Ron Hazelton

How a Bath Diverter Spout Can Make Bath Time Easier (Especially for Pets!)

Savers

Bathroom

Plumbing Techniques

HOUSE DOCTOR TRANSCRIPT

“Bath Diverter Spout” from 601-96

RON

Well, this is Jake and this is Jake's master Martha. Hey Martha, how are you doing?

JANE

Fine, how are you?

RON

Now Martha asked me to come over and give her a hand trying to figure out a better way to give Jake his bath. What's been the problem?

JANE

I have a shower but it's not convenient to give him a bath in there and so when I do it in the bathtub I have to use a bowl and it's hard not to slop water on the floor, and so I thought it would be nice to have some detachable unit, you know, a shower head I could use in the bathtub.

RON

Okay, let's see if we can come up with a solution.

Well, I think I have a solution to Martha's problem and that's this new tub spout right here. Now this looks like a normal tub spout with a diverter right here. Normally you'd pull this up and the water would be sent up to the shower, but in this spout when you pull this up the water is diverted to this side valve. To this I'm planning to attach a hose with a quick disconnect fitting. It snaps on just like that, and on the end of this hose is a hand shower so that when she's finished washing the dog all she's got to do is disconnect this and she's back to a conventional tub valve.

Now remember she doesn't want to put a permanent shower in here because she already has one on the other side of the bathroom so this will probably be the perfect solution.

Now to install this we first have to take off the old tub spout right here. Now in this case because of the way it's shaped we could use a wrench on here. It wouldn't matter if we scratched it because we're not going to be using it again. But most of these are actually round and you can't really get a good grip on them with a wrench. What you can do to take them off is in some cases cut off a length of broomstick and put it right up here on the end of the nozzle and use it as a lever. Or in our case we're going to use a screwdriver because this is so small in here I can't fit the broomstick in. So we push this up in here, get a grip on it, and then we'll use that screwdriver as a lever to take this off.

Now as you can see this spout is screwed on to a short pipe nipple right here. But look at this. You see how far up inside the female threads are on this? Here's our new spout right here. These threads are right back at the rear so we're going to have to put a shorter nipple in here which means getting this one out. Now this should come out with a pipe wrench. It's a little bit

tight. There we go. It is loosening up. I want to show you something here. Sometimes you kind of, this puts the fear of God on you trying to take one of these old nipples out because you're afraid it might break off up inside the wall. If that should happen, you can get that broken nipple out with this tool right here. It's called a Pipe Nipple Extractor. It's got a left-hand thread on it so as you put it in here and you turn it, that is to unscrew it, it actually tightens up inside the nipple. All you do is put an adjustable wrench on the end here and you can back out that broken nipple just like this. Again, the place you want to use this is if you happen to break that off up inside the wall.

Here's our new nipple. As you can see, it's quite a bit shorter than the one that we took out. Anytime you use a threaded fitting like this, you've got to seal the threads. There are two ways to do that. One is with Teflon tape like this which just sort of wraps around threads. Let me get my fingers out of the way here. There we go. Usually about three wraps. One, two, three. That's good enough. You can sort of pull this off. This will make a good tight seal now between the threads of this fitting and the one that we're screwing this into. Let's go ahead and turn that in like so.

These threads out here, we're going to do a different way. This is called a Pipe Thread Sealant. It's kind of a paste. You just brush this on with a brush. I think this is a little bit easier to use myself. I also prefer this for any fittings that are going to carry gas.

You just brush it on like that all the way around. Then on to that, we'll screw our new spout.

Of course, we want to snug this spout up. This one too is a little bit too small to use the broom handle as you can see. I'm a bit concerned about using a screwdriver in this one. It's so much shallow and I'm afraid that it might chip out the edge right here.

We're going to use instead the handle of a wrench which is what the manufacturer suggests. It goes right in the spout. We'll turn this until we get it nice and tight. Of course, with the spout, point in the downward position.

Now when it's time for Jake's next bath, all Martha has to do is to snap the quick-connect fitting on the tub spout, turn on the water, and pull up the shower diverter. When she's finished, she can simply disconnect the hose from the spout and put it away until it's time for Jake's next bath.

From the archives of the House Doctor

Bath time should be simple. Whether you're washing your dog, rinsing off muddy boots, or giving a toddler a quick scrub, the bathtub should be the most convenient place to do it. But for many homeowners, the standard tub setup just doesn’t cut it. That’s where a bath diverter spout can completely change the game.

