Shower

Amitabh

Hello

My shower is slowly leaking water. I am guessing that my washer needs replacing in my valve. Am i correct to start there.

also, how do i increase the water pressure that my shower gives? should i replace it with another shower head?

joecaption

Single handle, double? Got a picture or better yet a make and model#?
Remove the shower head and see if your getting plenty of flow.
Some heads have a built in flow restrictor, some even ahave a filter in them that can get pluged up.
Soaking the head in some vineger or CLR can clean out the little holes in it.

Amitabh

So i think i fixed my leak. i replaced by shower cartridge and the shower leakage went from a cup an hour to 3 to 4 drops over 8 hours.

So, am i being anal of wanting to stop the 3 to 4 drops, or is this normal? If not normal, how can i fix it.

As for the water pressure, i finally figured out that shower heads are rated in GPM and some even have a PSI measure. Currently, i am using a niagara shower head with a 1.25 GPM. I am guessing its going to produce some low pressure. So i am going to replace with another unit, something closer to 2 GPM, i think.

oh'mike

If you like that shower head---you may be able to remove the water restrictor washer or enlarge the opening with a drill--

As to your drip----did you thoroughly clean the inside of the valve body (sand paper) before you installed the new one?

__________________
New members: Adding your location to your profile helps in many ways.--M--

Amitabh

no i did not clean. mm... sand paper, what grit should i use. i took tissue paper to simple remove the guck on the inside of the valve body.

will cleaning it help? What else can i clean it with?

i dont like the showerhead, i am going to find another one.

oh'mike

I usually roll up a scrap of 220 grit paper---stick my carpenters pencil inside and lightly sand the inside--then squirt some water into the hole to flush out the grit--a light film of plumbing grease in the valve body --then insert the new cartridge---

__________________
New members: Adding your location to your profile helps in many ways.--M--

Amitabh

Thank you for the advice, much appreciated.