When the pull-out hand shower hose has been disconnected, it reconnects to the hose outlet on the underside of the faucet diverter and then runs up through the hand shower holder on the tub deck. On a three-handle fast-fill faucet the diverter is the middle handle, the one that switches water from the spout to the sprayer. The hose has two different ends. The end with a plain hex nut threads onto the diverter outlet under the deck, and the end with a cone-shaped fitting seats in the holder and connects to the hand shower head. Getting those ends the right way around is what lets the hand shower sit properly in its holder.

How the Hand Shower Is Plumbed

The hand shower is fed by the faucet, not by the massage system. Hot and cold water mix at the faucet, and the diverter sends that water either to the tub spout or down a flexible hose to the hand shower. Because the hose leaves from the diverter, the connection you are looking for sits directly below the diverter handle. Faucet sets differ, which is why support asks for your model number and whether your faucet has one handle or three before pointing you to the outlet. The hand shower diverter article explains the part in more detail, and the fast-fill faucet installation guide shows how each set goes together from new.

The Two Ends of the Hose

Look at both ends of the hose before you put anything back. One end has a standard hex nut. That end connects to the diverter outlet under the deck. The other end has a cone-shaped fitting. That end is built to rest in the base of the hand shower holder, and the hand shower head connects to it above the deck. If someone has pushed the hex nut end up through the holder instead, the hose is in backwards. The cone cannot seat, the hand shower will not sit down in the holder, and the hose can stay stuck in the base. Space under the deck is tight, so it helps to confirm which end you are holding before you start threading fittings.

Reconnecting the Hose

1. Shut off the water at the supply shutoff valves your installer fitted, or at the house main if there are none.
2. Remove the access panel and locate the diverter body directly below the middle faucet handle. The hose outlet is on that body.
3. Check that the hose is oriented with the hex nut toward the diverter and the cone end toward the holder. If it was fed through backwards, pull it out of the holder and turn it around.
4. Confirm the washer is in place inside the hex nut, then thread the nut onto the diverter outlet. Hand tighten and add a gentle snug with a wrench. Do not overtighten. If the washer is missing or worn, see how to get a matching replacement washer.
5. Feed the cone end up through the holder from underneath. Reach around the back of the holder and push the hose upward until the cone seats and the top of the fitting rises into position.
6. Connect the hand shower head to the cone fitting above the deck and set it in the holder.
7. Turn the water back on, run the faucet, then switch the diverter and check under the deck at both hose ends for drips.

If the Hose Itself Is Damaged

A hose that was cut, kinked or is cracked should be replaced rather than reconnected. Replacement hand shower hoses are a parts warranty item for the original owner, and the steps are in replacing a cracked, leaking hand shower hose. Open a ticket with your model and serial number and a photo of the fitting, and the correct part ships to you under the warranty. A local licensed plumber does the labor.

Related Guides

• Hand Shower Hose and Sprayer Head Replacement, and Water Behind the Tub Near the Hand Shower
• Hand Shower Leaks at the Head or Deck: Hose Orientation, the Blue Check Valve, Washers and a Loose Mount Base
• Hand Shower Hose Leaks or Will Not Attach at the Faucet: Replacing the Brass Connector Rod

Common Questions

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.