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A lot of Australian homes feature a shower-tub combination in their bathrooms. A shower diverter makes it possible to divert water back and forth between the tub faucet and the showerhead. They are simple devices that make these setups work and should be replaced once in a while to prevent any malfunction. Learning a few basics about what shower area, what they do and how they work can save you a lot of possible issues in case they malfunction in the future.
How Do Shower Diverters Work?
A water pipe connects the tub faucet and the showerhead through a pipe that extends vertically from the tub faucet to the showerhead. Turning on the shower diverter valve allows water to flow directly through the faucet, going to the tub. When you use the shower, you need to lift the knob or the lever to be able to close the diverter valve. The water created in the lifting of the knob or lever forces the water to flow upward to the showerhead.
Types of Shower Diverters
There are three types of shower diverters – three-valve diverters, two-valve diverters and single-valve or T diverters. The single-valve diverter is the most common type of shower diverter used in most households. They feature a handle that can be pulled straight up from the tub faucet. Pushing it down opens the flow of the water to the tub spout. Single-handle faucets usually use two-valve shower diverters while three-valve shower diverters are usually found in tub and shower systems with separate knobs for hot and cold water.
If any of these types of shower diverters malfunction, you might want to have an after hours plumbing team ready to attend to repairing and making these plumbing accessories function as intended.
Signs of a Faulty Shower Diverter
Shower diverters are bound to be broken and replaced from time to time. They were out, mostly in their washers and rubber parts. When you notice leaks or changes in your showers, leaks below the bathtub area, decreased water pressure or if you are starting to have a problem switching the water from the tub to the showerhead, these are signs that your shower diverters are bound to be replaced.
All these small issues are annoying and can lead to bigger water damage and plumbing issues in your home. When you start to notice these issues, you should have your shower diverter replaced immediately. It is not an expensive accessory and a professional plumber can easily have this accessory replaced. Do not attempt to replace it on your own, especially if they are located behind the shower faucet or the wall.
Common Issues with Shower Diverters
Shower diverters are bound to break and malfunction. Some of the common indicators that shower diverters are bound to go bad is the noticeable lack of water flow. In some cases, water flows simultaneously on both the tub and the showerhead. Not having enough water, too much water and uneven and irregular water flow are also the most common issues in shower diverters that may require a visit from your trusted local plumber.
Shower diverters are among the plumbing accessories that require regular replacements. However, you should never resort to replacing them immediately unless proven to be defective. Check your water supply system, seal off your grains and tighten screws before you conclude that there are indeed issues with your shower diverters. To be accurate and to have your shower diverters diagnosed efficiently, it would still be best to have them checked by a professional plumber.
