A shower can be the perfect start to your day after a restful night of sleep or a welcome escape after a long, grueling day at work. But the sense of ease from your shower can be washed away in an instant by a faucet that simply won’t turn off.
Instead of feeling calm and collected, panic is now setting in as you twist and turn the handle to no avail. As the water continues to rush, your mind races with thoughts of skyrocketing water bills and the potential for extensive, costly damage. It’s certainly a stressful situation that no homeowner wants to face. But what do you do if it does happen to you? Follow the tips from our professional plumbers to pinpoint the reason your shower won’t turn off and how you can resolve the problem.
Common Reasons Why Your Shower Won’t Turn Off
Over time, the internal components of your shower faucet can wear out, break, or become clogged with mineral deposits. All of these problems can lead to one thing: a loss of control over your shower’s flow of water.
A Faulty Faucet Cartridge
Most modern single-handle shower faucets use a cartridge to control the flow and temperature of the water. This plastic or brass cylinder is a marvel of engineering, but it’s not indestructible. Inside the cartridge, a series of holes and channels align as you turn the handle, allowing hot and cold water to mix and flow out of the showerhead.
Over years of use, the rubber O-rings and plastic components within the cartridge can degrade, crack, or become clogged with hard water minerals. When this happens, the cartridge can no longer create a watertight seal, and you’re left with a shower that won’t turn off.
A Worn-Out Washer on the Valve Stem
In older homes with two-handle (hot and cold) or three-handle (hot, cold, and diverter) shower setups, the problem often lies with the valve stems. A stem is a type of compression valve that works by tightening a rubber washer against a valve seat to stop the flow of water.
With each turn of the handle, the stem and its washer undergo wear and tear. The threads on the stem can become stripped, or the washer can become hardened, cracked, or compressed to the point where it no longer forms an effective seal. When the stem can’t be tightened down properly, water will continue to leak through, and your shower won’t turn off.
A Broken or Stripped Handle
Sometimes, the problem isn’t deep within the wall but right at your fingertips. The shower handle itself can be the source of the issue. The handle connects to the cartridge or valve stem via small teeth or splines. If these splines become stripped from excessive force or general wear, the handle will just spin without actually turning the valve mechanism inside.
You might feel a lack of resistance or hear a clicking sound as you turn the handle. In this scenario, even though you’re turning the handle, it isn’t engaging the valve to shut off the water. While less common, the handle itself can also crack or break, making it impossible to operate the faucet.
A Malfunctioning Diverter Valve
If you have a bathtub/shower combination, the diverter valve is the mechanism that directs water either down to the tub spout or up to the showerhead. These can be the pull-up knob on the tub spout itself or a third handle on the faucet plate.
When a diverter valve gets stuck or fails, it can sometimes prevent the main faucet from shutting off properly or cause water to flow from both the showerhead and the tub spout simultaneously. While it might not be the direct cause of why your shower won’t turn off, its malfunction can complicate the system and contribute to the problem.
Worn-Out Washers and O-Rings
These small rubber components are present in almost every type of faucet and are essential for creating watertight seals at various connection points. However, rubber doesn’t last forever. Constant exposure to water pressure and temperature changes causes washers and O-rings to harden, crack, and fall apart over time. A single failed washer can be the difference between a perfectly functioning shower and one that leaks incessantly.
How to Fix a Shower Faucet That Won’t Turn Off
Before you begin any repairs or call a plumber, the absolute first step is to shut off the main water supply to your house. The main shut-off valve is typically located in a basement, crawl space, or utility closet. In some cases, it’s outside near your water meter. Turning this valve off will prevent a minor repair from turning into a major flood. Once the water is off, open a faucet on the lowest level of your home to drain any remaining water from the pipes.
Repairs You May Need to Complete:
- Fix a Faulty Cartridge: You may need to replace the shower faucet’s cartridge completely. Be sure to take your old cartridge to a hardware or plumbing supply store to ensure you get an identical replacement. Then, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation carefully to prevent further problems in the future.
- Install a New Valve Stem: Like with the cartridge, you should take the old stem to the hardware store to make sure you get the right replacement model. You will also want to be very careful with the installation so that leaks do not become a problem.
- Replace Worn-Down Washers or O-Rings: If a washer or O-ring looks worn down during your inspection, replacing these components could save you a lot of money on future water bills.
When to Call a Professional Plumber for a Faulty Shower Faucet
While many of these fixes are manageable for a confident DIYer, there are times when it’s best to call in a professional. If you encounter any of the following, it’s time to put down the wrench and pick up the phone:
- You can’t identify the cause of the problem.
- The parts are so corroded or stuck that you risk breaking a pipe.
- You’ve replaced the parts, but the shower won’t turn off still.
- The plumbing inside your wall looks old, fragile, or complex.
- You simply don’t feel comfortable performing the repair yourself.
Attempting a repair beyond your skill level can lead to broken pipes, severe water damage, and much more expensive plumbing repairs down the line. Remember, there’s no shame in letting an expert handle the work for you.
Let Saffer Plumbing Fix Your Broken Shower Faucet
At Saffer Plumbing, our team of licensed and experienced plumbers is equipped with the tools and expertise to diagnose and fix bathroom plumbing issues quickly and efficiently. No matter what is causing your shower to act up, you can rely on us to provide reliable service and lasting solutions.
If you’re dealing with a faulty shower faucet that you can’t shut off, contact our Baltimore plumbers today for a quick shower repair. We’ll get your water, and your life, back under control.