How to Repair Leaks in a Hand-Held Shower Diverter

Fixing a leaky shower diverter takes less time than a shower.

A hand-held shower diverter connects to the shower pipe overhead. The diverter's adjustable valve lets you direct water through a standard shower head or to a hand-held massager on the end of a flexible hose. Essentially a T-valve, the diverter's connections may loosen over time and begin dripping water. Use plumber's Teflon tape to seal the threaded joints with common household tools.

Things You'll Need

• Pliers
• Towel
• Teflon tape
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Unscrew the shower diverter from the main pipe carefully with pliers.

2. Disconnect and remove the shower head and the hand-held shower from the diverter. On some models, the hand-held shower may be permanently attached to the diverter.

3. Dry the threaded ends on all parts with a towel.

4. Wrap Teflon tape along the threads at each connection point, cutting the tape with scissors and pressing the cut edge into the threads.

5. Reconnect the shower head and hand-held shower to the diverter and tighten each joint with the pliers. Attach the diverter to the shower pipe and tighten.

6. Turn on the water to test for leaks. Tighten each connection with the pliers to stop minor dripping.

References

• Buildipedia: How to Install a Hand-Held Shower
• Shower Store: The Right Way to Apply Teflon Tape to a Shower Arm