Shower diverter not working

Is Your Shower Diverter Not Working? Here’s What To Do!

What Is A Shower Diverter?

A shower diverter directs water from the bathtub faucet to the shower head. If your shower diverter is not working, you will not be able to efficiently get water from your tub faucet to your shower head. This is typically controlled by a pin knob attached to the tub faucet. Even though this is the most common, there are three types of shower diverters.

  • Single valve: The single valve shower diverter is the most common type. As mentioned previously, it is a single pin knob that can be lifted and pushed down to switch between the faucet and the tub. 
  • Two-valve diverter: Two valve diverters are typically attached to a single handle faucet. The large handle turns the water on and off and controls the temperature. The smaller handle controls whether the water comes out through the faucet or the shower head. 
  • Three-valve diverter: If your shower has two separate handles for hot and cold water, it’s more likely for you to have a three-valve diverter. These have three handles total; hot water, cold water, and the shower diverter. After turning on the hot and cold handles enough to get the perfect temperature, all you need to do is turn the third handle to switch from tub to shower.

Signs That It Is Broken

A broken shower diverter can be most commonly diagnosed by spotting leaks. If you notice any leaks in your tub faucet or shower head, there could be many things wrong that may need to be replaced. If you notice leaks, it could easily be the shower valve, shower cartridge, or the shower diverter. There is a more clear sign to tell if you need a new shower diverter, though. When you switch from tub faucet to shower head, you shouldn’t have any water still coming out of the tub faucet. If you do, that means your shower diverter isn’t doing its job correctly. This typically means it has damage and you should replace it. 

How To Repair

If your shower diverter is not working, it’s not hard to fix. Once you have determined that you need a new shower diverter, you can replace it by following these steps.

  1. Before you begin taking your tub faucet apart, turn off the water supply to your shower. 
  2. Tighten the screws that attach the shower diverter. Before you replace it, you may just need to tighten it. These screws are behind the plate cover of the tub. Turn your water back on and check for leaks. If this did not fix the problem, turn your water back off and continue the process of replacing the shower diverter.
  3. Next, remove the shower diverter. If it has a rotating valve, unscrew it at the stem and remove the whole valve. If the shower diverter has a gate-type valve, unscrew the tub spout. 
  4. After you remove the shower diverter, you can replace it. We recommend taking your old diverter to the store with you to make sure you purchase the correct diverter
  5. Place your new diverter in its place and tighten it in. After you do this, position it correctly.
  6. Finally, turn your water supply back on. Test your diverter by turning on your tub faucet and then the shower head. If your problem has been solved, then you’re good to go! If you still have a problem with leaks, contact your local plumber to find the issue.
Replacing a Shower Valve

How To Maintain

Everything has normal wear and tear, but there are almost always ways to make them last longer. It’s important to take care of your shower diverter. To allow the diverter to last longer, always turn it off and leave it for a few seconds before turning off your water. This helps prevent any strain on the diverter and creates less use overtime.

Final Thoughts

Shower diverters allow your tub faucet to direct the water flow to the shower head. They come in three different types; single valve, two valve, and three valve. These all do the same thing even though they are all different. If your tub faucet is struggling to switch the water to the shower head or it is leaking, this could mean your shower diverter is not working. If these steps to replace the diverter did not work for you, you may have something else that needs to be replaced. 

Call 1-Tom-Plumber

Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need any plumbing, drain cleaning, or excavation service. 1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.

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