Kyle TuckerWe depend on our water systems to work correctly on a daily basis. But what if we go to take a bath and water also comes out of our shower head or vice versa. Obviously, something is not right.
Water coming out of both your faucet and shower head at the same time not only wastes water but is a sign of other problems. You’d be surprised to know how common this issue actually is.
Whether you feel you set up your shower or tub incorrectly or this issue seemed to come out of nowhere, this article can help. We will cover all the reasons why this problem occurs along with all the information you need to fix this issue.
Why Does Water Come Out of Shower Head and Tub Faucet at the Same Time
Diverter Stem Issues
The diverter stem, as its name suggests, is tasked with diverting water to your bathtub’s faucet or shower head. The diverter stem activates when you turn on your shower, stopping water flow to your bath’s faucet and sending it to your shower.
If your diverter stem gets damaged or just gives out over time, it will not be able to do its job. Resulting in water coming out of both ends. In addition, the valve that controls the diverter stem can also go bad, giving you the same result.
Incorrect Installation
If you just installed your bathtub and shower system and have water coming out of both ends, your installation is most likely the cause.
The most common mistake is installing your faucet upsidedown. The control valves connected to your faucet have arrows on them, and the valve for your shower should be pointing up while your bathtub faucet should be pointing down.
Another installation error lies in the height of your bathtub’s faucet and your shower’s riser. If the faucet is too high or the riser is too low, your water will be unable to flow correctly between your bathtub and shower.
Purchasing The Wrong Tub Spout
North America, Canada, and Europe all have different plumbing standards. As a result, many beautiful faucets you can purchase from other countries will not properly hook up to your system.
Buying the wrong bathtub spout can result in a poor connection between the faucet and your plumbing, leading to water running out of both your shower and bathtub.
Buying an incompatible spout may leave you unable to connect your faucet at all due to the new spout being too short or your wall opening being too small.
High Water Pressure
Though unlikely, it is possible that high water pressure can force water out of a tub’s faucet and shower head simultaneously.
If the more common causes of water running out of both ends do not pan out, looking into your water pressure might solve this issue.
Bathtub Spout Issues
Your bathtub’s faucet or spout can be a common cause of this issue. If your tub’s faucet becomes clogged with debris, it will not be able to turn off all the way. So when you activate your diverter, water will head to the shower, but some will still come out of your bathtubs faucet.
If debris is not clogging your faucet, then it may be rust which is making it hard to completely close your faucet allowing water to continue to flow through it.
Other times if your bathtub spout is not working correctly, water can build up in it and end up exiting through the shower’s riser.
How to Fix Water Coming Out of Shower Head and Tub Faucet Simultaneously
Repairing or Replacing a Diverter Stem
Depending on the model, you can find your diverter stem in two places. New models have the diverter connected to the bathtub spout, while older models are connected to the shower. In any case, be sure to turn off your water supply before attempting any repairs.
After removing your tub’s faucet or shower head, you will have access to your diverter. However, since it rests inside your wall, you may have some trouble accessing or inspecting it.
If the damage to your diverter is a minor leak, you can use a water weld type product to patch up any leaks. But if your diverter shows any signs of serious damage, it should be removed and replaced.
Proper Installation
You should first check your control valves and make sure the arrows are facing the proper direction, up for the shower valve and down for the bath valve.
If you installed the control valves properly, you should check the height on your bathtub faucet and shower riser to make sure they fall within the manufacturer’s specified recommendation.
Recommendations vary by manufacturer, but in most cases, your shower riser should be 40 inches, and your bathtub faucet should be 4 inches above the edge of the tub.
Choosing The Right Tub Spout
If you bought a faucet manufactured in a country outside of your own, you likely choose the incorrect spout.
Hopefully, you kept your receipt and can return your faucet and exchange it for a faucet that adheres to the plumbing specs in your local region.
Doing some research and asking manufacturers or hardware store employees can aid you in purchasing the faucet that suits your water system best.
Resolving High Water Pressure
If you find that high water pressure is causing water to come out of both your shower head and bathtub faucet, there are a few easy solutions.
By finding the valve that controls your water pressure, you can reduce its value bringing your water pressure down. You can also install a water pressure regulator, which can further reduce water pressure.
Fixing Faucet Spout Issues
Fixing your faucet’s spout revolves around inspecting your faucet and determining whether clogged debris, water runoff, or rust is the cause of your problem.
You can remove your faucet and run your water to see if any runoff is occurring. You can use a plumbers snake to check your faucet’s plumbing for clogs.
Through a visual inspection, you can check for rust. You can use chemical products to get rid of rust, but your best option is to replace your faucet and any rusted plumbing if the rust is severe.
