A shower diverter valve is an important bathroom fixture that is typically used when you are using more than one shower hose or faucet fixtures. This indispensable contraption is designed to help users divert water flow from one fixture to the other. For instance, if an overhead tub shower faucet is present in the bathroom, and you decided to use the overhead shower for bathing, then all you have to do is to the adjust the diverter to direct the flow of water to your overhead shower. Meanwhile, adjusting the diverter’s lever the other way around will allow the water to flow to the tub faucet. Diverting valves come in varying designs, types, finishes, and features.
Bear in mind that each type and model of shower valves work differently but the concept used is pretty much the same. There are valve models that have levers or buttons that are already built in to the faucet or handles. Meanwhile, others may come as separate fixtures that need to be installed before placing the shower head and faucet. Depending on the type of diverter shower valve that you have acquired, the position of the lever will dictate where the water will flow. For example, when you turn the valve to the left it will block the lower faucet so water will be forced to flow freely on your shower heads, and vice versa.
Aside from diverting water from tub faucet to overhead showers, diverter valves can also be used to switch between two heads. For instance, if you have a ceiling mount head and a hand-held shower, you can use the valve to switch the flow of water to the one that you prefer to use.
As with any shower plumbing fixtures, these valves tend to corrode over time. Remember that rusting can significantly degrade the fixture’s performance. In this case, replacing the valve is a must. Technically speaking, the life span of valve diverters will vary greatly depending on the quality of the fixture as well as the frequency of usage. Those made from premium-grade materials can surely last for a very long time.
A common sign that your valve needs to be replaced is when water flow is unusually low despite the adjustments you made. Another indication is simultaneous water sputtering from your overhead shower and tub faucet. When this happens, it means that the inner parts of the shower diverter might already be damaged or worn out. The smart thing to do when you encounter such situations is to replace the valve with a new one.
