how-to-install-handheld-shower-head-diverter-guide
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How to install a handheld shower head with a diverter comes down to this: you mount the diverter, attach the fixed head and the handshower to their connections, and then turn the water on and check each joint for leaks. The exact order depends on the hardware. A combination head that threads onto a shower arm is installed differently from a deck-mount diverter for a tub faucet. This guide follows two manufacturer installation sheets, one for each type, and marks the points where those sheets say nothing you can rely on. Read your own product’s sheet before you start, because the part names and connection points may differ.
Quick answer
- Shut off the water supply before any work. Kohler’s sheet begins with “Shut off the main water supply.”
- Remove the existing head if needed. Moen’s first step is “Remove existing showerhead. Use wrench if necessary.”
- Tighten the diverter to the shower arm with a wrench, then hand-tighten the fixed head to the front of the diverter.
- Hand-tighten the hose and washers at the bottom of the diverter and the handshower, then turn the water on and check every joint for leaks.
What the diverter does in this setup
A diverter is the part that switches water between two outlets. In the Moen combination design, the diverter sits on the shower arm, the fixed head mounts to its front, and the hose from the handshower connects to its bottom. Moen’s step 4 covers the hose and the washers at the bottom of the diverter and at the handshower. The Moen sheet is written for a combination showerhead, so the diverter in that design is not the same part as the deck-mount diverter Kohler describes.
Two hardware types in the sources
The two documents describe different products, and it matters which one you have in hand. Moen’s INS10875 guide covers a combination showerhead with a fixed head and a handshower. Its parts list shows a diverter, a hose, washers and the handshower. The guide also says “Existing shower arm not included.” which means the shower arm you already have must be suitable for the new diverter.
Kohler’s 97364T-B9 is a deck-mount diverter and handshower. Its sheet describes a diverter body that goes through a hole in the tub deck from underneath, a handshower shank that goes through a separate hole, and a set of hoses that connect a tee, the diverter and the handshower. Kohler also says “This faucet has switching function only.” That means the diverter only switches water and must be paired with a bath faucet that does its own on/off and hot/cold mixing.
Before you start
- Turn off the water at the main supply. Kohler’s instructions say “Shut off the main water supply.” as the first step.
- Read the entire sheet first. Kohler’s sheet says “Carefully read entire instructions before beginning installation.”
- Check local code. Kohler says “Observe local plumbing codes.” Moen says the product should be installed with a backflow preventer where “required by the local plumbing code.”
- Check the pressure rating for a handshower. Kohler says “The highest working pressure for handshower is 0.5MPa(5bar).” and adds that “If it exceeds 0.5MPa(5bar), a pressure reducer is needed.”
- Check the thread sealing instructions. Moen says “Thread seal tape is not recommended for this project.”
Step-by-step install with a combination head (Moen INS10875)
The Moen sheet gives four numbered steps in English. Each one is short, so treat the wording as the minimum you need to follow, and check the drawings on the sheet for the matching part before you tighten anything.
Step 1: Remove the existing showerhead
Moen’s first step is “Remove existing showerhead. Use wrench if necessary.” Keep the shower arm in place, because the guide says the existing arm is not included. If the arm is loose or damaged, the sheet does not describe a repair, so address that before you install the new diverter.
Step 2: Tighten the diverter onto the shower arm
Moen’s second step is “Tighten diverter to shower arm with wrench.” The sheet calls for a wrench on this connection. It does not give a torque value, so tighten until the diverter is secure and does not turn on the arm, then move on to the next step.
Step 3: Hand-tighten the fixed head to the diverter
Moen’s third step is “Hand tighten fixed showerhead to front of diverter” with no further detail. The instruction is hand-tightening, not wrench tightening, which keeps the head from being over-torqued onto the diverter.
Step 4: Connect the hose and the handshower
Moen’s fourth step is “Hand tighten hose and washers to bottom of diverter and handheld shower.” Confirm that a washer sits in each connection before you turn the nut, because the parts list shows washers for this connection.
Deck-mount diverter steps (Kohler 97364T-B9)
Kohler’s sheet is for a different installation, and its order is different. The diverter body goes through the tub deck from underneath, after the ratchet ring, escutcheon and washer are removed and then reinstalled in a set order. The sheet says to tighten the escutcheon and then wrench-tighten the nut underneath. The handshower goes through its own mounting hole, with a rubber washer in the escutcheon groove and screws in the threaded ring.
Kohler’s sheet also installs a tee on one side of the bath faucet and a center tee for the spout, with hoses between the tee and the diverter. Those hoses are part of the kit, and the sheet says to use hoses only where it indicates. Follow the drawing for hose routing instead of reconnecting a hose you removed earlier.
Hose routing
Kohler’s sheet gives a reason for careful routing: “To ensure the water flows smoothly and the handshower can be drawn out easily” the hoses must be placed so the handshower moves freely. The sheet also says that the center tee for the spout can be turned back up to 180 degrees to ease installation.
