3 Signs That It Is Time To Replace Your Shower

What’s better than a nice shower after a hard day of work, play, or just plain adulting? A shower can offer so much to a weary owner, from relaxation to better health to leaving you squeaky clean and feeling pampered. A properly maintained shower and fixtures can be the entire family’s favorite place in the house.

But, over time, wear and tear will begin to show up in this popular spot, and then you’ll know it’s time to consider deep cleaning, replacing, upgrading, or maybe even a complete overhaul to get your shower back in tip-top shape and working like a champ. Here are a few signs to look for to let you know that time has come.

Sediment Buildup and Mold

Inside the showerhead is a screen to filter out some of the chemicals, additives, and debris in tap water. Even fixtures using the very best water will accumulate some sediment over time. Regularly cleaning the screen will delay the inevitable, but eventually, the sediment will collect in and around the showerhead causing major problems. When that happens, you’ll notice these signs that there is an excessive buildup in your showerhead.

• Change in water pressure — If the water pressure is low or varies, it may be caused by sediment as the water fails to push through the buildup.
• Water sprays in different directions — As the sediment builds up, some outlets in the showerhead can become completely clogged, causing the water to find other ways out and resulting in unpredictable and unplanned “water distribution.”
• Dripping — If your showerhead drips when the water is turned off, it may be sediment that’s keeping it from draining completely.

If you decide to replace the showerhead, check other appliances and fixtures like the toilet, hot water heater, and pipes to ensure the sediment doesn’t build up too quickly. You might also consider installing filters, especially if you’re on a hard water supply or well water system.

Another common problem in shower and bath areas is mold. This annoying fungus happens when proper drainage doesn’t occur and water stands for long periods. It can often be seen where grout is used and in other hard-to-reach corners and cracks. Step one would be to clean it up, and step two might be to consider a redesign that resists mold buildup.

Stains and Scale Accumulation

Hard water stains are a stubborn problem for showers, bathtubs, and plumbing fixtures. Hard water contains minerals and iron that can leave a brown stain on formerly lustrous tubs, toilets, and tile and damage showerheads. The buildup leaves scaly deposits and nasty gunk that can clog the showerhead and interfere with proper water flow, not to mention the pleasing aesthetics you’ve worked so hard to create in your bathroom.

There are ways to clean stains and remove scales, but it is far from a pleasant chore and will only remove the existing buildup in the showerhead and fixtures. It will not solve the underlying problem.

The best course of action when you see signs of scales and stains is to correct the underlying problem (like using additional filters for hard water or well water) and replace the showerhead and all fixtures that sustained staining or damage.

Cracks and Leaks

Cracks and leaks are not an uncommon problem, but they are certainly a problem that is easily ignored. Most leaks start small and get larger over time, so homeowners don’t notice a problem until it’s a big one. Even though replacing fixtures can give the bathroom a fresh look, it won’t last long unless underlying problems are resolved.

It might not be limited to just the shower, so it’s a good idea to regularly check around the perimeter on slab foundations for stress cracks or water marks or under your pier and beam home for puddles or drips. Or hire a good plumber to check your pipes for leaks regularly. Many culprits may be at the root of the leak, including roots!

• More mature trees with deep roots can creep into the underground pipes and cause problems.
• Loose grout or faulty caulk can cause leaks that grow over time. That’s easy to spot in the shower or tub.
• Fiberglass flexing, age, or something as simple as dropping something on the tile can cause cracks that produce leaks under the shower.

Make It a Priority

Small leaks can quickly become big, so don’t delay repairing the problem once you find it. Then, when the underlying problem is repaired, you can install beautiful new fixtures without worrying about the old plumbing problems becoming recurring ones.

When You’re Ready

When all the underlying problems are corrected, it’s time to start browsing for replacement fixtures for your shower. This is a great time to consider an upgrade or a facelift for bathroom decor. If you’ve been dreaming of an upgrade, take a look at the selection of gorgeous showerheads, faucets, and shower systems from Kingston Brass. With any item purchased from Kingston Brass, you can rely on their commitment to making top-quality fixtures, parts, and accessories for their customers.

The Kingston Brass five-inch showerhead with high/low adjustable arm in brushed brass is from the Victorian collection. It is available in this finish as well as polished chrome, brushed nickel, oil rubbed bronze, mat black, polished nickel, black stainless, and antique brass. (https://www.kingstonbrass.com/product/kingston-brass-ck135k7/)

If you’re looking for serious visual appeal, take a gander at the bath collections from Kingston Brass. You’ll find not only showerheads but also a wide range of products and accessories to turn your shower into a retreat. (https://www.kingstonbrass.com/collections/)

Feeling Overwhelmed?

Seem like a bit much or too big a time glut for your schedule? Never fear! Kingston Brass has you covered with great resources for ideas from their inspiration gallery, their lookbooks for quick product lookups, and handy installation guides. Kingston Brass realizes it offers an overwhelming amount of finishes for its products, so click here to get your finish swatch kit for just $2. The swash kit features a handy “dog tag” of every finish it makes for easy comparison and selection.

Still not finding what you’re looking for? Try the brand new Kingston Brass FAQ pagefor quick answers on everything from products and installation to care and maintenance and everything in between. You’re almost sure to find the answer to your question. But if you don’t, click the contact icon to get in touch with a representative.