Common Causes of a Stiff Shower Diverter Valve and How to Resolve Them

The showerhead and faucet at home are basic hardware components，but if these fundamental fittings have quality issues，they can impact our daily lives significantly at crucial moments。For instance，what should you do if the showerhead's diverter valve won't turn？

1、What to Do if the Shower Diverter Valve Won't Turn

The shower has a diverter valve that effectively switches between hot and cold water。However，if it becomes stuck，it might be due to rust at the joint。In this case，you can spray some rust remover at the connection and wait for a while。After the rust is removed，use a wrench to apply some force，and you should be able to easily unscrew the diverter valve。

It might also be that the diverter valve is jammed。If that's the case，you can try to disassemble the valve。On the side of the valve core，there is a small hole。Take a small screwdriver and loosen it a bit。Then use a handle to remove it。After removing the handle，you'll find a screw cap underneath。Use a regular wrench to turn the screw cap counterclockwise a couple of times，and you should be able to unscrew it by hand。Finally，install the new diverter valve back in place，making sure to tighten it to prevent any leaks at the connection。

2、What to Do if the Water Flow from the Showerhead is Low

When showering，some people often complain about low water flow from the showerhead。This could be due to low water pressure，especially during peak water usage hours in the evening，particularly if you live in a high-rise building without secondary pressure boosting。In such cases，installing a booster pump in your home’s plumbing can resolve the issue。

Alternatively，low water flow may be caused by buildup of debris in the showerhead，which blocks the water flow。To resolve this，simply remove the showerhead and soak it in a solution of baking soda and white vinegar for a period of time。After soaking，the blockages will be removed，and you’ll notice a significant increase in water flow。

In summary，the above content outlines how to handle situations where the shower diverter valve won’t turn and provides practical solutions for low water flow from the showerhead。