Repair or Replace? Tips for Shower Updates

Your shower is your sanctuary. And when those shower components fail or don’t look their best anymore, it’s time to consider whether to repair or replace them.

Below, we’ll look at some common sources of problems in your shower, how to repair them yourself, and when to make the call to replace them.

Shower heads

Your shower head is a part that takes a lot of wear and tear through the years.

The nozzles in shower heads tend to accumulate minerals and build-up from water. Their surfaces also accumulate build-up and could look dull or spotted. Worst of all, your shower head may be leaking.

Shower head repair

If your shower nozzles are clogged, you can usually dislodge the minerals inside them by massaging them with your finger. You can also go at them with a stiff-bristle toothbrush: remove the shower head and soak it in a solution of water and white vinegar, then rinse it. Use the toothbrush to scrub it thoroughly.

For dull shower head surfaces, try cleaning with a non-bleach cleaner to remove soap scum and hard water build-up. This should return your shower head to its original shine, provided it’s not scuffed, or the finish hasn’t been compromised.

If your shower head is leaking, look at the O ring when it’s removed. The O ring is that small rubber ring that keeps water from leaking in the joint where the showerarm hose meets the showerhead. If the O ring is dry-rotted or damaged, buy a new one.

Use plumber’s tape to screw the shower head back on, overlapping it in the direction of tightening threads. When you replace the shower head and turn the water back on, there should be no leaking.

If there is still leaking…

It’s time for a new shower head!

Indeed, the amount of movement and water flow your shower head has to handle does not have an infinite life span. So it may be time to update your shower head.

Kingston Brass offers a huge range of long-lasting, premium-quality finishes:

• Polished chrome
• Brushed nickel
• Oil rubbed bronze
• And more

Kingston Brass also offers a full selection of both modern and traditional shower heads, letting you choose from Victorian heads with adjustable arms, rain shower heads, and many more.

Valves

The place where you don’t want your shower to fail is behind the wall — when a part like your valve starts to leak, it can introduce a continuous stream of water into the closed space behind your wall. This can lead to mold and structural damage.

Whether you can repair it yourself or need a brand new valve depends on the state of the valve itself.

Valve repair

Note that repairing a leaky valve is more complex than a shower head. Here are some tools you’ll need:

• White vinegar
• Plumber’s putty
• Pliers
• Replacement washers
• Standard screwdriver set
• PTFE tape

Start by turning off all water at the mains and remove the valve handle, covering, and gasket. When you reach the shower stem, where the pipe or hose connects to the valve, remove its cover as well. Replace all of the small rubber washers in the shower stem.

While replacing the washers, check for damage in the shower stem itself, as this could be the source of the leak.

Clean all exposed pipes with a water and white vinegar solution, then reassemble the valve in the opposite order as you took it apart.

When you turn the water mains back on and test your shower, it should be completely leak-free. If you’ve still got water escaping your valve, it’s probably time to replace it.

Replacing your shower valve

Kingston Brass has a comprehensive selection of rough-in valves, volume controls, and wall diverters.

This means not only a wide range of choices in terms of looks but also different functional options to suit various needs. That’s why you’ll find shower trim kits, shower diverters, and other hardware available in the online catalog.

Shower hoses

Moving parts tend to fail, and since every part of a shower hose is a moving part, it’s no surprise that they also tend to fail.

Luckily, repairing your shower hose is as easy as buying a new hose and connecting the end fittings to the wall outlet and head. Make sure to use the PTFE plumber’s tape and overlap the tape in the direction you’ll be screwing the attachments on.

Kingston Brass' shower hose selection includes a range of different finishes, such as the vintage 59-inch oil-rubbed bronze hose and the polished chrome hose with stainless steel construction.

Remember that replacing shower parts is a great opportunity to reinvent your bath — and there’s no better place to do that than Kingston Brass.

Shower Faucets

Finally, it may be that it’s simply time to replace your entire shower kit: the faucet and/or hand hose, the arm, the volume and temperature controls, and the drain kit.

In that case, look at this as an opportunity to update the look and feel of your shower. Do you want to create a pop of style against white tile? Try a matte black faucet kit, perhaps in a vintage combo or with a unique valve handle.

FAQs

How expensive is it to repair a leaking shower?

Fixing a leaking shower head or hose is relatively inexpensive — in some cases, when it simply needs to be cleaned, it may cost next to nothing. If you need to replace a shower head or hose, you’ll just need to pay for the new part.

Which repairs should I attempt myself?

Repairing a shower head and hose are easy jobs for the inexperienced DIYer. However, if you’re unfamiliar with plumbing or aren’t particularly handy, it’s best to leave valves to the experts.

How long do showers last before they need repairs?

On average, showers will start needing repairs after around four years. However, consider that new showers come with new warranties, which save you money in the event of a problem.