In this episode, Ron visits Martha, a pet owner who finds that giving her dog Jake a bath was anything but relaxing.^.With only a standard bathtub and a fixed showerhead, she was stuck using a bowl to rinse him, leading to water slopping all over the floor and a very damp, unhappy experience for everyone involved^.

Inspired by Martha’s real‑world scenario, Ron shows us why a diverter spout works, why it’s such a smart upgrade, and how the installation process looks in real life.

See step by step instructions below.

What is a Bath Diverter Spout?

A bath diverter spout is a specialized bathtub faucet that contains a valve mechanism to redirect the flow of water. Its primary purpose is to switch water between the tub spout and another outlet, most commonly a handheld sprayer.

A bath diverter spout is essentially an attachment to your current setup. If you're planning a full hardware refresh, you might also want to learn how to install a shower head to ensure your entire system is leak-free and updated.

Why Upgrade Your Bath Diverter Spout?

In Martha’s case, upgrading to a bath diverter with a handheld attachment helps with bringing the water source directly to your pet, so you can thoroughly rinse thick fur and reach sensitive areas like the belly and paws without getting yourself—or the entire bathroom—soaked. This setup allows you to keep water away from their eyes and ears, and many models even feature a "pause" button for one-handed control, helping you keep a steady hand on a nervous pet while saving water during lathering.

Another reason to upgrade to a bath diverter is because it helps conserve water. It brings the water directly to where it will be used, making it functional and efficient.

Tips for Choosing the Right Bath Diverter Spout

When shopping for a diverter spout, check whether your plumbing uses a slip‑on or threaded connection.

Research the material quality of the specific bath diverter spout that you are looking to purchase. Keep in mind that brass spouts last longer than lightweight metal or plastic.

If your primary goal is washing pets or kids, look for spouts with a built-in side outlet or a "quick-connect" port. This allows you to snap a handheld hose on and off in seconds without having to unscrew your main showerhead.

Match your finish (Brushed Nickel, Chrome, Matte Black) to your existing handle and showerhead. Even "Chrome" can vary between brands, so sticking to the same manufacturer (like Moen, Delta, or Kohler) ensures the metals don't clash.

How to Replace a Tub Spout With a Bath Diverter Spout

Step 1

Remove the Old Tub Spout

Because the old spout had flat sides, Ron could use a wrench without worrying about scratching it. However, your spouts might be round, in which case you can insert a broomstick or screwdriver into the spout opening and use it as a lever.

Step 2

Remove the Existing Pipe Nipple

In the video, Ron discovered that the old spout was threaded onto a longer pipe nipple, but the new spout required a shorter one, so the original nipple had to be removed. Ron used a pipe wrench to back it out, and he also demonstrated a backup tool—a pipe nipple extractor—to show how you could remove the nipple if it ever broke off inside the wall.

Step 3

Install New Nipple & Thread Sealing

Once the old nipple is out, it’s time to install the shorter replacement. Thread sealing is essential to prevent leaks. There are two common methods; Teflon tape which is wrapped around the threads 2–3 times or Pipe thread sealant, a paste brushed onto the threads.

Both work, but many professionals, including Ron, prefer thread sealant for gas lines or fittings that need a more robust seal. After applying your sealant of choice, screw the new nipple into the wall fitting until snug.

After preparing the threads, Ron screwed the new diverter spout onto the nipple and tightened it by inserting the handle of a wrench into the spout opening, following the manufacturer’s recommendation. He turned the wrench until the spout was snug and properly aligned in the downward position.

Now, when it’s time for a bath, you can snap the quick‑connect hose onto the side port. And, when finished, you can disconnect the hose and store it for the next time!

Step 4

Enjoy Your Upgraded Bath Diverter

Sometimes the simplest home improvements make the biggest difference. A bath diverter spout with a side outlet and detachable hand shower can transform your bathtub into a versatile, user‑friendly washing station.

For Martha and her dog Jake, it meant stress‑free bath time. For you, it might mean easier cleaning, happier kids, or a more functional bathroom without a costly remodel. However, if your walls are looking as worn out as your old spout, you might consider taking your renovation a step further by learning how to make a new tub surround to completely transform the space.