A National City shower that drips, sticks or won't hold a temperature usually needs a new cartridge, stem or washers, and in some older houses a new valve. A plumber checks the parts behind the handle before deciding. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in National City.
What happens when you call
The number on this page puts you in touch with an independent plumber who serves National City. Expect a few questions: what the shower is doing, how many handles it has, and whether you have seen water anywhere it should not be. At the house, the plumber shuts off the water, removes the handle and trim, and pulls the cartridge or stems to look at the seals and seats. From there you get a clear choice between repairing the valve and replacing it.
Cost factors
- Parts versus a new valve: stems, washers and cartridges are quick; a valve body change means cutting in and reconnecting.
- Age of the plumbing: in older homes, fittings around the valve may be corroded and need replacing at the same time.
- Wall material: plaster, drywall and tile each take different work to open and close.
- Trim match: a new valve from a different maker needs its own handle and plate.
- Permits: National City's Building Division requires plumbing permits for new work, repairs, alterations, and fixture replacement where the trap is broken. Ask the division at (619) 336-4210 how that applies to replacing a shower valve.
Local conditions
National City is the second-oldest city in San Diego County, incorporated in 1887, and it still has Victorian-era homes alongside later houses. In older bathrooms you may find two-handle compression valves, valves that have been replaced piecemeal over the decades, or supply pipe that has been patched. That history is why a plumber here often checks the pipe and fittings around the valve, not just the cartridge.
Sweetwater Authority supplies the city's water, and it uses chloramines as the disinfectant in its system. Chloramine is more persistent than plain chlorine and can wear rubber seals and O-rings over time. Water in this part of the county also tends to be hard enough to leave scale on moving parts. Between the two, a drip or a sticky handle is a normal sign of age rather than a sign that something unusual is wrong.
For trouble on the utility side of the meter, Sweetwater Authority is at (619) 420-1413.
Before the plumber gets there
- Locate the main shutoff and test that it moves
- Take a photo of the handles and trim plate
- Note whether the problem is hot only, cold only or both
- Check the room behind the shower for stains
- Clear a path to the bathroom and move items off the tub edge
Shower Valve Repair questions in National City
Can chloramine in the tap water affect the rubber parts inside a shower valve?
Is a permit needed to replace a shower valve here?
What kind of shower valve does an older house here usually have?
Why does water come out of the tub spout and the showerhead at the same time?
More plumbing services in National City
Shower Valve Repair nearby
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