Broken shower
November 2, 2010 3:48 AM Subscribe
What is going on with my shower?
I've got a mixer tap in my bath which can be switched between the tap and a shower hose attached directly to the tap. This hose is just a plastic hose in a metal ringed sheath with a screw thread and a washer on each end.
For three years this was fine but then water started coming out of the hose below the shower head. I assumed the hose had split through wear and tear and bought a new one. Attached it on Friday, fully operational shower, great. Used it yesterday and there was a popping sound and suddenly water was coming out below the head again.
What is going on? Is the pressure too strong? Build up of limescale on the head? Can I fix this?
I've got a mixer tap in my bath which can be switched between the tap and a shower hose attached directly to the tap. This hose is just a plastic hose in a metal ringed sheath with a screw thread and a washer on each end.
For three years this was fine but then water started coming out of the hose below the shower head. I assumed the hose had split through wear and tear and bought a new one. Attached it on Friday, fully operational shower, great. Used it yesterday and there was a popping sound and suddenly water was coming out below the head again.
What is going on? Is the pressure too strong? Build up of limescale on the head? Can I fix this?
Very hard to say what it could be without taking a good look at it.
Is the pressure too high? You can probably tell just from using the mixer tap in tap mode. If the water isn't a raging torrent you can probably rule this out.
You could swap the washers at either end of the hose if they're the same. Then you'll know whether it's the washer at the head end that's worn out. I've never had one wear out, and you probably had new ones with the hose, didn't you?
The screw thread on the shower head may be worn out. The 'pop' could be the hose jumping down the stripped thread. Did the hose feel a bit loose after this? Will the hose only tighten up to a point, then jump back slightly? That would indicate a damaged thread.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 6:01 AM on November 2, 2010
Is the pressure too high? You can probably tell just from using the mixer tap in tap mode. If the water isn't a raging torrent you can probably rule this out.
You could swap the washers at either end of the hose if they're the same. Then you'll know whether it's the washer at the head end that's worn out. I've never had one wear out, and you probably had new ones with the hose, didn't you?
The screw thread on the shower head may be worn out. The 'pop' could be the hose jumping down the stripped thread. Did the hose feel a bit loose after this? Will the hose only tighten up to a point, then jump back slightly? That would indicate a damaged thread.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 6:01 AM on November 2, 2010
Is the shower head full of lime deposits? That could clog it up and make the pressure run high. You can clean it out by soaking it in vinegar.
posted by echo target at 6:29 AM on November 2, 2010
posted by echo target at 6:29 AM on November 2, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions. It seems odd that the washer would go after just a couple of days. Perhaps the supplied one wasn't big enough? I will try popping another one in.
Shower head doesn't appear to be cracked or the thread worn down or the hose loose but I will investigated again tonight. It is very hard to see where the source of the problem is though: some water continues to come out of the showerhead, some comes out below the head but clinsg tot he hose and wets the whole area making the actual source hard to identify.
You can probably tell just from using the mixer tap in tap mode. If the water isn't a raging torrent you can probably rule this out.
It pretty much is a raging torrent. I've got very high pressure but since the shower previously worked for three years (on full) I didn't see that as a problem. Now I'm starting to wonder if there is limescale within the head which is making it hard to get through on full pressure. But even with the tap just turned on a bit it still leaks out lower down.
posted by ninebelow at 6:36 AM on November 2, 2010
Shower head doesn't appear to be cracked or the thread worn down or the hose loose but I will investigated again tonight. It is very hard to see where the source of the problem is though: some water continues to come out of the showerhead, some comes out below the head but clinsg tot he hose and wets the whole area making the actual source hard to identify.
You can probably tell just from using the mixer tap in tap mode. If the water isn't a raging torrent you can probably rule this out.
It pretty much is a raging torrent. I've got very high pressure but since the shower previously worked for three years (on full) I didn't see that as a problem. Now I'm starting to wonder if there is limescale within the head which is making it hard to get through on full pressure. But even with the tap just turned on a bit it still leaks out lower down.
posted by ninebelow at 6:36 AM on November 2, 2010
Response by poster: Didn't preview and missed echo target's comment. I think I will soak the head in vinegar and stick a new washer on and see what happens.
posted by ninebelow at 6:43 AM on November 2, 2010
posted by ninebelow at 6:43 AM on November 2, 2010
even with the tap just turned on a bit it still leaks out lower down
Then it probably won't be the pressure that's causing it.
I get really heavy limescale here, so I use some stuff called Kilrock, which is the absolute best descaler around. I find that vinegar will only take off light surface deposits and usually needs a bit of scrubbing too. Kilrock, on the other hand, is a much stronger acid (you dilute it to whatever strength you need) and the scale just fizzes and disappears in a matter of seconds. It's fairly mild on the environment too. Available at Wilkinsons, B&Q etc.
My gut feeling though is that you're going to need a new shower head.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 6:49 AM on November 2, 2010
Then it probably won't be the pressure that's causing it.
I get really heavy limescale here, so I use some stuff called Kilrock, which is the absolute best descaler around. I find that vinegar will only take off light surface deposits and usually needs a bit of scrubbing too. Kilrock, on the other hand, is a much stronger acid (you dilute it to whatever strength you need) and the scale just fizzes and disappears in a matter of seconds. It's fairly mild on the environment too. Available at Wilkinsons, B&Q etc.
My gut feeling though is that you're going to need a new shower head.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 6:49 AM on November 2, 2010
Vinegar will not remove the scales that block water flow. In my super hard water area (EVERYONE has to have a water softener) CLR does the job very well.
posted by saradarlin at 9:05 AM on November 2, 2010
posted by saradarlin at 9:05 AM on November 2, 2010
A good rule of thumb: whenever you have the chance to replace washers (because you're already working on the plumbing) go for it!
I cracked open my shower control this weekend which had been sealed up like King Tut's tomb for twenty-five years, and I made certain sure to swap out all the washers that I could find. I was able to get by without replacing the diverter, cyliner, etc. -- and the dripping stopped.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:17 AM on November 2, 2010
I cracked open my shower control this weekend which had been sealed up like King Tut's tomb for twenty-five years, and I made certain sure to swap out all the washers that I could find. I was able to get by without replacing the diverter, cyliner, etc. -- and the dripping stopped.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:17 AM on November 2, 2010
If it's not anything else mentioned, you can always try wrapping any screw heads in teflon tape. That might cut back on leakage if the threads have worn down a bit. Probably not a long-term fix though.
IANAP
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 11:57 AM on November 2, 2010
IANAP
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 11:57 AM on November 2, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jon1270 at 5:08 AM on November 2, 2010