If you have a combination tub and shower in your Midland, TX home, your shower diverter valve is what switches the flow of water from your tub faucet to your showerhead and vice versa. Although most people use it every day, this simple lever is easy to take for granted. The following are four signs that your shower diverter is ready for replacement.
1. The Diverter Feels Stiff
Whether you flip or pull your shower diverter, it should move easily. If it suddenly feels stiff and unyielding, it may have worn components or buildups of rust and other corrosion. The cheapest and most effective solution is usually diverter replacement.
2. Your Diverter Only Partially Diverts Water
When you activate your shower diverter, it should route all water to your showerhead or all water to your tub spout. If your shower spray lacks adequate pressure and there’s still a fair amount of water coming from your tub spout, your diverter may have reached the end of its lifespan.
Partial diversion is an indication of advanced diverter wear or cracked housing. In homes with hard water, cracked housing and accelerated wear are frequently the result of heavy mineral buildups. To prevent fixture damage from hard water, consider installing a water softener.
3. Your Diverter Is Suddenly Noisy
Shower diverters shouldn’t make any sounds. If your diverter is suddenly making clicking or vibrating noises, there’s a problem.
It may be possible to resolve the issue by tightening a loose screw rather than replacing the whole diverter assembly. However, loud whistling or shrieking sounds could also be a sign of problems within the showerhead or shower cartridge. Heavy buildups of hard water minerals may be blocking the movement.
4. Your Tub Is Leaking
Failed shower diverters can cause messy tub leaks. Diverters use seals to block the flow of water in either direction. These seals are known as flappers or liftgates and they can rot over time.
A faulty flapper can also reduce shower pressure at your shower head. If your showers have increasingly lower pressure and your bathroom floor is always wet, your shower diverter is a likely culprit.
Although small and simple, shower diverters can have a major impact on your shower experiences. For expert plumbing repair and installation service, get in touch with West Texas Plumbing today!
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