Handle positions
Kohler describes the handle this way: “Turn diverter handle clockwise for the bath spout, turn counter-clockwise for the handspray” and the middle position for both. Check each position after installation, so you know the diverter switches the flow as expected.
Regulator
If the handshower sees too much pressure, Kohler’s sheet says a regulator can be installed in the handshower. The sheet shows the regulator as a part of the handshower assembly and says to install it “If needed,” which means it is optional for lower-pressure homes.
Comparison of the two sheets
| Item | Moen INS10875 (combination head) | Kohler 97364T-B9 (deck-mount) |
|---|---|---|
| Where the diverter mounts | On the existing shower arm, with the fixed head on its front | Through the tub deck from underneath |
| Wrench use | Diverter to shower arm | Nut underneath the deck after the escutcheon is tightened |
| Hand-tightening | Fixed head and hose connections | Not stated as hand-tightening in the sheet we opened; the checkout step asks for coupling nuts to be tight |
| Pressure note | Not stated in the sheet we opened | Handshower limit of 0.5MPa(5bar), with a regulator required above that |
| Thread sealant | Thread seal tape not recommended | Not stated in the sheet we opened |
Checks after installation
- Turn the water on and check every joint for leaks. Kohler’s checkout step says “Ensure all coupling nuts are tight. Turn on main water supply and check for leaks.”
- Repair any leak before you use the shower. Kohler’s checkout step says to repair as needed.
- Run the handshower and the fixed head separately, then check the diverter in its middle position for both.
- Look at the spray. Kohler’s maintenance section says debris or mineral build-up can distort the flow or reduce the flow rate, and it advises running water through the handshower and rubbing the nozzles with a finger to clear them.
How we chose
We limited the install steps to manufacturer installation sheets. We did not use retail listings, blogs, forums or third-party hosted PDFs for the steps. We picked the Moen INS10875 guide because it covers a combination head with a diverter on an existing shower arm, which matches the most common handheld setup. We picked the Kohler 97364T-B9 sheet because it covers a different type, a deck-mount diverter with a handshower, and that contrast shows where the steps change. Both sheets were opened on 2026-10-29 and are listed under Sources.
What we could not verify
- Torque values. Neither sheet gives a torque figure for the diverter, the head or the hose connections, so the guide does not state one.
- Compatibility with your shower arm or faucet. The sheets describe their own parts. They do not describe every thread, arm length or faucet body on the market.
- Your home’s water pressure. Kohler’s pressure limit is for its handshower. The sheets we opened do not explain how to measure household pressure.
- Whether your existing diverter or valve is safe to reuse. Neither sheet covers repair of an old diverter or valve body.
- Thread sealant for the Kohler connections. The Kohler sheet we opened does not state a sealant rule, so do not assume one.
FAQ
Do I need thread seal tape?
Moen’s sheet says “Thread seal tape is not recommended for this project.” For a Moen combination head, follow that instruction. For a Kohler deck-mount installation, the sheet we opened does not state a sealant rule, so check the sheet that came with your product.
Do I need a pressure reducer?
Kohler says “If it exceeds 0.5MPa(5bar), a pressure reducer is needed.” for its handshower. The sheet does not explain how to measure your home’s pressure, so have the pressure checked before you buy if you are unsure.
Can any diverter work with any handheld head?
The sources we opened do not say that. Kohler’s diverter is described as switching only and as needing a bath faucet with on/off and hot/cold mixing control. A combination head and a deck-mount diverter are installed in different ways, so match the diverter type to the handshower kit you have.
Does local code affect the install?
Yes. Kohler says “Observe local plumbing codes.” Moen says the product should be installed with a backflow preventer “required by the local plumbing code.” Check your local requirements before you buy or install a diverter.
What if the handshower sprays unevenly after installation?
Kohler’s maintenance section says debris or mineral build-up can distort the stream or reduce the flow rate. Its suggested first step is to run water through the handshower and rub the rubber nozzles with a finger. The sheet does not say when to replace the handshower.
Bottom line
Install a handheld shower head with a diverter by matching the sheet to your hardware, shutting off the water, tightening the diverter and the head in the order the sheet gives, and checking every joint for leaks before you use it. Moen’s combination sequence and Kohler’s deck-mount sequence are not interchangeable, and neither sheet gives torque values or pressure readings for your house. Use the instructions for your own product, and check local code before you start.
Sources
Moen, Installation Guide INS10875 (10/19), combination showerhead and handshower with diverter, https://assets.moen.com/shared/docs/instruction-sheets/ins10875.pdf (opened 2026-10-29).
Kohler, Installation Instructions, 97364T-B9 Deck-Mount Diverter and Handshower (1338449-2A-B), https://techcomm.kohler.com/techcomm/pdf/IUG_97364T-B9_1338449-2A_B1.pdf (opened 2026-10-29).
