How to Fix a Tub's Leaky Diverter
Your bathtub diverter sits inside the spout, where it closes off the water's pathway to the spout and redirects the water out of the showerhead. If the diverter allows water to leak past it and out the tub's spout--when the water should be coming out of the showerhead--your shower's water pressure is reduced. Fixing the bathtub diverter requires you to remove the old tub spout and install a replacement spout with a diverter. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Flashlight
- Allen wrench
- Hand towel
- Pipe wrench
- Plumber's tape
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Instructions
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Inspect the underside of the bathtub spout, using the flashlight. Look for the presence of a setscrew securing the bathtub spout to the water pipe that comes out of the wall. The screw may sit in a small recessed area in the spout.
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Remove the setscrew from the bottom of the tub spout, using an Allen wrench. Slide the spout away from the wall to remove it from the water pipe. If the spout fits snugly on the water pipe, turn the spout left and right as you pull.
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3
Wrap a thick hand towel around the spout if you don't see a setscrew. Clamp a pipe wrench over the hand towel and use the wrench to turn the spout counterclockwise to remove it from the water pipe.
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4
Wrap plumber's tape on the water pipe's threads clockwise, if the pipe has threads, covering the threads completely. Attach a replacement tub spout with a diverter inside to the water pipe by reversing the steps you took to remove the spout.
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Tips & Warnings
Take the old spout with the leaking diverter inside with you to the plumber's supply or home improvement center to get an exact replacement.
References
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Valueline/Getty Images
