Plumbing Question 117
Question:
We have a tub/shower unit and when you turn the water on the shower automatically starts with the tub faucet. When you pull up the knob for the shower the tub part stops and the shower runs. We tried changing out the tub faucet but it still did the same thing. How do we get it so you turn the water on and only the tub water runs and then pull up on the knob and only the shower runs?
Answer:
The problem has to be with the tub spout. A shower valve automatically sends water to the spout until you pull the divertor knob and the water is blocked by a small “door” which sends water to the shower head. Try removing the tub spout and turn on the shower valve…water should shoot out of the nipple the spout was hooked to. If it still comes out the shower head without the tub spout, that would indicate that either the line is plugged or the tub shower valve was purposely capped off.