A faulty shower diverter can be annoying to deal with at times. This piece of bathroom equipment may stop working if it has accumulated dirt and grease, making it hard to turn. Furthermore, this leads to grating noises.
Another reason your shower diverter may stop working is it's either broken or worn out. Fortunately, shower diverters are relatively easy to fix, and you can repair them following a few handy steps that we’ll discuss in this blog post.
But before you start the repairing process, you need to determine what type of shower diverter you’re using and if your shower diverter is broken.
Types of Shower Diverters
There are three major types of shower diverters, including:
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Single Valve
This is the most common type of shower diverter. It is also called a Tee-diverter. When you pull it up, it sends water from the faucet to the shower head.
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Two-Valve
This is another type of shower diverter that is designed for showers with a single-dial temperature adjuster.
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Three-Valve
This type of shower diverter is designed for showers with two faucets.
Check If Your Shower Diverter is Broken
Once you’ve determined the type of your shower diverter, the next step is to check if it’s broken. Turn on your shower diverter and check for leaks. If the water leaks out of your bathtub instead of the shower head, your shower diverter isn’t working properly.
This might happen because the inner rubber is not able to redirect the water flow properly. Or there might be another reason. Once you’ve determined the problem, start the repair process as quickly as possible.
How to Repair a Single Valve Shower Diverter
If you have a single valve or Tee-diverter, you can repair it by following these steps:
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Shut off the Water Supply
Before doing anything, the first and the most important step is to turn off the water supply. This is crucial because seeping water can easily mess up your bathroom floor. Moreover, it will make it difficult to find leaky spots.
You can turn off the water supply attached to the shower diverter you’re repairing. Or you can shut off your household’s main water supply.
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Seal off the Drain
The next step is to seal off the drain using tape to prevent small screws and other essential parts from falling down the drain. You can also use duct tape to make sure you’re able to catch small components.
These screws will also come in handy in the final parts of your repairing process.
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Tighten the Screws
In some cases, all you need is to troubleshoot your shower diverter to fix it. You can repair the broken shower diverter by tightening the screws situated behind its valve’s faceplate.
However, check for any leaks coming out of your bathtub while tightening the screws. If you see any leaks, it’s time to move on to the next step.
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Remove the Old Diverter
The next step is to remove your existing shower diverter. You’ll have to pull the diverter knob to slide up and down. You can do this by unscrewing a tiny nut (usually found on your waterspout's base).
Once you’ve removed the screw, carefully examine your shower diverter to check what’s causing the leak. Check for damaged, old, or worn-out small components like the washer and replace.
Here, one thing to note is that sometimes, it’s not just a small component that is worn out – but the entire diverter. In such circumstances, you'll have to replace the complete shower diverter . It is also more effective to replace the complete diverter instead of individual parts.
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Install the New Shower Diverter
Once you’ve purchased the new shower diverter, the next step is to assemble it. This is relatively easy because all it takes is tightening a few screws, and you're good to go. Make sure you avoid over-tightening the screws.
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Test the New Diverter
No DIY project should be completed without testing it. If you’ve followed all the steps and installed your new shower diverter properly, the final step is to check it.
Turn on the water and trigger your new diverter. The water coming from the waterspout should go to the shower head without leaking from the bathtub. One thing to note here is that the water should not flow from both the faucet and shower head at the same time.
How to Repair a Two and Three-Valve Shower Diverter
Before starting the repairing process, you need to find out the type of shower diverter (two-valve or three-valve) you’re using. In most cases, the value is found behind the faceplate. Follow these steps:
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Shut off the Water and Seal the Drain
Start by turning off the water supply - either the one attached directly to the diverter or your home’s main water supply. After that, cover the drain with duct tape to catch any screws or tiny components that might fall.
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Disassemble the Existing Shower Diverter
Once you’ve sealed off the drain, disassemble your existing shower diverter. You’ll have to unscrew the nut and remove the entire diverter if you have a rotating valve.
In contrast, you’ll need to loosen the nut using a wrench if your diverter is settled behind the wall.
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Buy a New Shower Diverter
The next step is to replace the old diverter with a new one. It’s fairly cheap and more effective than replacing individual components. Take your old shower diverter to a local hardware store to ensure you buy the right diverter.
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Assemble the and Test New Shower Diverter
After that, install the new shower diverter by tightening the screws. Make sure you position it properly. Once you’ve installed the new shower diverter, turn on the water supply to check if the water goes straight to the shower head.
Final Words
A shower diverter might stop working due to different reasons. For instance, it has accumulated grease and dirt. A shower diverter also doesn't properly work if it's broken, damaged, or worn out. If you have a faulty shower diverter and want to repair it, follow the DIY steps mentioned in this blog post. Or contact Mesa Plumbing Company if you need professional plumbing assistance.