Diverter tub spout how does it work

Turning the diverter valve degrees in a clockwise direction channels hot and cold water to the showerhead, while turning it counter-clockwise channels water to the tub. This type of diverter valve is found in tubs that have a single faucet handle, or in the middle of two handles.

It's to a three-valve diverter: You simply turn it to direct water to the shower or the tub. This diverter valve, also known as a tee diverter, is located on the end of the tub spout see photo above. Activating it requires simply pulling up on the diverter, which then sends water to the showerhead. Pushing the diverter back to the downward position restores water flow to the tub again. This valve allows the bathroom to have a shower and a bathtub in the same space. But no matter which type of shower valve diverter you have, all work to achieve the same purpose.

The diverter looks like a pin pulled upward from the bathtub faucet spout. It's possible that it may come in the form of a third handle or a button that needs to be pushed or pulled. Either way, when the valve is activated, it engages a rubber stopper, which causes the water to flow in a different direction.

This pressure forces the water up toward the shower head, enabling you to take a shower. When the stopper is removed, water will flow the other way, which is how the bathtub fills. To the untrained eye, it can be difficult to spot issues with the shower diverter valve. That's because it's hidden behind the wall or the faucet itself. While you may not be able to spot any physical damage, a problem with your valve can be quite obvious just by watching how the water flows out of the shower head or faucet.

The moment you notice something may be up with your faucet or valve, it's best to call an expert as soon as possible. Putting it off could lead to your monthly utility bills edging higher and higher as a result. Many homeowners are under the mistaken impression that their houses are covered by their homeowner's insurance.

If you open a claim with your home warranty company right away, though, you could only have to pay a small service call fee. You may need to soak the faucet in vinegar overnight to soften calcium build-up or clean it out with a small soft brush. With the three-valve shower, if you can take the shower faucet off easily , you can try and open the valve and see if there are any blockages within the valve and brush them off with a clean cloth.

Some diverters rely heavily on rubber or nylon washers to make sure the holes to the spigot are properly closed. If these washers crack, fall apart, or get bent, they could be the cause of the problem with the diverter. If you see a broken or cracked washer, this is something that will need to be replaced. Sometimes the threads on the crew that connect the spout to the pipe can corrode.

Not sure how to do that? Not to worry! We have an article on how to replace the diverter valve on your shower. If you have a home warranty and your shower diverter valve has failed from normal wear and tear, you can have everything fixed and paid for, for a small service call fee!

If you try to do it yourself, then you may not have the repair or replacement covered. If you're not a home warranty customer and you have no interest in saving hundreds of dollars on home repairs like broken diverter valves, read our article on how to replace a shower diverter valve. Check out our plumbing maintenance articles and infographics.

Don't miss out on our monthly newsletter! Sign up to get tips on everything about home ownership, from maintenance tips to home selling advice delivered to your email once a month. Input your information and get a free, personalized home warranty quote. You can easily adjust this yourself in a few minutes. Turn off the water supply to the washroom. Look beside, underneath or on the bathtub spout for the diverter's holding screw.

Grasp the spout and pull it straight out. Unscrew the bolt holding the diverter to the small pipe in the wall. If you have a shower -tub combination in your bathroom, the shower diverter valve is what allows you to divert the water back and forth between the tub faucet and the showerhead.

Though they are typically very simple devices, shower diverters may malfunction and need replacing once in a while. A compressor bypass valve CBV , also known as a pressure relief valve or diverter valve , is a manifold vacuum-actuated valve designed to release pressure in the intake system of a turbocharged vehicle when the throttle is lifted or closed. This type of valve is typically an aftermarket modification. If this is the case and the faucet isn't replaced, it could cause water to leak out on the wall behind the shower , which could cause rot, mold, or mildew.

If corrosion or a broken washer is the cause of your diverter woes, you'll probably need to replace the diverter valve.

But, neither will other diverters on the market. So, this is the best of a bad lot. If you have a recent production low flow shower head or valve, it will not make any difference. Top Selected Products and Reviews. Follow these steps to install a shower head diverter valve: Remove your regular shower head. Screw the diverter valve onto your water pipe.

Place the original shower head on the diverter valve, again making sure you have a snug fit. Install the hand-held shower head onto the diverter valve. Unscrew the stem from the diverter valve's retaining nut with your hand and clean sediment buildup from the diverter valve parts by dipping them in vinegar to loosen the buildup, then brushing with a wire brush.

Clean all parts thoroughly. A diverter may be an unfamiliar term. The diverter is a valve in your tub's faucet that diverts water from the tub to the showerhead when the lever is pulled to turn on the shower. A small amount of water dripping out of your tub's faucet is normal because the valve doesn't have a perfect seal. Replacing a slip-on spout is easy: Just loosen the setscrew usually with a hex wrench and pull the spout off the copper pipe that protrudes from the wall.

Twist the spout as you pull and be gentle so you don't loosen any pipe connections inside the wall. Then slide on the new spout and tighten the setscrew. Over time, the diverter can become damaged, causing water to leak through the spout and leave you with a weak stream at the shower head.

If your bathtub spout twists onto the nipple in the wall, the threads inside the nipple can crack or become corroded, allowing water to leak from the back of the spout along the wall.