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-   -   No water from showerhead (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=356161)

  • May 20, 2009, 04:30 PM
    teacherjenn4
    No water from showerhead
    The water suddenly stopped coming out of the shower head. It is only a shower head with a separate hot handle and a separate cold handle. I turned off the shower and then back on and the water came on. I had a plumber come out and check it two months ago. He found sediment in the shower head, cleaned it out, and since then it was fine. Should the hot/cold stems be replaced as he now recommends? I bought a new shower head today, in case that is the problem. He said it could be the valve which would involve cutting into the drywall behind the shower at a cost of $800-$1,000. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated!
  • May 20, 2009, 05:17 PM
    Stratmando

    It could be just the shower head. Quick easy and cheap, can get for less than $5.
    Get a nice one if you like. If it stops again, leave water on , but on low, unscrew shower head, if no water comes out, it may be the valve, if water comes out, it is the shower head.
  • May 20, 2009, 05:34 PM
    ballengerb1

    It is most likely the head since you have 2 handles which m,eans 2 valves. Repoeated sediment can actually be bites of a degraded dip tube inside the water heater. If you find white specks squeeze them between your thumb and index finger, are they squishy like paste or gritty like rock?
  • May 20, 2009, 06:40 PM
    teacherjenn4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ballengerb1 View Post
    It is most likely the head since you have 2 handles which m,eans 2 valves. repoeated sediment can actually be bites of a degraded dip tube inside the water heater. If you find white specks squeeze them between your thumb and index finger, are they squishy like paste or gritty like rock?
    I didn't find any sediment today in the shower head when we changed it. But, when the head was taken off by the plumber 2 months ago, it seemed like rock.
  • May 20, 2009, 07:31 PM
    afaroo

    Did you try the shower with out the shower head installed as Stratmando suggested if not try that first and see how is the water flow and let us know? I don't think you will need to change the valves assembly you may need to repack them to change the (Cartridge or the washers) can you tell the name and the brand of your shower valves or if you can post a picture will help. Also a failed dip tube will cause you a problem like Bob Says check your other faucets in the house remove the Aerators and see if there are and sediments, Thanks.

    John
  • May 20, 2009, 08:02 PM
    Milo Dolezal

    Agree with above posts: it appears to be dirt in shower head filter screen.
  • May 20, 2009, 08:30 PM
    teacherjenn4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by afaroo View Post
    Did you try the shower with out the shower head installed as Stratmando suggested if not try that first and see how is the water flow and let us know?, I don't think you will need to change the valves assembly you may need to repack them to change the (Cartridge or the washers) can you tell the name and the brand of your shower valves or if you can post a picture will help. Also a failed dip tube will cause you a problem like Bob Says check your other faucets in the house remove the Aerators and see if there are and sediments, Thanks.

    John
    I have Price Pfisters I believe and they are just brass handles, like levers. I will check the other faucets and let you know. There are no cartridges on these, just on the bathtub/shower combos. The shower works fine without the head. It stopped twice now in 2 months with the head on. We replaced it today. I will try to find out the brand tomorrow and/or post a picture. Thanks so much!
  • May 21, 2009, 01:59 AM
    Milo Dolezal

    If shower works great w/o the head, than your shower head has dirt inside. Wash it, clean it, reinstall it - and you'll be fine
  • May 21, 2009, 05:10 AM
    speedball1
    Newer shower heads have "water savers" installed. In addition to restriction the flow they also collect crud and mineral build up. Pry out the water saver and see if the sholwer head doesn't work better. Good luck, Tom
  • May 21, 2009, 04:17 PM
    teacherjenn4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Milo Dolezal View Post
    If shower works great w/o the head, than your shower head has dirt inside. Wash it, clean it, reinstall it - and you'll be fine
    No luck. A new showerhead did almost the same thing. In mid-shower, the same thing happened, but this time the pressure went to almost half then came back on before I could do anything. Any more ideas?
  • May 21, 2009, 04:18 PM
    teacherjenn4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Stratmando View Post
    It could be just the shower head. Quick easy and cheap, can get for less than $5.
    Get a nice one if you like. If it stops again, leave water on , but on low, unscrew shower head, if no water comes out, it may be the valve, if water comes out, it is the shower head.
    New shower head did the same thing. Pressure dropped to half and then came back up by itself. Any more ideas??
  • May 21, 2009, 04:27 PM
    Milo Dolezal

    If the shower works fine WITHOUT shower head - the problem is the shower head. I cannot see anything else to be a problem...

