Shower Valve Repair in Del Mar, CA

Watch for these

• A drip from the head that continues after you close the valve
• Sudden heat or chill when someone flushes or starts the dishwasher
• A handle that sticks partway or will not return to off
• Mineral crust on the handle, trim or diverter spout
• Corroded fittings on an outdoor beach shower

Del Mar specifics

The City of Del Mar runs its own water system. It buys water from the San Diego County Water Authority, which the City of San Diego treats at its Miramar plant before it is stored in Del Mar's four reservoirs. The city's report lists total hardness averaging 229 ppm, or 13.4 grains per gallon, with a range of 10.1 to 14.5, and it uses chloramine disinfection. Hard water leaves a mineral film on the ceramic discs and seats inside a valve, and chloramine is hard on rubber seals over the long run. Together they explain why a valve that once moved easily starts to bind or drip.

Del Mar is a small coastal city, and salt air near the beach corrodes exterior fixtures. If your home has an outdoor rinse shower, its valve may wear out well before the indoor ones and is worth checking on the same visit.

What changes the cost

• Scope: a new cartridge or seal kit versus replacing the whole valve body.
• Fixture type: specialty or imported valves can take longer to get parts for.
• Getting to the valve: tile on both sides takes more care to open and repair than a closet wall.
• Scale: a cartridge cemented in by minerals can take extra time to remove safely.
• Permits: the City of Del Mar Building & Safety Services takes plumbing permit applications online through eTRAKiT; building inquiries go to (858) 375-9514.

What happens when you call

The number on this page connects you with an independent plumber who serves Del Mar. Describe the symptom, whether the shower has one handle or two, and any brand name you see on the trim. If water will not shut off, close the house main. For problems with the city's water system, Del Mar Public Works is at (858) 755-3294.