Shower Valve Repair in Youngtown, AZ

Is it the shower valve?

• Dripping from the showerhead or tub spout well after shutoff
• Separate hot and cold handles that need more and more force to close
• A single handle that sticks, wobbles or scalds without warning
• Water that runs from the spout and head at once
• Damp walls, loose tile or a musty smell near the tub

Older two- and three-handle valves usually show wear as drips that need tighter and tighter closing. Single-handle valves more often stick or swing in temperature.

Youngtown homes and water

Youngtown sits on the east bank of the Agua Fria River between El Mirage and Sun City. It was built as the first planned retirement community in the United States, dropped its age restrictions in 1999 and is now a mixed-age town. Many houses date from its early decades, which means original or long-serving valves and some brands that are hard to find parts for today. Older valves may also have no pressure-balancing feature, so a flush elsewhere can send a surge of hot water to the shower.

Water comes from EPCOR's Sun City system, which pumps groundwater from the West Salt River Valley sub-basin and reports hardness of 7 to 11 grains per gallon, disinfected with chlorine. That is moderate by Valley standards, but decades of it still leave scale on stems, seats and cartridges.

What affects cost

• Rebuild or replace. New stems and seats for an older two-handle valve, or a new valve altogether.
• Parts. Older brands may be discontinued.
• Wall access. Original tile can be hard to match if it has to be cut.
• Safety upgrades. Moving to a pressure-balancing or thermostatic valve.
• Permits. The Town of Youngtown Community Development Department takes plans and permit applications; ask whether a valve replacement needs one.

When you call

You will be connected with an independent plumber who works in Youngtown. Mention how many handles the shower has and whether the bathroom has been remodeled. If water will not shut off, close the main first. For a utility-side issue, EPCOR Customer Care is 1-800-383-0834. If anyone in the household has trouble with sudden temperature changes, say so, since it can steer the choice of valve.