    What do you think, guys ? Anything else you could come up with as the culprit to teacherjenn4's problem ?
  • May 21, 2009, 04:30 PM
    afaroo

    Milo you are correct if the water is flowing good with out the shower head I don't see any other reason, Thanks.

    John
  • May 21, 2009, 04:40 PM
    speedball1
    When you run the shower with the shower head removed does the water pulse any or is it a steady stream? Tom
  • May 21, 2009, 04:55 PM
    teacherjenn4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by speedball1 View Post
    When you run the shower with the shower head removed does the water pulse any or is it a steady stream? Tom
    It comes out as a steady stream. I hear like a "clunk" sound and then the water shut off or today came out in a half stream, then came on. Could it be a valve in the wall?
  • May 21, 2009, 06:49 PM
    afaroo
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by teacherjenn4 View Post
    It comes out as a steady stream. I hear like a "clunk" sound and then the water shut off or today came out in a half stream, then came on. Could it be a valve in the wall?
    I am really lost before you said that the flow is good with out the head installed and now you say it it is in half stream, can you tell us the model number of your faucet or you can take a picture and post it for us, Thanks.

    John
  • May 21, 2009, 06:52 PM
    Milo Dolezal

    You may have loose stem part or washer blocking the flow. Remove stems, inspect them and make necessary repairs. Reinstall. See if this problem still continues...
  • May 21, 2009, 07:05 PM
    afaroo

    Please open the links below, and tell us wich one looks like your faucet,Thanks.

    John

    http://www.plumbingpartsdepot.com/pp3vlv.pdf

    http://www.plumbingpartsdepot.com/cranedialezshwr.pdf
  • May 21, 2009, 07:39 PM
    teacherjenn4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by afaroo View Post
    Please open the links below, and tell us wich one looks like your faucet,Thanks.

    John

    http://www.plumbingpartsdepot.com/pp3vlv.pdf

    http://www.plumbingpartsdepot.com/cranedialezshwr.pdf
    First page. Solid bras 940-995 I have the same ones on my sinks in the house as the shower handles. There is no tub spout, just a shower.
  • May 21, 2009, 08:30 PM
    Milo Dolezal

    Is that shower faucet 1/2 turn ?
  • May 21, 2009, 08:45 PM
    teacherjenn4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Milo Dolezal View Post
    Is that shower faucet 1/2 turn ?
    Each side--hot and cold can turn a full turn. We have to turn the hot almost 3/4 turn, but barely have to move the cold for it to come on , if that makes a difference. I took a picture of it, but am not sure how to post it.
  • May 21, 2009, 08:52 PM
    Milo Dolezal

    That may be the problem. The stems should turn only 1/2 way. It means they are not installed properly or the "stop" point is broken off.

    Stems should have small protrusion that line up with notch in body.

    Stems have plastic parts. If you apply too much pressure on them during closing - they will pass the closing point and continue to spin around.

    Question: is this newer faucet of old model ? Lever handles of round handles ?

    See if that is the problem... Come back and let us know what you've found out... Thanks... Milo
  • May 21, 2009, 09:01 PM
    teacherjenn4

    I've had the stems replaced and repaired before, but that is what the plumber is coming out to do. The actual handles are levers of solid brass. Price Pfister. He said if that doesn't work then I have to have the valve in the wall replaced at a cost of almost $1,000. So, I was hoping it would be the shower head or the stems. Thanks for all of your help!
  • May 22, 2009, 11:40 AM
    Milo Dolezal

    I am sorry he is charging you $1K for the valve swap. Maybe you could get couple more estimates and see what other plumbers have to say.

    We charge $180.00 for same-to-same valve swap + the cost of the valve. It takes about 45minutes to do. In your case, cost of the two-handle PP shower valve and trim is under $100.00.

    Take photo of your existing valve, go to Home Depot and by exactly the same valve and give it to the attending plumber to install it. You may save few hundred dollars right there.
  • May 22, 2009, 01:20 PM
    afaroo

    I agree with Milo follow his instructions and you will really save some bucks, Thanks.

    John

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