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Topic: Shower Faucet Diverter Not Working - No Water Flowing (Read 532 times) previous topic - next topic
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Shower Faucet Diverter Not Working - No Water Flowing
I posted a while back, so unfortunately this is a repeat. I am totally mystified as to why my shower  head does not work. The taps receive water but not the shower head. It is old but in perfect nick. All I can think of now is, well, nothing. Oh someone please rescue me.
LD 22', 1989 Custom Build. Chassis 1990 Chevy Van G30, 5.7l.
Re: Showe Head, no water.
Reply #1 –
Quote from: Mindispower  - 
I posted a while back, so unfortunately this is a repeat. I am totally mystified as to why my shower  head does not work. The taps receive water but not the shower head. It is old but in perfect nick. All I can think of now is, well, nothing. Oh someone please rescue me.

Good chance the head is plugged with calcium deposits or the dribble valve, on the rear of the shower head, has broken inside and isn't allowing water to pass.
Unscrew the shower head from the hose and see if water flows, when the shower water valve(s) are opened.
New shower heads are cheap.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Showe Head, no water.
Reply #2 –
Quote from: Mindispower  - 
I posted a while back, so unfortunately this is a repeat. I am totally mystified as to why my shower head does not work. The taps receive water but not the shower head. It is old but in perfect nick. All I can think of now is, well, nothing. Oh someone please rescue me.
Two things come to mind. Are you turning the shower head on? Assuming that's a yes, disconnect it and see if there is blockage somewhere.

You say you posted earlier. What made it start working back then, if it did?

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Showe Head, no water.
Reply #3 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
Good chance the head is plugged with calcium deposits or the dribble valve, on the rear of the shower head, has broken inside and isn't allowing water to pass.
Unscrew the shower head from the hose and see if water flows, when the shower water valve(s) are opened.
New shower heads are cheap.

Larry

Did all that. No evidence of any blockages. What I see suggests it has never been used. I am wondering if it runs on a separate line that was never provided/hooked up??
LD 22', 1989 Custom Build. Chassis 1990 Chevy Van G30, 5.7l.
Re: Showe Head, no water.
Reply #4 –
"The taps receive water but not the shower head."

I see a 'diverter' between the "taps"? Does it remain up when pulled (after the water is flowing through the "taps"?   :o
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Showe Head, no water.
Reply #5 –
Quote from: Mindispower  - 
Did all that. No evidence of any blockages. What I see suggests it has never been used. I am wondering if it runs on a separate line that was never provided/hooked up??

If water flows at the faucet, but not in the shower when the bypass buttons pulled is pulled up, I would suspect the faucet has a problem.
Have you disconnected the line from the faucet to the shower, to see if water flows, with the shower button up?

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Showe Head, no water.
Reply #6 –
I think there is a on off valve on the back of the shower head.  I discovered it after I replaced it to get an on off valve!  Go figure🙄
Rodney
1988 Mid Bath
Re: Showe Head, no water.
Reply #7 –
Hi Rodney. The diverter knob between the hot and cold valves on the sink has to be pulled up to send water up the hose to the shower head. The shower head has a shut off valve, it actually dribbles, when shut 'off'. That is to let you know the water is still turned  on at the faucets, and to let warm water flow to keep the water in the shower hose slightly warm. That fits more for a limited water shower; getting wet, cutting off most water flow while soaping up, water back on to rinse off.   RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Showe Head, no water.
Reply #8 –
Quote from: Larry W  - 
If water flows at the faucet, but not in the shower when the bypass buttons pulled is pulled up, I would suspect the faucet has a problem.
Have you disconnected the line from the faucet to the shower, to see if water flows, with the shower button up?

