Shower or tub problems, lifespan and upkeep

A shower or tub mixes hot and cold water at a valve and sends it out through a showerhead or spout, with caulk and grout keeping water off the wall and floor. Most trouble is a clog in the showerhead, a worn cartridge, or a failing seal. A shower with low pressure is most often a clogged showerhead, and one that is leaking can be a worn cartridge, failed caulk, or water inside the wall.

Common problems
How long it should last

Typical lifespan: varies with the parts and your water; the showerhead and cartridge wear out sooner than the tub or tile

Signs it is near the end:

  • It drips again soon after a repair.
  • The handle is stiff or the temperature wanders.
  • Caulk and grout keep cracking after being redone.
  • Stains or soft spots appear on the wall or the ceiling below.
Basic upkeep
  • Clean mineral buildup off the showerhead when the spray gets uneven.
  • Keep the caulk where the tub meets the tile sealed, and redo it when it cracks or peels.
  • Fix cracked grout early, before water gets behind the tile.
  • Fix a small drip early, before it wears the part further.
  • Look at the ceiling below the bathroom now and then for new stains.
Common fixes

  • Furnace won't heat?

    FurnaceFall

    The furnace runs but the house stays cold, which is usually a clogged filter, a thermostat setting, or an ignition fault.

  • Heat pump not heating?

    Heat pumpFall

    The heat pump runs but the house stays cold, which is usually thermostat settings, a clogged filter, or an iced-over outdoor unit.

  • Washer won't drain?

    Washer

    Water is left in the drum after the cycle, which is usually a clogged pump filter or a kinked drain hose.

  • Fridge not cooling?

    Fridge

    The fridge section is warm or warming. The cause depends on whether the freezer is still cold, and the first fix is often free.

  • Washer won't spin?

    Washer

    The drum fills and washes but won't spin, which is usually an unbalanced load, the lid switch, or a drain problem.

Sharpen the read

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Snap one of these:

  • the showerhead and handle
  • the caulk and grout lines where the tub meets the tile
  • any stain on the ceiling below the bathroom

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