What Are Shower Diverter Valves and Why Do We Use Them?

You probably have a shower diverter valve in your home. But do you know what it does? It all depends on where it is located.

There are two types. The first allows your tub to double its capacity as a shower and eliminates the need for separate shower stalls. You will find the second type of diverter valve near your shower head. This valve allows you to use an overhead shower as well as a handheld shower head to wash different parts of your body.

Type 1: Tub Diverter Valve

This valve converts your bathtub into a shower. It redirects water from the tub spout towards the shower head. This type of diverter valve can be used in at least three ways:

Three-valve diverter.

This valve is located between the two taps on a two-tap faucet. To redirect water flow to the showerhead, turn the diverter handle clockwise. The flow will return to the tub by turning the handle counterclockwise.

Two-valve diverter.

This diverter is made up of two L-shaped valves. It can be found in the middle of a faucet that controls water temperature using a single dial, or between two taps on a two-tap faucet. After the desired shower temperature has been set, the handle can be turned to redirect water from the tub faucet to the showerhead by turning the handle.

Tee-diverter.

The diverter is located at the bottom of the tub spout. Simply pull straight up on the diverter handle and all water will flow from the tub to the showerhead.

You can reduce stress and wear on each valve by releasing the diverter. After showering, let the water flow back into your tub before turning off the water.

To avoid getting scalded if you are out of town and encounter a shower diverter that you don’t know, set the water temperature outside the tub.

It’s time to have a professional clean out or replace your shower diverter valve if water is leaking from your tub spout as well as the shower head.

Type 2: Showerhead Diverter Valve

This type of diverter valve is required if you have multiple shower heads or are planning to install them. It is easy to install even for a novice and comes in many shapes to suit your design needs. You can also find many shower diverter valves at your local hardware and home supply stores.

These are the steps to install a diverter valve for your showerhead.

Remove your regular shower head. It may be necessary to use a wrench, but the shower head should come off easily.

Attach the diverter valve to your water pipe. To avoid water pressure loss or drips, ensure that the fitting is tight.

You will need to place the original showerhead on the diverter valve.

Attach the handheld shower head to the diverter valve. To avoid leakage, ensure that the fitting is tight.

You can test the shower diverter valve with regular water pressure. To test if it is working correctly, you can use the lever on the diverter valve or button to switch the flow to your hand-held showerhead. You should make sure neither the shower head or diverter valve is leaking during testing.

To confirm that there are no leaks, test the diverter the next day.

It’s that easy. Your next hot, steamy shower will be more enjoyable with a little effort and money. You should be concerned about your shower diverter valve.