Troubleshoot Common Shower Problems

Monday, September 25th, 2023

Showering is a crucial part of your hygiene routine. If something in your bathroom shower does not function properly, your entire schedule can feel disrupted. Even minor inconveniences with your shower can be frustrating enough to impact the rest of your day.

Fortunately, you can fix minor problems in your shower on your own without contacting a professional. But it can be useful to know when these concerns may need attention from an expert plumber. Check out four common issues you might notice in your shower along with tips from your plumber that can resolve them.

Troubleshoot Common Shower Problems

Low Water Pressure

Many people look forward to the soothing sensation of water streaming and hitting your skin, washing you clean. But if the water flow feels weak, you can feel annoyed when that low water pressure does not rinse you with that satisfying feeling. It can also make scrubbing and washing products from your hair more difficult.

In many cases, low pressure in the shower happens due to build-up on the head impeding the water stream. Check your shower head for limescale. To clean it, remove it and soak it in distilled vinegar for 30 minutes. If this does not resolve the issue, you may need to call a plumber to look for blockages deeper in your plumbing system.

Clogged Shower Drain

If you see water pooling at your feet while you shower, then water is not properly able to escape down the drain as it needs to. This may leave your feet soaking in dirty water, which disrupts the clean feeling you crave after a shower.

Soap residue and hair can easily collect in your drain and form a blockage that impedes water disposal. You may need to fish out clogs yourself. But a deeper clog may need an expert to properly dispose of the drain blockage without harming your plumbing.

Leaking Shower Head

When you shut off the faucet to your shower, do you notice that water continues to drip out of the head? This annoying dripping sound might drive you up the wall. But a constant leak of water from your shower will also hike up your utility bill.

You might need to replace certain seals or gaskets within the shower head or faucet to fix the leak. If you have not done a task like this before, you might want to trust this job with a plumbing professional.

Inconsistent Water Temperature

When you achieve the perfect, comfortable temperature setting on your shower, it can be extremely jarring if it suddenly sends a burst of hot or cold water. These disruptions to your shower can often occur if someone elsewhere in your home uses water, such as flushing a toilet.

The problem might lie with the water heater or a valve within the shower. In this case, you would need to ask a plumber for assistance. But you might also benefit from installing a high-efficiency toilet. This would stop a toilet flush from affecting other plumbing in your home.