- Shut off your water at the water main before you begin to replace anything. Your water main is usually located near the street at the front of your home. You can purchase a water key if you do not have one to shut the water off. Lift the lid covering the water main valve and place the notched end of the water key on the rectangular knob. Turn the knob as far as you can to the right. Check to make sure that the water to your house is off.
- You must remove your diverter handle before you can remove the diverter stem. Use a flathead screwdriver to take off the plastic screw cover on the center of your diverter handle. In the center of your handle is another screw. Use a Philips head screwdriver to remove the screw. Pull out on the diverter handle to remove it. Many handles will have a escutcheon ring to cover the diverter stem, and others will just have a metal flange that will slide off of the stem. Unscrew the escutcheon ring if your diverter stem has one.
- You can use vice grips or a deep well socket to remove your diverter stem. Place your tool of choice on the bolt closest to the shower wall. Turn the diverter stem to the left to remove it. Take the old diverter stem with you to your local home remodeling center to make sure that you get the same exact brand. Diverter stems resemble each other, but they are not all alike.
- Place your new diverter stem back into the same place from where you removed the old one. Make sure that it is in securely and then turn your water back on. There should be no water leaking from around the new stem. Place your escutcheon ring onto the stem and reinstall your diverter handle. Your shower will work like new again.
