I have a 1024 sq ft ranch, on a slab, with one bathroom. When I am taking a shower and someone flushes the toilet the water in the shower stops completely. Once the tank fills the water returns to the shower? Any suggestions on what can cause this. There is no access panel to see the plumbing in the wall. Thanks

Hi Gmhjr2...

I need more info. Here, OK?

Is this a new issue, or has it always been this way since you moved into the house?

What size is the water pipe at the water meter... 1/2" or 3/4" (should say on the pipe somewhere).

What happens when you shower and a faucet is used? How about when hot water is used at a faucet... any reduction in water at the shower?

Let me know all you can, OK?

Mark

Mark, Just moved into this house, which was built in 1977. I have no ideal if this is a new or old problem. The toilet and shower are probably original, except that I had to replace the shower water stems, and the deverter before I could move in. I do not think this happens in other parts of the house. The toilet and shower are side by side. The incoming water line after the meter is 3/4 inch as is the water line coming out of the hot water heater.

What part of the country are you in? This sounds like a calcium build up problem, they tend to be common in the midwest where there are higher levels of lime and other minerls. Unfortunately if it is a build up of calcium the only solution is replace the affected pipes.

Could be minerals deposits, could be small pipes feeding the bathroom and when the toilet is flushed you get a resulting drop in volume.

It could also be that when you replaced the stems/diverter that the parts were not exact replacement parts or there is something that has blocked the valve body or shower head as a result of the repair (or could have even been there prior to repair). Here, I would suggest taking the parts out of the valve and then turn the water on to flush the lines/valve body clear... reassemble all and see if that improved things.

Otherwise, you'll need to get a plumber in to look at pipe size/type at the bathroom and see if there is a pipe reduction somewhere causing this volume issue... ;)

Back to you...

Mark

Mark, Thanks for the help. I did an exact match for the shower repair. The Shower works great alone, as does the toilet. So for now I will just avoid flushing the toilet while anyone showers. At least till I can afford a plumber.

I am in the Midwest, Indiana, but the house is inside a town that processes the water we use. The town is more guilty of using too much chlorine.