Turn off the water at the fixture shutoff valves or at your home's main valve. Its however not rocket science and you will be able to do it in 10 minutes. Feel free to watch. Plumber holding a bath faucet and installs it. Due to limescale I had lots of problem opening and closing the shower. With some basic maintenance, it will last many more years. There are many things that can cause a shower valve to become stuck in place. The file should have teeth on the edges as well. This keeps the faucet . Do this slowly. Key Takeaway: Maintaining a shower diverter regularly is key to avoiding costly repairs, so its important to clean and check for signs of damage such as cracked seals or worn-out parts. Use a flat-head screwdriver to gently jiggle it off. Wrap a rag that has been soaked in a 50% solution of distilled white vinegar around the area of the set screw. Luckily, a stuck shower diverter can be easily fixed and doesnt always need to be replaced. Remove the screw holding the handle in place, then pull the handle free of the valve stem.5. Get the screw off and then the diverter handle. This could be hard but just force it up. 2 Pull the stop tube straight out, sliding it off of the cartridge. Aaron Stickley is a licensed plumber with 15 years of experience in commercial, new residential plumbing, and residential service and repair. Be careful to not break the stem. These are: Once you have the new spout go ahead and install. To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order. Take a flathead screwdriver and pry underneath the cover plate of the faucet. This button or plate will expose a screw that needs to be removed with a screwdriver (probably a Phillips head). A shower diverter acts like a gate inside the bathtub spout. Investigating the Safety of Vinyl Chloride in PVC Pipes for Drinking Water: What You Need to Know. Perhaps you can clamp on to something below? Use a screwdriver to pry off the valve handle cap if one exists, then remove the screws holding together the handle and the faucet stem. Petroleumgreases will eventually cause rubber O-rings and seals to decay. To use the tool, fit it onto the end of the cartridge and thread the puller screw into the end of the valve stem (the same part that accepts the valve handle). Loosen and remove the handle screw. In most cases, shower shutoff valves will be found in an access hatch behind the shower wall. Dave Jones is a Professional Plumber and the Midwest Regional Vice President at Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. The vinegar will eat away at the buildup, clearing the showerhead for enhanced water flow. Integrated systems need to be professionally designed and installed due to their complexity. Master Plumber, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. Cover the tub/shower drain with a cloth to prevent small parts from dropping into the drainpipe. Two-valve diverters have separate handles for controlling both outlets independently. This article was co-authored by Dave Jones. Clogs occur when mineral deposits or debris build up in the diverter valve; this is especially common if your home has hard water. https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-repair-shower-valve, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-install-shower-valve-trim/, (Replace a Shower Valve). What is a Shower Diverter and How Does It Work? 8. It's going to be a tall order for a lot of folks who don't work with their hands very often. Soaking the bathtub spout in a vinegar solution or spraying it with a penetrating oil are 2 great ways to free a stuck shower diverter. This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey fixes a faulty shower valve with new valve stems and seats. Removing your old valve and installing a new one can take time, but with patience, a novice handyman can do it without the help of a plumber. If there is no screw under the spout, the spout is threaded to the supply pipe. After many years of usage, calcium builds up inside the spout, restricting the movement of the shower diverter. Introduction Go to step 1 A nearly zero cost fix of a stuck shower valve. Dry the water first. Pause feature reduces water to a trickle, giving you space for shaving, lathering and other shower tasks while maintaining your temperature settings. Let set for 5-10 minutes. You can do this in a couple of different ways. In order for rust to take place, water and oxygen have to be present on an iron surface. Were passionate about all things plumbing, and love sharing tips, how-to, and reviewing the latest products to help make your project a success! There are often access panels for this. This will allow you to access the 2 grooves from the bathtub spout opening. If it's not moving, increase your leverage. Search For In-Depth Answers Below! Shower valve seems to be stuck. Tighten it with a wrench. Snap the index covers back onto the handles. If this is the problem, it will also affect your shower head and you will notice that there is low water pressure coming out of your showerhead. While needlenose pliers can be used for this step, it may be easier with thicker pliers. We write about all things plumbing, helping you navigate common questions, repairs, and the best plumbing products on the market. This is a far better solution that tying a plastic bag around it as the vinegar will reach and act on every part of the spout. Knowing how it works and understanding common issues can help homeowners maintain their showers in good condition for years to come. A stuck shower diverter is caused by debris, pipe corrosions and accumulation of mineral deposits in the bathtub spout. You can unstick the faucet nut with the correct faucet stem removal tool to prevent damage to the shell. family handyman. It may also use separate diverters, which allow you to direct water to your desired outletthe showerhead or bathtub spout. If it is impossible to remove the cartridge, don't force it out of the handle. Unthread the existing seat from inside the valve with a seat wrench. If the supply pipe is threaded, use a wire brush or toothbrush to clean it, removing the old tape off it. Take a pair of vice-grips and grab the bottom threads (not too tightly so that you damage them, just enough to hold them) and with another wrench, try to remove the valve. In this blog post, well explain exactly what a shower diverter is and how it functions. Using a pair of pliers, pull the U-shaped cartridge retainer clip off of the valve body. Use pliers or a deep-socket wrench to gently turn the stem counterclockwise. If the showerhead looks like it needs to be cleaned, submerge it overnight in white vinegar. I'm not a plumber just a girl trying to find out how difficult it is to change this valve. I no longer have the documentation or packaging. If it is, however, your new cartridge should come with its own valve clip. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Want to tackle more plumbing projects? Steps. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d2\/Replace-a-Shower-Valve-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-a-Shower-Valve-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d2\/Replace-a-Shower-Valve-Step-1.jpg\/aid9752157-v4-728px-Replace-a-Shower-Valve-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"