A dripping showerhead, sudden temperature swings and a stiff handle almost always point to a worn or mineral-coated cartridge inside the valve, and a cartridge swap often fixes it without opening the wall. A cracked valve body, a discontinued model or a leak behind the tile is a bigger job. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in San Diego who can find the cause and fix the valve.
Reading the symptoms
| What happens | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Showerhead or spout keeps dripping after shutoff | Worn cartridge or seals |
| Water turns hot or cold when another fixture runs | Pressure-balancing spool stuck or scaled |
| Not enough hot water at full turn | Rotational limit stop set too low, or a cartridge problem |
| Handle is stiff, loose or spins freely | Scaled cartridge or stripped stem |
| Weak flow from the head | Clogged showerhead, scaled cartridge or a supply restriction |
| Stains or soft drywall behind the shower wall | Leak at the valve body or its connections |
Scale inside the wall
San Diego's City-treated water is hard, averaging about 13.8 to 14.2 grains per gallon in the City's water quality report. A shower valve mixes hot and cold water, and heated water drops minerals even faster. Over time, deposits lock up the pressure-balancing parts that protect you from scalding, wear the seals that stop drips, and clog showerhead nozzles. Descaling the head is easy to do yourself, but scale inside the valve usually means a new cartridge.
Older homes and hard-to-find parts
Roughly half of San Diego homes were built before 1980, and many still have their original two- or three-handle shower valves. Parts for some older models are hard to find. When a cartridge or stem is no longer made, the choice is between a rebuild with whatever parts are available or replacing the valve. Replacement means opening the wall, so a plumber will often try to work through the access panel or from the back of a closet when the layout allows.
Permits for valve replacement
The City of San Diego Development Services Department requires a Plumbing/Gas Permit for alteration, addition or replacement of a plumbing system. A cartridge swap is routine maintenance, but if the valve body itself is replaced, ask the plumber whether a permit applies to your job.
What affects the cost
A cartridge replacement is a fairly contained job. The price rises with discontinued parts, access through tile or stone, a new valve body, and the wall repair afterward. Ask the plumber to confirm whether the cartridge alone will solve it before agreeing to open the wall, and get the quote in writing.
Shower Valve Repair questions from San Diego homeowners
Why does my shower turn cold when someone flushes a toilet?
Can a shower valve be fixed without tearing out tile?
Why does my shower keep dripping after I turn it off?
Do I need a permit to replace a shower valve in San Diego?
Related plumbing services in San Diego
Shower Valve Repair in nearby cities and towns
San Diego County
Sources
Last updated: