Unravel the Mysteries of Shower Diverter Valves: Learn About 3 Common Types

Shower diverter valves are responsible for diverting and redirecting the flow of water to the shower head, eliminating the need for a separate shower stall or enclosure. There are 3 main types of shower diverter valves: the two-valve diverter, the three-valve diverter, and the tee diverter.

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The two-valve diverter typically consists of two L-shaped valves located between the hot and cold water taps of a two-tap faucet. With the two-valve diverter, the bather runs water through the tub spout until it is blended to the desired temperature. The diverter then pushes the water upward to the shower arm and out the shower head.

The three-valve diverter is located between the faucet and the spout and can be in the center of the faucet or a vertical pull arm on the tub spout. To operate this type of diverter, the hot and cold water taps are turned on to reach the desired water temperature. Turning the diverter clockwise 180º allows this mixed water to flow out of the shower head. Right above the diverter is usually a rubber washer to cut off the water flowing to the tub and focus it on the shower head.

The last type of diverter is the tee diverter which is usually the simplest type. This single valve is located at the tub spout and forces the water up to the shower arm and out the shower head when its pull arm is pulled up. Bathers starts the water running on the tub spout first to make sure the correct temperature is achieved before diverting the water upwards.

It is important to remember that when using any of these types of shower diverter valves, it should be released first with water running through the tub spout for a few seconds before shutting the water off. This reduces strain and wear on the valve. If you encounter a shower diverter and aren’t sure how it works, make sure to start the water while standing outside the shower to protect from scalding. Finally, if the shower has water flowing from both the tub and shower, you may need to clean or replace the shower diverter.