Shower Repair — Valve, Diverter & Fixture Issues

A shower that drips all night, runs lukewarm no matter how far you turn the handle, or won’t send water up to the showerhead. Most of these come down to the valve inside the wall. A lot of them are fixed by rebuilding that valve, and some rebuilds are less invasive than others. If tile has to be cut to get to the valve, we can do that too, and we’ll tell you before we start.

Ray’s Rescue Plumbing diagnoses and repairs shower valves, cartridges, diverters and trim for homeowners across Sonoma County. We tell you plainly whether a repair or a replacement makes sense, with the price before any work starts.

Same-day service available. Mon–Fri 7am–5pm, emergency calls taken. CA License #1112228.

★★★★★ Rated 5.0 on Google from 145+ Sonoma County homeowner reviews

Call or Text (707) 596-3095 Text Us a Photo

First: Is It Just the Shower, or the Whole House?

• No hot water anywhere in the house: it’s not the shower. The problem is the water heater, or the gas or power feeding it. Start with our no hot water guide or see water heater repair & replacement.
• Hot water works at the sinks, but the shower runs cold or lukewarm: the shower valve is the likely cause, usually a worn cartridge or an anti-scald limit set too low. That’s a shower repair.
• Low pressure only at the shower: usually a showerhead clogged with mineral scale or a cartridge restricting flow. Low pressure everywhere in the house is a different problem. Call us and we’ll help sort it out.

Common Shower Problems and What They Usually Mean

Showerhead or tub spout keeps dripping after you shut it off

The seals inside the valve are worn. On most single-handle showers that means a new cartridge. On older two- and three-handle showers it’s usually washers, stems or seats. Left alone, a steady drip wastes a lot of water and gets worse.

No hot water at the shower only, or it won’t get hot enough

Single-handle showers have an anti-scald limit that caps how far the handle turns toward hot. If it’s set too low, or the cartridge is worn or clogged, the shower never gets fully hot even though the rest of the house does. Often a quick adjustment or a new cartridge fixes it.

Temperature jumps when someone flushes a toilet

Modern pressure-balancing valves are built to prevent this. If yours spikes hot or cold, the balancing part inside the valve may be stuck or worn, or it’s an older valve that doesn’t have one.

Diverter problems

You pull the knob on the tub spout, and water still pours out the spout, or the showerhead only gets a trickle. The diverter is worn. On many tubs that means a new tub spout. On showers with a separate diverter handle, the diverter valve needs a new cartridge or rebuild.

Handle is stiff, loose, or spins without doing anything

Mineral buildup or a worn or stripped stem or cartridge. Common in homes with hard water.

Water on the floor outside the shower, or a stain on the ceiling below

This could be the valve or a connection inside the wall, which is a plumbing repair. It could also be grout, caulk, the door or the shower pan, which isn’t a valve problem. Notice whether it leaks only while the shower runs or all the time. We’ll find which it is and tell you straight, even if the fix isn’t plumbing. See our leak repair page for leaks behind walls and ceilings.

Safe Things to Check Before You Call

• Check hot water at a sink. If the sinks are hot and the shower isn’t, it’s the shower valve.
• Clean the showerhead. Unscrew it and soak it in white vinegar to clear mineral scale. That fixes a lot of low-pressure complaints.
• Note when it leaks. Only while running, or all the time? That tells us a lot.
• Snap a photo of the handle and trim plate. The brand name is often on the trim. It helps us bring the right cartridge and fix it in one trip.

Please don’t pull the cartridge out yourself unless you know how to shut the water off first. Many showers don’t have their own shutoff, so the whole house has to be turned off at the main. And don’t force a stuck handle. Old valve parts can snap off inside the wall.

Rebuild the Valve or Replace It?

• Rebuild or new cartridge when the valve body is in good shape and parts are available. This is the most common fix. Some rebuilds are less invasive than others. Many are done from the front, through the trim, with no tile work. Others need more room to reach the valve.
• New trim (handle and plate) when you want a fresh look and the valve behind it is compatible.
• Replace the valve when it’s corroded, leaking inside the wall, too old to get parts for, or you’re remodeling. That means getting to the valve from behind (like a closet wall) or around it. If tile needs to be cut to get there, we can do that. We’ll tell you exactly what access is needed, and the price, before any work starts.

Want new shower fixtures? We install those too. See fixture replacement.

Why Sonoma County Showers Wear Out

A lot of homes around here have hard water, especially homes on a private well. Those minerals build up inside shower cartridges and showerheads. That’s what makes handles stiff, valves drip and pressure drop. Cleaning the showerhead now and then helps. Worn cartridges just need to be replaced.

We’re based in Cotati and work for homeowners. Serving Sonoma County: Cotati, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Santa Rosa and the towns around them. Not sure if we come to you? See our service areas.

What Happens When You Call

1. Call, text or book online. Tell us what the shower is doing. A photo of the handle and trim helps.
2. We diagnose it. Valve, cartridge, diverter, or something behind the wall.
3. You get the price first. With repair and replace options explained.
4. We fix it and test it. Hot, cold, diverter and drip all checked before we leave.

Shower Repair FAQ

Why is there no hot water in my shower but there is everywhere else?

When the sinks get hot water and the shower doesn’t, the water heater is fine and the shower valve is the problem. Usually the cartridge is worn or clogged, or the anti-scald limit on the handle is set too low. Both are common repairs.

Why does my shower keep dripping after I turn it off?

The seals inside the valve are worn. On a single-handle shower that usually means replacing the cartridge. On older two- or three-handle showers it’s usually the washers, stems or seats.

Can you fix a shower valve without tearing out the tile?

Often, yes, but not always. Some rebuilds are less invasive than others. Many cartridge and valve repairs are done from the front, through the trim, while others need more access from behind or around the valve. If tile needs to be cut to reach it, we can do that. We’ll tell you exactly what’s involved before any work starts.

Do you repair showers or only replace them?

Both. If a repair will do the job, we’ll repair it. If the valve is too old or worn to fix well, we’ll explain why and give you a price to replace it.

Do you offer same-day shower repair?

Yes, same-day service is available, depending on the schedule and parts. Our regular hours are Monday through Friday, 7am to 5pm, and we take emergency calls. Call or text (707) 596-3095 and we’ll tell you when we can be there.

More answers on our FAQ page.

Other Ways We Help Around the House

• Tankless Water Heaters
• Water Heater Repair & Replacement
• Drain & Water Line Repair
• Fixture Replacement
• Leak Repair

See all plumbing services.

What Neighbors Say

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“We hired Ray 3 times now, he’s honest, down to Earth and does really good repairs.”

★★★★★

“…came out the same day. He was quick, honest, professional, and had great communication.”

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