it.
Types Of Shower Diverters
It is necessary to first have an understanding of the water pipes that are located behind the shower wall in order to fully comprehend how a showerhead diverter operates.
There is a primary water pipe that runs from the faucet on your bathtub all the way up to the showerhead in a vertical direction.
When the diverter valve for your shower is in the open position (also known as “down”), water has the ability to flow freely into the bathtub from the faucet.
If you turn the knob or handle on the shower diverter clockwise, the diverter valve will close. This will cause the water pressure to increase, which will force the water and make it out of the showerhead.
You may have one of the following types of valves for the shower head diverter in your bathroom, depending on the configuration of your sink faucet and showerhead.
- A tee diverter, also known as a single-valve diverter, is often located on the top of the bathtub faucet and functions as the switch that activates the shower.
- A two-valve diverter can either be utilized with a central faucet, in which the temperature of the hot and cold water is controlled by a single handle, or it can be positioned between two independent hot and cold faucets.
- The three-valve diverter is typically found on shower faucets that have two separate handles. Simply rotating the center lever through 180 degrees will open the diverter.
Signs That The Shower Diverter Needs Repair Or Replacement
Checking whether or not there is an adequate amount of water flow, and whether or not the water comes from the showerhead.
And the tub fill spigot simultaneously, or whether or not there is an inconsistent amount of water flow will help you determine whether or not your diverter valve is broken.
A faulty diverter valve can either result in an excessive amount of hot water or an inadequate amount of hot water.
The kind of diverter valve that is installed in either your bathtub or shower is essential for making an accurate diagnosis of the issue.
Diverter valves can come in a number of different designs. One of the symptoms may be displayed by any of these types of diverter valves.
Knowing what signs to check for is essential to making an accurate diagnosis of a faulty diverter valve.
Inadequate water flow could be the result of a malfunctioning water pressure regulator rather than your diverter valve if this is the case.
How To Fix A Shower Diverter With Tee Valve
- Put an end to the water flow. When you aren’t concerned about water leaking through, repairing something is a lot less difficult. On the wall behind your shower, there ought to be an access panel for you to use.
- Put a plug in the drain. Make use of duct tape or any comparable material that can act as a catchall for any little screws that may end up going down the toilet.
- Loosen the set screw that is located on the waterspout. There will be some spouts that do not have one. This is a very little screw that can be found underneath the spout, typically close to the bottom.
- Take the water spout off. Depending on the sort of faucet you have, you can either remove it by sliding it off or unscrewing it.
- Remove the diverter. At the time you pull the diverter knob, it is the plastic that moves vertically as a result. In the event that a diverter is broken or requires a new washer, you can replace it by purchasing a replacement kit specially made for the diverter from the hardware store in your area.
- After replacing the waterspout, test it. Your shower head ought to receive each and every drop of water that you use. If this is not the case, it could be because of mineral buildup inside the spout.
- Replace the old downspout with a new one. If the spout is worn out and rusted, you should get a new one from the hardware shop and replace the old one.
How To Fix A Shower Diverter With Two Or Three Valve
In order to properly repair a two- or three-valve diverter, you will first need to identify the type of diverter you have.
It is likely that the valve is concealed by a plate. After turning off the water and covering the drain, proceed with the actions that follow:
- To inspect your tub, unscrew the handle and faceplate, which is often circular and made of metal, and pull it off.
- Take out the old diverter for your shower. In the event that it offers a rotatable valve, you should unscrew the nut that is located at the stem, and then remove the valve completely. In the event that your diverter is concealed behind the wall, you will require a shower faucet wrench or a socket in order to get the nut covered and loosen it.
- Replace the diverter valve. Bring the diverter head you just removed with you to the store so that you can make sure you purchase the right replacement. It won’t cost a lot of money, and it will be easier and more effective to replace the gadget as a whole as opposed to changing individual sections.
- Install your replacement. The process of screwing it back into place should just take a couple of minutes and a small bit of wiggle room. Be careful not to overtighten everything you’ve got going on.
- Run some tests on the new valve. The diverter can be used once the water has been turned on. It is appropriate for the water to proceed unimpeded to the showerhead after leaving the spout. Either the faucet of the sink or the shower head should allow water to flow out of it, but never both at the same time.
As soon as you become aware that there is a problem, you should not delay in getting the diverter rectified.
A malfunctioning shower diverter results in a bad shower experience and wastes water in the process. This will result in higher water costs as well as the possibility of water damage within your walls.
Considerable Variations
You undoubtedly turned to YouTube and Google as soon as you realized that the shower diverter in your bathroom wasn’t functioning as it should.
You may have also noticed that the majority of the internet tutorials make use of tee-valve diverters for various demonstrations.
This is due in part to the fact that tee valves are significantly more prevalent than other varieties. However, particularly in older homes, you may need to be dealing with bathroom spouts that have two or even three valves.
This is something you should be prepared for. Fortunately, repairing them is just as simple as repairing the tee valve of the shower diverter.
Even if it has two or three valves, you can soak, lubricate, and replace them. The piping mechanism is where the primary distinction lies.
When a tee valve is removed from the wall, you will discover one copper pipe behind it. You will find a number of copper pipes with two-valves and three-valves.
Your attention should be focused on the temperature dial if the shower diverter you use has two valves. This is due to the fact that it frequently serves a dual purpose as a gate of the shower diverter.
Not only does it regulate the temperature of the water, but it also adjusts how far the water is directed up or down from the showerhead (to the spout).
In another way, if the shower is equipped with a three-way diverter, you should concentrate on the pipe in the middle. There you’ll find the valve that controls the flow of water.
How To Prevent Wear & Tear
Even when you turn off the water to the shower, there will still be some water in the pipe. Even if there isn’t much liquid in there, the weight that’s sitting on top of the valve causes it to wear out considerably more quickly.
Turning the selection dial back to the faucet on the bathtub will release the pressure. To drain the pipe, turn on the faucet of the bathtub and run it for a couple of seconds.
When To Call A Professional
Due to the fact that the valve is an integral plumbing component that is located inside the wall, the majority of home improvement projects, including those involving diverter valves, are beyond the capabilities of do-it-yourselfers.
Because repairing this kind of diverter valve requires replacing the valve itself, the operation must be carried out by a plumber who possesses a valid license in some jurisdictions.
In a lot of houses, the only way to get to the valves is to rip out the tile or the enclosure of the bathtub. The process of making this repair will not be an easy one.
If your three-valve system is the source of the issue, our recommendation is that you look into the possibility of installing an altogether new valve assembly.
Your bathroom will feel more contemporary if you choose one of the designs that features a single handle.
Final Verdict
If you really want to get your hands dirty with a project, tackling it all by yourself is the best way to go about it.
For inexperienced do-it-yourselfers, certain jobs, like painting or planting a garden, could appear to be overly simple or superficial.
Therefore, if you’re interested in delving into something that’s a little bit more complicated, this would be an excellent place to begin.
However, if you find yourself in a situation in which you are uncertain about the way of proceeding, you may always call a friend for assistance, who may have a bit more experience with DIY projects than you do.
In the event that you find yourself in such a predicament, you should remember that you have this option.
Keep in mind that regardless of the experience you have, everyone has to start somewhere, and it is never inappropriate to inquire about assistance.