Larry
LD 22', 1989 Custom Build. Chassis 1990 Chevy Van G30, 5.7l.
Re: Showe Head, no water.
Reply #9 –
Quote from: Mindispower  - 

Have never found any bypass. (Maybe I missed it) The only  suggestion is on the shower head itself. I have uncoupled the hose by the taps, and still nothing. (Taps do run.) Maybe there is a hidden camera and someone is having fun at my expense. 😎😊
LD 22', 1989 Custom Build. Chassis 1990 Chevy Van G30, 5.7l.
Re: Showe Head, no water.
Reply #10 –
Quote from: Mindispower  - 
Have never found any bypass. (Maybe I missed it) The only  suggestion is on the shower head itself. I have uncoupled the hose by the taps, and still nothing. (Taps do run.) Maybe there is a hidden camera and someone is having fun at my expense. 😎😊
Quote from: Mindispower  - 
Have never found any bypass. (Maybe I missed it) The only  suggestion is on the shower head itself. I have uncoupled the hose by the taps, and still nothing. (Taps do run.) Maybe there is a hidden camera and someone is having fun at my expense. 😎😊
The bypass is the diverter about which you were asked. It's in your photo, between the hot and cold faucets. Does it move? You should be able to pull it up when the sink water is running and then the water comes out the shower head. At that time, no water runs into the sink. Have you tried this?
Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Showe Head, no water.
Reply #11 –
We have an 89 TK.  You have to pull that divertor (between the hot and cold knobs) up pretty hard in our rig to get water out the shower and not the faucet.
Jane

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
Jane & Scott
Currently have a 1989 TK  LD we did a lot of upgrades on.
Bigfoot 25RQ Twin on order with early summer 2024 ETA

Our smartphone autocorrects into very poor English.
 We disclaim the illusion of ignorance this creates as we have enough ignorance we rightly claim.
Re: Shower Head, no water.
Reply #12 –
Quote from: Chris Horst  - 
The bypass is the diverter about which you were asked. It's in your photo, between the hot and cold faucets. Does it move? You should be able to pull it up when the sink water is running and then the water comes out the shower head. At that time, no water runs into the sink. Have you tried this?
Chris

Chris, it does not budge nor turn. Time to teplace then.
LD 22', 1989 Custom Build. Chassis 1990 Chevy Van G30, 5.7l.
Re: Shower Head, no water.
Reply #13 –
Hi,            You say that the faucet does run when you turn on the hand valves. If you can't pull the diverter valve up, and it isn't moving; then it is stuck in place.  I would suspect hard water deposits have frozen it in place. Trying to find replacement parts for a 1989 is near impossible. Modern parts you do find will be just a little bit different, won't fit, and are often made more 'cheaply' now. So it is worth it to try and repair old stuff. In this case some acetic acid (Vinegar) or pool acid, good old HCL, should clean up old calcium and magnesium deposits. Hard water has dissolved magnesium and calcium. Especially when hot, and sprayed out of a hose, the Chlorine gas escapes, and Mg and Ca precipitate out into the plumbing. The white granules that come out of your water heater, if and when you flush it, are Magnesium. (some calcium, a lighter brown)
   You had this same problem months ago, so I suspect you still haven't gotten this to work. The hard part is getting the acid in to where the deposits are. In the future, (I know you bought it this way)  turn off the hot and cold water valves, leave the diverter valve up, and the shower head on, and let the water in the hose drain into the sink, before putting the diverter knob down. Yes, visitors trying to wash their hands in the sink, prefer not to get sprayed by the shower head, when they turn on a faucet!   RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Shower Head, no water.
Reply #14 –
Quote from: RonB  - 
Hi,            You say that the faucet does run when you turn on the hand valves. If you can't pull the diverter valve up, and it isn't moving; then it is stuck in place.  I would suspect hard water deposits have frozen it in place. Trying to find replacement parts for a 1989 is near impossible. Modern parts you do find will be just a little bit different, won't fit, and are often made more 'cheaply' now. So it is worth it to try and repair old stuff. In this case some acetic acid (Vinegar) or pool acid, good old HCL, should clean up old calcium and magnesium deposits. Hard water has dissolved magnesium and calcium. Especially when hot, and sprayed out of a hose, the Chlorine gas escapes, and Mg and Ca precipitate out into the plumbing. The white granules that come out of your water heater, if and when you flush it, are Magnesium. (some calcium, a lighter brown)
   You had this same problem months ago, so I suspect you still haven't gotten this to work. The hard part is getting the acid in to where the deposits are. In the future, (I know you bought it this way)  turn off the hot and cold water valves, leave the diverter valve up, and the shower head on, and let the water in the hose drain into the sink, before putting the diverter knob down. Yes, visitors trying to wash their hands in the sink, prefer not to get sprayed by the shower head, when they turn on a faucet!   RonB
So I did get the diverter to move, so thanks. When the pump does not send water, it pulses as with the shower. When I open the taps, the pump is steady. Time for me to get down and dirty and check the pipes.
LD 22', 1989 Custom Build. Chassis 1990 Chevy Van G30, 5.7l.
Re: Shower Head, no water.
Reply #15 –
Quote from: Mindispower  - 
So I did get the diverter to move, so thanks. When the pump does not send water, it pulses as with the shower. When I open the taps, the pump is steady. Time for me to get down and dirty and check the pipes.

