· 3 min read
A weak or spluttering shower: clean the head, or replace it
Most disappointing showers are caused by mineral scale in the shower head, not by the plumbing. Cleaning it takes an hour of soaking; replacing it takes ten minutes.
Faucets and fixtures
Dripping faucets, weak showers, noisy pipes and low pressure: the small jobs that are within reach of a careful beginner, with honest notes on when they are not.
Fixtures are where plumbing meets daily life, and they are where a small amount of knowledge pays off most. A dripping faucet, a shower head that has lost its force, a bang in the wall when the washing machine fills: each is a half-hour job once you know what you are looking at.
Before you start any fixture job
- Shut off the water at the fixture's own valve, and check that it actually stopped.
- Put the plug in the drain so that screws cannot escape.
- Photograph the parts as you remove them.
- Tape the jaws of your pliers to protect chrome.
Know when to stop
A shut-off valve that will not close, a fitting that will not come apart without force, corroded pipes inside a cabinet, or a valve buried in a shower wall: these are the points where a job that started as a drip turns into something larger. There is no shame in handing it over.
The tips below cover low water pressure, water hammer, and tracking down a leak under a sink.
What this topic covers
- Stopping a dripping faucet
- Low water pressure at one fixture or all of them
- Replacing a shower head, a faucet or a toilet seat
Common questions
Is it worth repairing an old faucet?
If the parts are available and the body is sound, yes: a washer or a cartridge costs a few dollars. If it is badly corroded, more than twenty years old, or the parts cannot be identified, a new faucet is a better use of the afternoon.
Why is the water pressure fine downstairs and poor upstairs?
Pressure falls with height, and old galvanized pipes narrow with rust, so the top floor loses out first. If the whole house is weak, measure the pressure at an outdoor faucet before deciding what to do.
Tips on this topic
· 3 min read
Low water pressure: how to work out what is causing it
Weak water at one tap has a different cause from weak water everywhere. A few simple checks tell you which, and whether it is a five-minute fix or a job for a plumber.
· 3 min read
Water hammer: why the pipes bang when a tap closes, and how to stop it
A thud in the wall when the washing machine or a faucet shuts off is water hammer. It stresses joints and valves, and it can usually be cured in an afternoon.
· 3 min read
A leak under the sink: finding where it comes from and fixing it
Water in the cabinet under a sink comes from one of four places. Work out which, and most of the fixes take a wrench and ten minutes.
Need a professional?
Some jobs are not for a weekend. Here is how to find a plumber near you in Rockland County and check the license before work starts.