Valve: plumbing troubleshooters
Drips, swings in shower temperature, running toilets, low pressure and water heaters. Pick the symptom, answer a few questions standing at the fixture, and find out which part fixes it or when a plumber is the right call.
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- Faucet dripping when it's off
- Shower goes hot or cold when someone flushes
- Toilet keeps running or refills on its own
- Low water pressure at one faucet or the whole house
- No hot water from the water heater
- Shower drips when off, or the tub spout runs with the shower on
- Shower won't get hot, or gets too hot
- Faucet leaking at the base or under the handle
- Toilet flush is weak or won't flush all the way
- Water heater leaking or a puddle underneath
- Shower handle hard to turn, pull or push
What this section will and won't tell you to do
Most faucet and shower drips come down to one worn part: a cartridge, a stem, a seat or a diverter. When that is the cause, the result names the part and links the replacement.
Leave or call right away if you notice
- You smell gas near the water heater or anywhere in the house.911 and your gas utility, from a safe distance outside.
- The flame in a gas water heater burns yellow or orange.A water heater technician or your gas company. Turn the gas control off per the label on the heater.
- Water comes out of the water heater's temperature and pressure relief valve pipe.A licensed plumber, right away.
- Water keeps pooling under the water heater tank and the puddle grows.A licensed plumber or authorized service provider. Turn off the power or gas and the water supply to the heater first.