Skip to main content
Stesso
Project

Restore Water and Test for Leaks — Test for Leaks and Verify Function

Beginner3 hours

Part of project

Shower Diverter Valve Repair & Replacement: A DIY Guide · Step 5 of 5

Helpful?

In this video

Return to the water supply manifold and turn both the hot and cold valves back on. Go back to the shower and turn the handle on to test the water flow. Cycle the temperature handle from full cold to full hot to ensure it is working correctly and that the water warms up as expected. Finally, turn the shower off completely and carefully watch the shower head to ensure that the dripping has stopped.

Goal: Restore Water and Test for Leaks

  • It may take a minute or two for the hot water to reach the shower as the lines refill.
53.1K views1715 minutes
This Old House

2.2M subscribers

View Channel

FAQs

What's the most critical first step for safety when starting a shower diverter repair or replacement?

The absolute first and most critical step is to shut off the main water supply to your house, or specifically to the shower. This prevents flooding and potential water damage, ensuring a safe work environment before you remove any components. Once off, briefly open the shower faucet to drain any residual water from the lines.

Besides a screwdriver and pipe wrench, are there any other tools or materials I might unexpectedly need for this project?

It's helpful to have a utility knife for removing old caulk around the escutcheon plate, a small wire brush for cleaning old threads, and maybe some plumber's putty or silicone sealant for sealing the escutcheon plate upon reinstallation. A flashlight can also be useful for inspecting tight spaces behind the wall, and a basin wrench might be needed for hard-to-reach nuts.

How challenging is a shower diverter valve replacement for a beginner, and how accurately should I budget the '3 hours' estimated time?

This project is generally beginner-friendly as it primarily involves unscrewing and re-screwing components, not extensive plumbing work. While 3 hours is a good estimate, allow extra time for unexpected issues like stubborn corroded screws or parts, or the need to retrieve a specific replacement part. Patience and careful observation are key to staying on track.

What are the most common mistakes DIYers make when installing a new diverter valve, and how can I avoid them?

A common mistake is not fully shutting off the water supply, leading to unexpected leaks. Another is overtightening plastic components, which can cause cracking, or undertightening threaded connections, leading to leaks. Always apply plumber's tape correctly (clockwise on male threads) and test for leaks thoroughly after installation by slowly turning the water back on and inspecting all connections.

Transcript
Hide

Let's go turn our water back on and see how she does. Alright, let's see if we can make this work. See if you guys can hang out in the shower with me. Boy, if my wife finds out that I'm putting myself in the shower on YouTube. Oh, she'd be so jealous. I'm gonna turn the shower head back into the corner so it's not spraying on us. So now it's off. So that's on. We got flow anyway. Almost seemed like it hesitated for a second but it made the air lines. So that's on full cold. Now we'll crank it full hot. We'll see if it warms up or not. It's gonna take about a minute to warm up so I'll turn you back on. Alright, I can feel it starting to warm up now. That's comfortably hot. That's enough that you take a good hot shower. Getting hotter. Getting more towards, I would say, you know, venturing on the uncomfortably hot line. Which with your hands is a little easier sometimes. You know, you guys are learning that obviously. Getting in a shower or a test of temperature with your hands feels good when you step in. It feels like you're in a scorcher because you just get more of it there. Yeah, that's plenty hot. Yeah. That'll do. Turn it off. No drips. No drips. There's a little bit of dripping maybe just from the shower head itself. But not like before. You guys saw it before, steady drip all day every day. So it's early, but I call it fixed, call it done.

Auto-generated transcript. May contain errors.