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Troubleshooting Shower Diverter Problems
Problems relating to shower diverters are not uncommon and it is often necessary to go to the root of the problem in order to correct it completely.
The main function of a bath and shower head diverter is to balance the pressure of the water, controlling the hot/cold mixture ratio. Generally, there is a thermostat which has mechanical or electronic thermostatic valves. Anti-scald valves are available too which prevent the water from getting too hot. In a multiple shower outlet installation it is necessary to use two or more thermostat valves.
Actually it takes much longer to find out the root cause of the problem, than repairing it. If the diverter valve is malfunctioning, or if the hose is restricted, the switching back and forth from spray head to sink spout may be problematic. The cause could also be uneven water flow or just water at low pressure. But custom shower systems do not often have diverter valves, but multiple-head showers. This includes valves, water outlets, volume controls, shower heads, hand showers and body sprays.
A custom shower is a complicated plumbing fixture and hence should only be fixed by a professional and licensed plumbing contractor. It is just not possible to add more shower heads or sprays to an existing shower stall or tub enclosure.
The function of a diverter valve is to channel water to the showerhead or the hand shower or the body spray. It cannot do all these activities at the same time. If you have discovered that your shower diverter valve has a problem, it is not a simple task to replace it or replace its washer. The replacement unit must be exact and some shower faucets have a built-in pressure valve. Let the job be done by an experienced plumber, so that the replacement matches perfectly.