Why Won't the Diverter Switch to the Hand Shower?

When the diverter will not switch to the shower, or water comes out of the spout and the shower at the same time, start with the two quick fixes before assuming a part has failed: turn the water fully off with the handle and back on again, and on the 2-piece faucet, relieve the air lock that makes the diverter button stick in. If water still flows from two outlets at once, or the diverter will not hold its position, the diverter valve has worn and is a stock part matched from a photo of your faucet.

Likely Causes

• An air lock in the hand shower hose, which keeps the 2-piece diverter button stuck in the closed position after the water is turned off.
• Mineral build-up inside an older 2-piece diverter, which makes the button so sticky you need pliers to pull it out.
• A worn diverter valve, which lets water out of both outlets at once or will not divert at all. The diverter valve guide covers identification and replacement.
• On a shower column, the diverter selects one head at a time by design.

What to Check, in Order

1. Cycle the water. Turn the faucet off completely with the handle, wait a moment, and turn it back on. On most tubs the diverter responds again.
2. 2-piece faucet with the button stuck in: unscrew the hose from the handset, remove the small plastic restrictor to relieve the air lock, watch the button snap back, and screw the hose back on. Nothing on the faucet needs to come apart.
3. Older 2-piece faucet that sticks repeatedly: remove the escutcheon, take out the whole diverter valve, soak it in rubbing alcohol or a descaler, and reinstall it.
4. 5-piece faucet: the diverter is the middle lever between the red and blue handles. If water flows from both outlets or the lever will not hold, the complete valve is replaced. One port is standard thread and the other reverse thread, so the hoses only fit one way.
5. Thermostatic faucet on a chrome deck plate: there are two diverter valves, one with a spout diagram and one with a sprayer diagram on the cap, so note which one you need.
6. Only a trickle from the hand shower: the hand shower is limited to 1.9 gallons per minute by design, so it always flows far slower than the spout. If it is a true trickle, check the hose connections and washers. The hand shower guide covers the hose and its washers, and the shower column guide covers the column's own diverter.

The video shows the stuck button, the hose coming off the handset, the restrictor being removed so the button snaps back, and the hose going back on. Watch: Ellas Bubbles: Two Piece Faucet Airlock Issue with a full transcript.

When to Open a Ticket

If cycling the water and the air lock fix do not bring the diverter back, open a ticket with your serial number, a photo of the top of the valve with the handle removed, a wider photo of the faucet on the deck, and a short video of the symptom. The team matches the diverter valve to your set from the photo. Replacements come through your Ella dealer or the team at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850.

Related Guides

• How Do I Use the Hand Shower in My Ella Walk-In Tub?
• Can I Switch My Walk-In Tub From a 2-Piece to a 5-Piece Faucet?
• How do I remove mineral build-up inside a 2-piece faucet diverter?

Common Questions