We just bought our new house, although not living there yet and we have 2 bathrooms, both with the same bathtub fixtures. I can turn the faucet one way and the bath water runs, but no matter what I do, I just can't get the shower water to work. There are no special buttons to push or levers to move.By twisting the faucet the other way, it just turns on the bath water. It just makes no sense whatsoever. Any ideas? It is a Delta Monitor from the early 90's. TIA


P.S. I've asked dh to call the realtor and ask, but you know men...he doesn't want to look stupid.

By Emily7 on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:34 am:

It depends, sometimes on the spout there is a lever that you pull up that deverts the water. Take a picture & post it.

By Babysitbarb on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:41 am:

It sounds like our shower in our first bathroom. We had to call the contractor also because we couldn't figure out how to turn it on.We can't figure out why he put two different kids in. Try looking were the water comes out and see if there is a thing you pull down there, that's how ours is.

By Kaye on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 11:23 am:

Barb that is what I was going today. Our upstairs baths have something you pull down in the faucet itself. Look where the water comes out!

By Kathy on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 11:30 am:

In the actual bath faucet is the ONLY place that we didn't look! That will be the first thing I do when we go to the new house again this weekend. If that doesn't work, I will take a picture of the faucet to see if that would help figure out the problem.

By Kate on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 02:24 pm:

I know that some odd bath fixtures have it in the DRAIN! You pull up on it or twist it or something...fiddle with the drain area and see what happens. Good luck!! I've been there in that situation with hotels and friends' houses!! Rather embarrassing cause you feel so stupid, LOL! Stupid AND dirty, LOLOL!

By Kathy on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 03:09 pm:

I looked at the drain and there didn't seem to be anything going on with it, but I didn't touch it or anything to be sure, so I will check that too. Thanks everyone. I will let you know how it goes.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 12:34 am:

Is it just one knob? No hot and cold just a single knob?? If so trying pulling it out. My grandma's tub has a single knob and you pull the whole knob towards you and the shower kicks on push the knob back towards the wall and it kicks off. And some of them tilt up and down to turn the water off and on. And some of them you pull once to run the bath and pull twice to run the shower. Turning the knob left to right to regulate the temp in all three cases.. IF it is two knobs. Hot and cold. I really don't know what to tell you.. Would have to see it.

By Kathy on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 07:44 am:

I went looking and here is the only picture I have of the faucet in the shower...hope it helps:



If I can't figure it out over the weekend, I will take a much better picture and post it. But I will try everyone's suggestions and see what happens.

By Texannie on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 08:05 am:

Have you tried pulling it straight out?

By Kaye on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 08:18 am:

If you look at the spout on the bottom you can see a ring, I think this is what you pull.

By Conni on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 08:57 am:

Yes, it looks like my boys shower. You must first turn the water on, then pull that ring down that you see where the water comes out (at mouth of spout) and twist it to lock it into place.

We have had guests take a *bath* because I forgot to tell them how to work that darn shower!!! LOL Isnt that awful! I dont prefer this type of shower fixture and wont have one in our next home.

By Janet on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 12:04 pm:

I'm just laughing at the photo with the little captions... isn't the internet an amazing place? That we can get advice the way we do, with photos (and circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was...)

By Kathy on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 12:36 pm:

Ok everyone...I can't check the shower until this weekend, but I am so anxious to. (Doesn't that sound stupid? lol) That darn ring will be the first thing I try...and if that doesn't work, I will try to push or pull the handle in and if that doesn't work, I will try the drain and if that doesn't work, I will give up and have baths the rest of my life! lol

By Texannie on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 01:05 pm:

Try to pull it OUT too!
could you get a new fixture?

By Emily7 on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 01:10 pm:

New fixtures are not hard to put in & that one looks like a huge pain.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 11:14 pm:

Yeah I would try pulling the whole knob away from the wall. If it is the shower it should move. Kind of looks like my Grand's sept hers is white not black..

Will have to let us know how it goes. LOL

By Kathy on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 07:20 am:

Yeah...I will certainly let you know who guessed correctly and who wins the big prize. ;)) Stay tuned until Monday. :D

By Rayanne on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 11:21 am:

My shower looks like yours and if I am correct, you have to pull the ring around the part where the water comes out. Hope this helps

By Kathy on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 06:51 am:

Well....here I am on Monday...and I am happy to say that I have a working shower!! YIPPEE! It was where the water comes out...I had to pull that part down.



Thanks everyone...you really helped me out.

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 10:07 am:

TADAAA! This is a perfect example of how Momsview members are so great! And why members love this board.

By Babysitbarb on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 10:45 am:

Kathy,
the place were the water comes out is just like one of ours and that's how we turn the shower on also. Like I said we had to call the contrator also because we didn't have a clue how to turn it on.We also have to show guest how to turn it on.
Glad to hear you can finally use the shower!!!

By Kathy on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 11:58 am:

Yes, Ginny! If it weren't for Momsview, I still wouldn't have a clue....serious!!!

Yeah, Barb...can finally use the shower! Actually, we aren't living there yet, but when we do, I won't have to get all frustrated not knowing how to do it! hehe

By Vicki on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 12:22 pm:

Wow, I would have never figured that out either!! My guess is a man designed that!!!

By Babysitbarb on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 02:58 pm:

Good one Vicki!
Our contractor put one of these in our one bathroom and a different kind in the other. It never made since to us why the same tub and they put two different shower fixtures.
Yes, at least you figured it out before you moved in unlike we did.