How To Fix Shower Diverter Tub Spout

Your shower diverter is the mechanism that directs h2o from your bathtub faucet upwardly to the showerhead. When your diverter works properly, it cuts off h2o to either the faucet or the showerhead. If it isn't working properly, then h2o will flow out of both your faucet and your showerhead whenever you lot use either.

Diverters naturally wearable out and suspension downwards over time, and eventually demand repairing or replacing. Luckily, they're reasonably piece of cake to set up. All you have to practise is follow the instructions below.

What Type of Shower Diverter Practise You Have?

A single valve or tee valve shower diverter

There are three main variations of the shower diverter valve:

Three-valve diverter – for showers with two-tap faucets.
2-valve diverter – for showers with a single-punch temperature adjuster.
Single valve or Tee-diverter – pull up to ship h2o from the faucet to the showerhead.

Tee-diverters are the most mutual shower diverter valve type. Nosotros'll discuss how to repair these first.

Repairing Your Tee Valve Shower Diverter

A plumber removes a bathtub waterspout to repair the diverter

Turn off the water. It's a lot easier to fix something when you aren't worried about seeping water. You should have an access panel on the wall behind your shower.
Seal off the drain. Use duct record or something similar that can grab any pocket-sized screws that might fall down the drain.
Loosen the waterspout'south set screw. Not all spouts will have ane. This is a tiny screw unremarkably on the underside of the spout near the base.
Remove waterspout. Your bathtub faucet will either slide off or unscrew depending on the type.
Remove diverter. This is the small piece of plastic that slides upwardly and down when you pull the diverter knob. If the diverter is faulty or needs a new washer, supplant it using a diverter replacement kit from your local hardware store.
Supersede waterspout and test. Your h2o should be all directed to your shower head. If not, may be due to mineral build upward within the spout.
Install new waterspout. If your spout is erstwhile and corroded, supercede it with a new ane from your hardware store.

Repair Your Two or Iii Valve Shower Diverter

Three shower handles with the middle being the diverter.

To repair your 2 or iii valve diverter, you'll need to determine which blazon you accept. Your valve is virtually likely backside a confront plate. Turn off your water, cover your bleed and follow the steps below:

Unscrew handle and faceplate (frequently circular, metal) in your tub and take information technology off to look.
Remove your old shower diverter. If information technology has a rotating valve, unscrew the nut at the stalk and then pull the whole affair out. If your diverter is recessed behind the wall, y'all'll need a socket or shower faucet wrench to cover the nut and loosen it.
Replace your diverter valve. Accept the diverter you just removed to the shop to ensure you get the proper replacement. It won't cost a lot, and replacing the entire device is easier and more effective than replacing individual parts.
Install your replacement. Information technology should just take a few minutes and a little finagling to screw back in identify. Make sure not to overtighten anything.
Examination your new valve. Turn on your water and engage the diverter. The water flowing from the spout should go directly to the showerhead. Water shouldonlyflow out of either the faucetorthe shower heat, never both.

Don't put off getting your diverter stock-still as soon equally you notice problems. A broken shower diverter leads to a subpar shower,and information technology wastes water. That means increased h2o bills and potential water impairment inside your walls.

Your Dallas Plumbing Repair Pros

If your shower diverter's not working, or your shower faucet is leaking, we can help. For all your abode's shower repairs, never hesitate to call the team at Ben Franklin. We'll make sure your water ends up where information technology's supposed to.