Well, That's This Weekend Gone...

[Jay 2K Winger]

So my shower is leaking.

It had started with just the occasional bead welling up and dripping out. I ignored that. Occasionally, it'd come out as more of a brief dribble, but again, I didn't see it as anything worth immediate attention.

Then it started leaking constantly earlier this week. Dripping water. And it was warm water. I figured I'd bring it up this weekend with the folks so we could discuss getting it fixed.

Then on Wednesday morning, it was leaking much more heavily, and the water was noticeably hotter. I figured "Okay, this should definitely get addressed." But the stream it was leaking seemed smaller when I shut off the shower after my morning ablutions.

Then Wednesday evening when I got home from work, my room was very warm and the bathroom was like a sauna. It was as if the shower hadn't gotten shut off. I cracked a window in my bathroom and shut the door to it to try to keep the heat minimized in my room. Mom called up to my room about 2:30 in the morning to ask what was going on, because she could hear the shower going. She wasn't happy and let me know about how I should have said something sooner and I went down to the basement and shut off the hot water at the water heater.

I woke up earlier on Thursday and so my weekend basically began. I did some research on fixing this kind of thing, and went to the hardware to buy a new O-ring for the showerhead. Shut off the water main to the house, removed the head, got the old O-ring out (which hadn't been replaced since the house got built 15+ years ago), soaked the head in boiled vinegar to clear mineral deposits out, and then replaced the showerhead. Nope, still leaking.

I consulted my research and figured it might be the cartridge, but after working all morning, I realized that I didn't have the right tool and/or knowledge on how to properly remove it. So it would probably need a plumber. But I decided I'd try one more possible fix and decided I'd replace the showerhead completely with a new one, which only cost about $5. Alas, it still leaked.

So we'll have to call a plumber. Alas, my room is absolutely messy with assorted stuff. I'd been putting off cleaning it for months. Years in some cases. Now I had to clean it up so the plumber had clear access to the bathroom.

I called out of work on Thursday-- back when I thought it might be fixable by me-- and spent the day clearing out bags of stuff I don't need. Some of it went in the trash, some of it is going to be given away, some of it will probably get sold on eBay or something. And I've still got a ways to go.

Mom kept insisting it needs to be 100% clean before the plumber shows up. I successfully argued that I will clean the floor and clear a path to the bathroom (which will also get cleaned), since the plumber doesn't need my desk or the top of my dresser or my bookshelves to be neat and organized. I'll get my room cleaned up enough for the immediate needs.

Then I'll have a good starting place from which to finish the clean-up next weekend or when I can.

The size of the task ahead of me is such that I had to tell my friends "Sorry, guys, can't do stuff this weekend." And that sucks, 'cuz my friend's fiancee was going to set me up on a blind date.

Ah well. The date can happen later when schedules allow.

[csquared]

If water is running after it is turned off, it would be the valve, not the shower head.

Most of those valves only need a screw driver and a pair of pliers to fix. What is the make/model?

[Jay 2K Winger]

I see no valve. I've been over every inch of my shower stall and the bathroom around it, and nothing.

I found valves for the toilet, and for the hot and cold water in my sink, but nothing in the shower.

I'm assuming it's a Delta. But I know nothing else.

[Ironclad Alibi]

Chances are for a shower the only valve is the main valve for the whole house. That is the way my house is. Sinks and toilets have local valves, but the showers have a direct line to the main valve.

[wolfie]

While you have the water for the whole house shut off to replace the shower control (presumably the source of the leak - wore out so it wouldn't shut off fully), you might want to look into installing shutoffs. Does the plumbing to the bathroom run through an unfinished ceiling in the basement? Put valves in the risers right after they split off from the main supply pipes. If that's not an option, what's on the other side of the wall from the shower control? If it's the closet for a bedroom, you might want to consider putting in an access panel (they're prefabricated, and a standard item) with valves behind it. That way ifwhen something goes wrong again, you can shut off the shower but not the whole house.

Also, if you do install shutoff valves, ball valves are the way to go. Shutoff valves are a BAD place for compression valves - they're left untouched for years at a time, and then expected to work perfectly. Especially on the hot side, the rubber washer is likely to deteriorate over time. With a ball valve, it's a chromed ball in a nylon sleeve - quarter turn and it goes from full on to full off.

