How can I troubleshoot and fix a Moen shower that won't divert water to handheld shower head
I have a Moen shower only set up with fixed shower head and handheld shower mounted on perpendicular wall. No body jets. There are two handles. The lowest one turns on the water by pulling out the lever and regulates temperature by rotating the same level. The highest one has a shorter handle and diverts water from fixed shower head to handheld and back. The cover plate has three indented dots between 12 and 2 on a clock face, one at 5 and one at 8 on a clock face. When lever moved to top three dots, water only comes out of fixed shower head. When set at 5 pm dot, still only from shower head, when set at 8pm dot water comes out of handheld only. Can get water to come out of both if set lever between 8 and 11 on the clock, even though no dots. While using shower on handheld setting only a few days ago, the water suddenly just stopped coming out of handheld. You can hear and feel water pressure at same wall where transfer valve is, no water in hose to handheld at all. When the water stopped, it stopped abruptly, like something jammed. Now, if you kind of jiggle it around, a trickle comes out of handheld, but nothing more. I can't figure out parts or model info from Moen site so can't tell if the valve is three way diverter, posiTemp, etc. also, handled hose is attached to shower wall, not to fixed shower head. Also, water temp lever now has to be set further into hot zone to get same water temp as before. We have two water heaters, total 150 gal, water pressure seems lower than in past but hard to be certain. Having trouble figuring out difference between a diverted and a transfer valve, if any, and if different which one is the likely one I have and can it be repaired or replaced? Need help figuring out what to replace or fix, and how to do it - prefer not to call plumber if only requires correct parts and medium skill with tools. Any assistance appreciated.
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Couple of ideas: If you don't get water at all first check to see if the shut-off valves are open. If so, close them and remove and clean the cartridge. If water comes from the spout and not the shower head, make sure the diverter (the handle on the tub spout) moves up when you pull it. If that works, remove and clean the shower head since there might be debris blocking the water flow. Without
more info this is my best guess.
You will have to replace the shower diverter button. Remove the handle, remove the faceplate, and the diverter will screw out. Any plumbing supply that carries Moen products will have a replacement button for your valve
If you have hot water elswhere in the bathroom but not the shower head then the diverter valve in the handle for the tub is most likely bad and needs replaced. The diverter is also called an anti scauld valve, it mixes the hot and cold water to prevent scaulding you in the shower
If you pull the silver knob on the tub spout up, the diverter located located inside will redirect water up to the shower head and when lowered it will return the water to the tub spout. It sounds as thought the diverter is not working properly. Hope this helps..
Sounds like diverter valve which is your shower handle valve is bad take it apart and check out and replace it if possible because that transfer water to shower head.
the diverter is stuck. you have to move it up and down to free it up. the diverter is the mechanism attached to the tub spout that switches the water from shower to tub. you may also need a new diverter if fiddling with it doesn't work.
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