Maintenance is among the primary responsibilities that come with the homeowner of a house. If you’ve bought an older home, you might only be aware that there are maintenance issues and that you’ll need to replace plumbing fixtures once you come across one. Most of the time showers, a leaky valve is a significant issue. As a result, your water bills could soon go up in price and damage your walls and plumbing fixtures. If you’re having this problem, do not fret. Here are six steps to help you solve them.
1: The Signs of a Shower Leak
The first step is to examine the wall for leaks, as they aren’t always obvious, so it is essential to look at and be aware of the signs. There is a significant likelihood there is a leak if you observe water dripping from the ceiling to the basement floor and you have showers on the first floor. Additionally, suppose you are in the upstairs bathroom. In that case, searching for dried water staining in the ceiling, just below the shower, is possible. Also, you could look for water drips from the top.
2: Check Where Your Shower Is Leaking
Most of the time, you can’t tell from the front side of the shower whether your shower leaks behind a wall. In such situations, check these two solutions.
- If there is enough space around the valve, remove the shower cover from how the valve is connected.
- Check the valve and the pipes by removing a tiny section of the wall behind the valve.
Be sure to check if you need to be better-versed in plumbing, that you call a professional plumber in Ottawa for better choices and results.
3: Cut an Inspection Window
Now is the time to utilize a reciprocating saw to cut tiny windows into the wall. Make sure a 10X8 inch square is enough to examine your shower’s pipes. For the best possible look at the shower leaks behind the wall, you may get required to use a flashlight or small mirror.
4: Find the Leaky Area
When you cut a tiny opening in the wall, you’ll see water staining on the drywall ceiling, just below the drain for the tub. You can pour a small amount of water into the tub to check if the drain is running. This way, you will know the leak location. In addition, the oxidation of the water that leaks into the copper pipe’s exterior will cause a greenish-white discoloration of the copper pipes, which you will probably notice.
5: Switch on the Shower
You can see the problem more clearly if you turn on the shower. If you can see water flowing through the side of your pipes, then you’ve discovered the source. It could also be coming from the line that supplies the shower head. Also, it could be coming out of the valve for showers. Do a final inspection and repair it using these steps.
6: Repair a Leaking Shower Valve or Arm
If your shower’s arms are responsible for water leakage in the walls, it’s simple to fix it. Get rid of that circular plate of metal that covers that arm. Then, loosen the arm of your shower. There is a chance that your shower arm leaks due to threads that get sealed correctly. To repair it, wash the old joint compound using the help of a wire brush. Wrap the threads in Teflon plumbing tape and insert the arm back of the reciprocal of the water pipe. It is feasible to turn off the water supply to the valve and replace the cartridge if the component is in good shape but leaks. If leaks come from the valve body, the valve has to be removed and replaced. If this is the situation, you should contact a licensed plumber to assist you.
With generations of experience in the family and trust, we are a reliable plumbing service in Ottawa. We offer expert plumbing solutions to our commercial and residential customers. Contact Ottawa Plumbing Service by calling (613) 317-1682 or emailing info@ottawaplumbingservice.com if you believe your home is experiencing a severe leakage issue.