Disassembled everything and found age had taken effect. Plastic washers had broken down and clogged the diverter. (I am still convinced it has never been used.) Either way, I believe it will be just fine now.

Thanks all. 😊
LD 22', 1989 Custom Build. Chassis 1990 Chevy Van G30, 5.7l.
Re: Shower Head, no water.
Reply #16 –

So are we to understand that you have fixed the problem? Did you replace the worn/broken parts. Is the shower now working as it should?

After 13 years of faithful service my shower faucets and shower head were showing their age. Even though everything was still functional I decided it was time to update.

That's when I purchased the fixture seen in the following link. Save yourself a lot of anguish and effort and update yours as well. You can have new equipment installed and working before the vinegar solution begins to take effect!

Amazon.com: Dura Faucet RV Tub and Shower Faucet Valve Diverter with Classic...

Of course you will need a new hose and shower head as well as the fixture but those should be readily available from several sources.   ;)   ;D

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: Shower Head, no water.
Reply #17 –

Hi Mindispower; (whatever your name) The picture that you included in the start of this thread, seems to be a replacement, and not the original faucet, nor the one included in what looks like the sink in a TK. The shower hose comes out of the back on top, with the diverter knob just in front. Like this Relaqua AL-4201W White RV Tub & Shower Diverter Faucet . This fixture sits on top of a horizontal surface, because the sink is really part of the shower enclosure.  For the midBath, and I assume other floor plans, the faucet is on the wall in the shower, and the hose comes out from underneath between the valves, as in the one presented by Steve S.
   The one I presented only comes in white, (as far as I can tell), the one you have seems to be a darker vanilla color. So where is the shower hose attached?   RonB

 (edit)   This one , more of a biscuit color, might do, if you need the faucet to fit on a wall, and the  shower hose to come out of the top.   Amazon.com: Phoenix by Valterra PF223161 Catalina 4" Bath Faucet, Biscuit:...

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Shower Diverter Faucet Not Working - No Water Flowing
Reply #18 –
I have that shower head I think, it looks the same, it’s weird because it is not obvious but the back of the shower head is like a flat dial which you have to twist to turn it on and off, meant to save water.
AlphPup
 2001 TK “Dazi”
Re: Shower Faucet Diverter Not Working - No Water Flowing
Reply #19 –
Quote from: RonB  - 
Hi Mindispower; (whatever your name) The picture that you included in the start of this thread, seems to be a replacement, and not the original faucet, nor the one included in what looks like the sink in a TK. The shower hose comes out of the back on top, with the diverter knob just in front. Like this Relaqua AL-4201W White RV Tub & Shower Diverter Faucet . This fixture sits on top of a horizontal surface, because the sink is really part of the shower enclosure.  For the midBath, and I assume other floor plans, the faucet is on the wall in the shower, and the hose comes out from underneath between the valves, as in the one presented by Steve S.
   The one I presented only comes in white, (as far as I can tell), the one you have seems to be a darker vanilla color. So where is the shower hose attached?   RonB

 (edit)   This one , more of a biscuit color, might do, if you need the faucet to fit on a wall, and the  shower hose to come out of the top.   Amazon.com: Phoenix by Valterra PF223161 Catalina 4" Bath Faucet, Biscuit:...
I do not know if it is original but strongly suspect it is.
As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
LD 22', 1989 Custom Build. Chassis 1990 Chevy Van G30, 5.7l.
Re: Shower Faucet Diverter Not Working - No Water Flowing
Reply #20 –
Quote from: alphpup  - 
I have that shower head I think, it looks the same, it’s weird because it is not obvious but the back of the shower head is like a flat dial which you have to twist to turn it on and off, meant to save water.
Yup.
LD 22', 1989 Custom Build. Chassis 1990 Chevy Van G30, 5.7l.