Why The Shower Isn’t Working
When the shower doesn’t work, it’s a homeowner’s biggest nightmare come to life. A lot of people can get by without showering for a day. Maybe two. But any longer than that, and the hair starts to get greasy, the body starts to get smelly, and the eyes of everyone at work, in the grocery store, or wherever else start to follow that person. Not having a working shower can be truly uncomfortable, but there are steps homeowners can take to make sure it never happens again.
First and foremost, make sure that the water bill has been paid! If the bill is late or short, this is basically a 100% chance that the water will stop working. Not just in the shower, but everywhere in the house! If the water bill is current, here are the prevention steps a homeowner should take.
Understanding Bathroom Plumbing
In the ecosystem of bathroom plumbing, everything is connected. The toilet, the shower, and the sink may appear to be separate entities, but they aren’t. Of course, they aren’t all piled on top of each other.But once the walls and the floors start to get pulled back, it’s clear to see that they are, in fact, connected. Each plumbing mechanism has its own pipe to start.
The toilet has the largest drain and pipe, as expected, and the shower and sink also have their own drains and pipes too. But a little further down the line, those pipes meet. They combine into one pipe that eventually leads to the main sewer line beneath the home.
Clean the Shower to Avoid Clogs
One of the most common reasons for a shower to stop working is a clog in the showerhead. Plumbing clogs are typically caused by something that got washed or flushed down a drain that wasn’t supposed to go down the drain. But nothing goes into the showerhead except for water, so how does it get clogged?
Over time, mineral deposits from the water cand build up and cause a series of problems. It can cause low water pressure, it can cause water to spray in all directions if the deposits are covering a portion of the holes, or it can clog up completely to the point that no water can come out. If any of these reactions start to occur, it’s a sign that you need to clean the showerhead.
Check for Leaking Pipes
Oh, leaking pipes. They are a culprit of many plumbing problems, including a malfunctioning shower. When the inner pipes start leaking, this can lower the water pressure and prevent water from coming out of the showerhead.Because the pipes are not visible from standing in the shower, this problem can be harder for a homeowner to diagnose. Therefore, homeowners should check the simple things that could be causing the shower to stop working.
Examine the showerhead to determine if it’s clogged. Check to see that the flow valves (often located under the sink) are open and working. If after these checks, the source of the problem still can’t be identified, it’s likely a leaking pipe that needs to be fixed by a professional.
About Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air
Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air knows that their success is truly measured by how well they take care of their customers and their homes. This is why they take great pride in delivering not only the best workmanship possible but the best in personal attention as well.
They take the time to provide customers with detailed explanations and recommendations, so customers can make the best decision for their homes when it comes to bathroom remodels, drain & sewer services, and HVAC services.
