Shower Valve Repair in Alpine, CA

Warning signs

• A drip from the showerhead that will not quit
• Flow that sputters or surges, then settles
• Temperature drifting even when no one else is using water
• A stiff handle or one that turns past where it used to stop
• Damp drywall, loose tile or a smell of mildew near the shower

What is different about Alpine

Water service in Alpine depends on where you are. According to the County's Alpine Community Plan environmental report, Padre Dam Municipal Water District serves only the central-western part of the community, and the rest of the plan area, about 81 percent of it by land area, relies on private wells or small water systems. Homes on district water get typical county water, hard enough to scale valve parts over the years. Homes on a well may also deal with sand, grit or minerals that settle inside a cartridge, and with pressure that rises and falls as the well's pressure tank cycles. A pressure-balancing valve reacts to those swings, so temperature can seem to wander even when the valve is fine.

Housing ranges widely in age. The median Alpine home was built around 1986, and about 38.1 percent date from before 1980. Older homes are more likely to have two-handle valves or early single-lever designs. Alpine is also higher and further inland than the coast, so winter nights are colder, and a valve set in an exterior wall is more exposed in a cold snap.

What affects the cost

• Repair or replace: a cartridge or stem kit is a smaller job than replacing the valve body.
• Sediment: on well water, flushing debris out of the valve adds time, and a filter upstream may be worth discussing.
• Access to the wall: a closet or exterior wall behind the shower is easier than tile.
• Travel and terrain: spread-out homes on hillside roads can add drive time.
• Permits: Alpine is unincorporated, so permits go through the County for unincorporated areas.

What happens when you call

You will be connected with an independent plumber who serves Alpine. Mention whether you are on Padre Dam water or a well, what the shower is doing, and how to reach the house. If the shower will not shut off, close the main valve or the shutoff at your well system.