[Jay 2K Winger]

Thanks for the advice, guys, especially about possibly installing a shower valve, but I think the current plan is just for us to get the shower fixed.

Room is at "clean enough" stage (barring vacuuming, but that can be later) and the bathroom is not yet there. I didn't have enough time this morning before going to work to get it completely done.

Amusingly, as Mom was keeping Dad informed of things the other evening (he's away on his drinking golfing-with-buddies weekend), and she explained how the hot water's been shut off to the house. Dad goes, "Well, how am I supposed to take my shower?" Mom had to remind him, "This is not just about you," before explaining he'll have to turn the hot water on before showering, and then turn it back off when he's done.

[csquared]

"Delta" valve/water control is what I was asking about, not a shutoff valve.

While you have already said that you will hire someone, here is a good link for anyone who is interested in what it take to repair a leaking Delta valve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyUaPOBcuLY



Good luck!

[Jay 2K Winger]

So a follow-up to this thread...

A couple days before we called in the plumber, my toilet stopped working right. The tank wasn't refilling like it used to and so the bowl wouldn't drain quite properly. I gave my Dad a heads-up over it and used the toilet down the hall if I needed to go.

We called in the plumber last week on Friday, and he got the toilet fixed easily, but the shower issue appears to be with the valve, which is behind the wall. Since plumbers now apparently don't go in through the tiles, this meant he needs to go through the drywall-- which is in my closet.

My closet, which was part of my room that I didn't clean up, not realizing he might need access to it. My closet, which I haven't cleaned properly in years.

The plumber capped the shower, so it's not leaking anymore, and told Dad if we call them back in within the month, they'll waive the call-out fee for the second trip.

So I spent last weekend and Thursday this week cleaning out my closet. Bunch of stuff dating from as far back as 2006 got tossed if it had no sentimental value, and other stuff got moved to the guest room or tossed onto my desk (which will get cleaned another day).

Now the only things that are in my closet are the clothes on the rack, which can get moved on the day easily.



...of course, right now, our attention is less on my shower and more on Mom's recent medical issues, but that's a subject for another thread.

[Jay 2K Winger]

Final update to this.

Dad scheduled the plumber in for Thursday last week. Day-of, I got up early, did some spot cleaning to move stuff out of the way for the plumber, vacuumed in the closet, then moved my clothes out of the closet and into my sister's room (she doesn't live here anymore, so she won't care).

Plumber came, cut a hole in the drywall, did what needed to be done and even installed a new shower head and handle. But plumbers don't typically have the equipment to hand to replace a hole in the drywall, so that left a nearly foot-square hole in my closet wall.

I still showered in the hall bathroom on Friday, to give the caulk time to finish setting. After I went to visit Mom at the nursing/rehab facility where she's getting her knee worked on, I swung by the hardware store to buy an access panel, which I'll be installing very soon.

[Kogarashi]

Access panel in case the plumbing needs to be accessed again? Sounds like a good plan.

[Javarod]

Access panel in case the plumbing needs to be accessed again? Sounds like a good plan.

Definitely a good plan, while its rare for houses to have them, it is common to add them after a job like this for obvious reasons. Had i gotten to the thread earlier, i would've pointed out the location, which might not've been of much help.

[Jay 2K Winger]

Yup. Panel I bought can be either installed to be flush with the wall, or have a part that sticks out slightly, with the "flat" side against the wall. I'll be installing it so it sticks out, since otherwise, I have to do more cutting into the drywall to make the panel fit.

Let's see-- measure, cut, and then install, or just get four screws and a power tool to install...

No brainer.

[dalesys]

... No brainer.

Are you bragging that you're fully equipped?

[Jay 2K Winger]

Are you bragging that you're fully equipped?

I use my brain for more than just keeping my skull from collapsing.

[XCashier]

I'll be installing it so it sticks out, since otherwise, I have to do more cutting into the drywall to make the panel fit.

And in case, heaven forbid, you have another plumbing problem, it'll be a lot easier to get to the pipes.