Repairing a leaky shower diverter valve: Mistakes to avoid

 

The shower diverter valve takes water from the house's main supply and redirects it to the bathtub faucet, shower head, and potentially other points. If the bathtub tap is leaking, it is likely that the shower diverter valve needs to be repaired to solve the problem. This is generally a simple operation.

However, there are some relatively common mistakes that can cause further damage or problems to leaky showers. Learn how to avoid some of these mistakes by reading on.

Not shutting off the water supply

Failure to shut off the water supply to the diverter of a leaky shower can cause problems while making adjustments to the valve. Water can leak out in larger quantities and cause flooding or other problems. Furthermore, failure to seal the water supply to the faulty valve can make the process of adjusting the leakage difficult, as it is difficult to determine which part of the valve is leaking when water is leaking from all the different parts of the valve surface.

Failure to seal the drain

In most standard bathtubs, the shower diverter valve is located directly above the drain. Since you are dealing with small screws and nuts, it is essential to cap the drain before removing the front plate of the shower diverter valve.

This will prevent small parts from falling into the drain and being lost. If this happens, you will have to go to a local hardware shop to purchase replacement parts before you can re-seal the diverter valve and continue using your faucets.

Removing the spout from the pipe

Many shower diverters are located behind the spout and pipe system of the tap. To access them and locate the location of the leak, it is necessary to remove the spout from the front of the pipe with a spanner. Be careful to do this gently, as forcing the spout or turning it in the wrong direction can crack the base of the spout and make it impossible to reattach it to the pipe surface. If in doubt, work slowly and carefully.

Call the Emergency Plumber in Guildford. We are available around the clock.