When stepping out of an extremely relaxing shower and the water just won’t turn off, it’s understandable that your relaxation will evaporate instantly. Not only can a shower that won’t turn off be a frustrating experience, but it is also expensive. The amount of water that gets wasted flows into your next utility bill. You could fix this by yourself or call a plumber to help you. However, the latter option may be pricey at times. Furthermore, learning certain useful skills that you can keep with you throughout life is always beneficial. Luckily, you don’t need to be a trained professional to learn how to fix this issue!
Here are our step-by-step tips on how to fix a shower that won’t turn off.
Step 1: Turn off the water supply
First things first, turn off your water supply. Doing this will prevent the water from continuing to flow out of the showerhead and causing further damage and wastage. To do so, look for the shutoff valve controlling the shower’s water flow. This valve is typically located near the showerhead, in your utility room, or behind an excess panel. Once the valve has been located and turned off, you will find that your shower water is no longer running. If it is, however, then consider turning odd the water supply to the entire house.
Step 2: Identify the cause of the problem
To be able to solve a problem, you need to be able to find its cause. Identifying it will help you determine the best course of action to take. When it comes to an issue of a shower not turning off, various causes could be possible. Some of them include the following:
If the valve that controls the water flow to your shower is damaged, it will be unable to stop the flow properly. This could be due to wear and tear that has taken place over time. Another issue could be due to the water pressure in your home. If the pressure is too high, then it can cause the valve to malfunction and prevent it from turning off completely.
Step 3: Check the shower’s parts
If your shower’s handle or knob, which controls the water flow, is broken, then this might be another culprit of your situation. This will prevent you from being able to turn it off entirely and will cause the water to keep flowing. The cartridge is a part of the valve that helps control the water flow. If broken or loose, it will prevent it from performing its job correctly and turning off the water completely.
Step 4: Fix the cause of the problem
Now that you’ve identified the cause of the problem let’s get on with fixing it! We’ll go over each problem mentioned above and the appropriate steps you should take:
A worn-out valve may be fixed only through replacement. Since it is damaged, fixing the original won’t be viable. To replace it, turn off your water supply and remove the old valve. You can purchase a new one from a hardware store and then replace the old one with it! The instructions for installation should be present with the product upon purchase. Fixing incredibly high water pressures can be done by installing a pressure-reducing valve. As the name suggests, this will aid with the reduction of water pressure, thereby stopping the water from flowing when you don’t want it to. Furthermore, the less the water pressure, the less damage can be done to your plumbing system.
Step 5: Replace the shower parts
A simple solution to fixing a broken handle or knob would be replacing it. These are also readily available at a hardware store. After purchasing them, remove your old ones and insert these in their place. The instructions should also be available when you buy the equipment. A loose or broken cartridge will need replacing to solve your issue. Purchase a new one and remove the old, defective one. After this, install the new one by following the instructions provided upon purchase!
Step 6: Test the shower
After following these steps, your shower should be good as new! But it’s always better to ensure that the problem is completely solved. Turn your water supply back on and turn the shower handle or knob, allowing the water to flow through the showerhead. Once the water flows, turn the handle back, shutting the water in the shower off. If there is no additional water dripping from the head, then congratulations! You have solved your problem. If, however, the issue continues, then call for help and allow a plumber to fix the issue for you.
