A shower is an absolute necessity for the health, hygiene, and overall happiness of a household. 

If you’re wondering: “why is my shower lukewarm?” or not hot enough, or “why is my shower temperature inconsistent?” you may be in need of a new valve for your shower.

One client in Bay Park gave California Plumbing a call about a recurring temperature problem with their downstairs shower. When our technician Joey arrived to diagnose the issue, it was clear that it was time to replace their shower valve.

When Is It Time To Replace A Shower Valve?

It’s time to pull back the shower curtains and get down to the inner workings of your shower. Simply put, when you take a shower, the handle allows you to turn on the water and adjust the temperature as water flows out of the showerhead or faucet. The mechanism that enables all this is out of sight, behind the shower tile wall: the shower valve, which is connected to your home’s hot and cold water supply lines. 

Thus, telltale signs of a faulty shower valve are problems with the water temperature. The shower water may come out too hot or too cold—but we aren’t just making a Goldilocks fuss about the temperature not being “just right”. A broken shower valve can make a shower seem to have a mind of its own. The temperature of the shower water may not correspond at all to the temperature you set the handle to, or the water temperature may fluctuate unexpectedly. A damaged shower valve can make it difficult to turn the handle and thus change the temperature. 

Furthermore, a faulty shower valve may cause low water pressure. All of this can make it frustrating, if not nearly impossible, to take a shower in peace.

Shower valves can break down from considerable use over time, or due to corrosion and rust, which compromises the integrity of your shower plumbing system internally. Deterioration of a shower valve may allow water to continuously drip in the shower, even when the handle is turned off. This gives rise to water waste and potential water damage. 

Shower Valve Installation

Call a professional plumber as soon as you notice problems with your shower. An expert inspection will determine whether or not the valve is indeed the issue, and if it needs to be replaced. When temperature regulation appears to be the primary symptom, it is important that a plumber identify the true root cause and rule out other possibilities, such as a broken water heater. 

Replacing a shower valve involves disassembly and reassembly using certain tools. It is safest to rely on a licensed expert to perform the required steps and take the necessary precautions to prevent damage to other parts of your shower. 

California Plumbing technician Joey carefully opened up the tile wall to remove the old shower valve and solder the new valve in a watertight connection with existing copper pipes. 

Joey marked where the new Moen Posi-Temp handle and trim would be centered, ensuring alignment with the shower valve and visual symmetry with the shower tiles. He then sealed the newly installed fixture with caulking to keep water and moisture out of gaps. Once testing confirmed that there were no leaks, our job was done—parts and labor included.

Too Hot? Too Cold? Call California Plumbing  Today  

California Plumbing will get to the bottom of any plumbing issue and make things just right! 

Call us today to get your bathroom up and running again. 

Call Us Today: (619) 787-3443

Email Us: info@californiaplumbingsd.com