Shower Head Is Not Working But Faucet Works! (Solved)

All of a sudden, you find out that your shower head is not working but the faucet works. The water supply at your home is not the problem. Is it the showerhead? Do you need to replace it?

Well, the shower head might not work, while the faucet works fine when the diverter valve is faulty. It is also possible that the shower head is clogged and requires cleaning.

Then again, the chances of a completely damaged showerhead are also not any less. You will need to observe the situation to find out the exact cause. Don’t worry, in this guide, I’m about to tell you how you can do that!

The Most Common Reason for a Shower Head Not Working While Faucet Works – Faulty Diverter Valve

If you discover a shower head suddenly stopped working, the most common culprit to doubt is a damaged diverter valve. This is also applicable to a shower head that has been working without normal pressure. Normally how do you fix a shower head without pressure?

You fix a shower head without pressure by taking out the pressure-reducing valve available inside it. And you may also try enlarging the water entering the hole of the shower head to increase the pressure. The low water pressure causes the shower to make weird noises as well. 

But if the reason is a damaged shower valve, then you won’t have the water pressure revived for longer and it will suddenly stop working. The faucet may run water as regular though.

Clear the Blockage of the Diverter

Maybe the diverter valve is not entirely damaged. But there is some blockage that is causing the valve to malfunction. In that case, you simply need to clear the blockage of the diverter. 

Consider dissembling the shower head to access the diverter and its surroundings. You can use a torch to find the build-up that is causing the blockage to clean it. Or you can use an old toothbrush to clear the blockage.

Bent or Broken Washer in Diverter

This is also a possible scenario. The washer of the diverter could be bent or even broken. And it may lead to malfunction of the shower head as the diverter valve will be unable to work. In this case, you can consider replacing just the washer.

Replacing the Diverter Valve

In case the diverter valve is completely damaged, you will need to replace it. When the shower diverter is not working, both the flow and temperature of the water are disturbed. 

So, you cannot leave it this way for too long. I have discussed troubleshooting the valve in my guide about a single-handle shower faucet that is hard to turn off.

Also, to replace a diverter valve you don’t have to spend a lot of money. As you only need to buy the new valve and replace it yourself. However, if you are considering getting help from a professional plumber, then the case is different. 

In that way, you will need to consider the complexity of the problem. And depending on that, the average cost to replace a diverter valve will be somewhere between 150 to 350 dollars. Of course, this amount will increase if there are leaky pipes and other problems accompanying them.

Clogged Shower Head Can Be the Culprit Too

A clogged shower head disrupts the flow of water. And the disruption may keep increasing. Until the shower head is unable to give any water. 

This could be one significant reason behind no water in the shower, but sinks are fine. You may also discover the shower is not working but a bath is doing all right.

So exactly how to fix the shower head not working due to a clog? You clear the clog, simple!

To fix a shower head not working due to a clog, you can use products (store-bought or DIY solutions) to dissolve the obstacle. You need to clean the shower head until the water is not coming out of the shower head properly.

To Clean a Clogged Shower Head:

Remove the showerhead from its arm by simply twisting it. You will find the exact removal mechanism in its manual, so check it out if needed. And if you don’t have it with you anymore, you can always get the manual from the respective brand’s product site.

Now in a bowl big enough for the shower head, you want to pour some white vinegar. And then soak the shower head into this.

The acidity from the white vinegar is effective yet gentle enough to break down the sediment build-up. Allow the showerhead to soak for 30-60 minutes.

You can rinse the showerhead after this. But for a deeper cleaning, use a small brush or any old toothbrush to scrub the shower head.

Finally, reattach the rinsed clean showerhead to the arm and check if it is working now.

Damaged Shower Head Is Also a Potential Cause

If you have no water in the shower but everywhere else, the shower head itself may be damaged. 

This is quite normal for a showerhead that is old enough to get an upgrade. If you think about it, showers are used almost every day. And so, at some point, it will go off even if you are a maintenance-conscious person.

Is it easy to fix the shower head or replace it? 

Well, of course replacing the showerhead is easier than fixing it. But this is not a choice you can make considering the budget element. Because replacing the head will need generous spending.

It is easy to fix the shower head if you can isolate the exact cause behind it. However, if the shower head is damaged to the point where repair is not practical, a replacement will be more of a better choice. 

If you go for a shower head replacement, after removing the old shower head consider cleaning the shower arm.

It is quite likely that the old shower head will leave some terrible scale, rust, and debris behind. So before installing a new shower head. 

Clean the inside and outside of the arm. This could be a great tip for a shower system that makes kettle-like noise. As the cleaning will make way for better water pressure, one of the main reasons for a noisy shower.

Wrapping Up

And these were the most probable reasons why your shower head is not working but faucet works. You also know how to fix the problem based on the root cause. So go ahead and give things a try.

However, it is also possible that the severity of this issue is yet undiscovered by you. And perhaps after trying to fix the issue yourself, you’ll realize this requires professional assistance. In that case, you just don’t want to leave this matter for later and call the expert right away.

That’s all for today, I will be back with more such guides soon!