Shower won't turn off?
Most showers don't have their own shutoff valve like a sink does. To stop the water, you'll usually need to turn off the main water valve for the house. In many homes it's in the garage, a utility room or a crawl space, near where the water line comes in. Some homes also have an access panel behind the shower wall with separate valves. Once the water is off, call.
Call (360) 555-0142
Common tub and shower faucet problems
Tub spout keeps dripping
A drip from the tub spout with everything off means the valve cartridge or washers inside the wall are worn. It's the same idea as a sink faucet, but the parts are reached through the wall plate behind the handle.
Water still comes out of the tub spout while the shower is on
That's the diverter, the part that sends water up to the showerhead. On many tubs the diverter is built into the spout, and replacing the spout fixes it. On others it's a separate valve or part of the main valve.
Shower handle is stuck, loose or broken
A stiff shower handle usually means a worn or scaled cartridge. Don't force it. A cartridge that breaks inside the valve body is much harder to get out. A handle that spins without doing anything has usually stripped where it meets the valve stem.
Water suddenly gets too hot or too cold
Most shower valves in homes built in the last few decades have a pressure-balancing part that keeps the temperature steady when someone flushes a toilet or runs a sink. When that part wears or clogs, the temperature starts swinging. Replacing the cartridge usually fixes it.
Can't get the water hot enough
Many shower valves have a limit stop, a small adjustable piece that sets how far the handle can turn toward hot. It's there to prevent scalding. If it's set too low, or the cartridge was replaced and the stop wasn't reset, the water never gets fully hot. If every faucet in the house is lukewarm, the water heater is the likely cause instead.
Signs of a leak behind the shower wall
A leaking shower valve can drip inside the wall for a long time before anyone notices. Watch for:
- A stain or soft spot on the ceiling below the bathroom
- Loose tiles or cracked grout around the handle
- Paint bubbling on the wall on the other side of the shower
- A musty smell that doesn't go away
- Your water bill going up with no clear reason
If you see any of these, stop using that shower and call. Water inside a wall can damage framing and cause mold.
Trim kit or full valve?
If you only want a new look, many brands sell a trim kit: the handle, wall plate and showerhead that fit the valve already in the wall. That's a much smaller job than replacing the valve itself, which means opening the wall. Replacing the valve is only needed when it's damaged, leaking inside the wall, or parts are no longer made. A pro can tell you which one your shower needs.
Shower faucets in Sultan homes
Older Sultan homes may have two- or three-handle shower valves. Those can still be repaired, but parts can be harder to find. Newer homes mostly have single-handle pressure-balancing valves from a handful of major brands. If you know the brand, mention it when you call. It helps the pro bring the right cartridge.