For topics generally relating to the design, materials, fixtures, construction, maintenance, and other specialized considerations of a shower enclosure, typically located within a bathroom.
36
votes
8answers
22k views
How can I improve the water pressure in my shower?
I recently purchased my first home. It has two bathrooms and the water pressure in both is less than ideal. What are some steps I can take to increase the pressure?
22
votes
12answers
4k views
Is there a technique to make a shower mirror fog-free?
We want to install a permanent mirror in a new shower, but hope to find a permanent way to prevent it from fogging up.
I have seen gooseneck mirrors that hook up to the showerhead itself so as to run ...
12
votes
5answers
2k views
Why does the shower get cold when I flush, and how can I prevent it?
When the shower is running and someone flushes a toilet, why does the shower get cold (or sometimes hot) in some houses, but not others?
More importantly, would fixing that require replacing the ...
9
votes
5answers
6k views
Why does my shower switch keep burning out?
I have a Mira Shower 10.8 kW.
My switch is a 45A switch. I have a 50A fuse for the shower. The shower uses 10mm2 cable.
9 months ago the switch sparked and refused to turn off and the fuse ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the practical difference between cement board and greenboard?
When installing tubs I've mostly used cementboard. I find it a bear to work with though.
A guy I know uses the water resistant greenboard; he claims that for home applications it is entirely ...
8
votes
3answers
326 views
How do I remove hard soap scum on my shower door?
I have a problem with regards to my frameless glass shower door because I don't usually clean it regularly. What happens is that the lower edge of the glass door is already very cloudy and is very ...
8
votes
2answers
713 views
With a shower, should the edge where the wall meets the floor be caulked, or is grout okay?
Some of the shower tiles have come loose in my shower and need repair (specifically the ones at the base of the wall). There's no 'tub' per-se, the whole thing is tiled, and it looks like whoever ...
8
votes
4answers
4k views
Is there an easy way to remove silicone sealant?
Is there an easy way to remove silicone sealant?
Having had mouldy sealant have replaced with MicroBan to stop the mould coming back but is there any tips on getting the stuff off for next time?
My ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
How can I reseal a shower drain on a pre-formed shower base?
The shower drain in my first-floor bathroom leaks. Based on looking from the basement below, it seems the leak is at the point where the drain assembly should clamp to the shower base (which is ...
7
votes
4answers
917 views
Can vermin come in through your toilet or shower drain and, if so, what can you do about it?
First, I'm not sure that this is what's happening but I suspect this is the problem. On occasion my wife and I find cockroaches in our house. This isn't very frequent (I'll find one once every few ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Why does our shower make a screaming noise?
Our shower has a problem...It's very loud! When water hits the correct temperature and flow the shower immediately starts shrieking like a banshee.
It seems to be related to the flow because we can ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Handheld showerhead backflow preventer
Every year my rental house is inspected by the city. Last time the inspector told me to add a backflow preventer (one-way check valve) to the handheld showerhead in the bathroom. The showerhead is ...
7
votes
4answers
4k views
Is my shower drain leaking under the slab?
My wife & I renovated our master shower a couple years ago. About three months ago, we noticed the baseboards in the guest bathroom (on the other side of the wall from the master bath) were ...
6
votes
3answers
143 views
Should tiles of “stones” be removed from the backing?
We had a stone floor installed in our shower. The stones came on 1' x 1' "sheets". The installer kept the stones on the backing, and now you can clearly see lines in both directions where each 1' ...
6
votes
2answers
568 views
How do I treat mold and mildew in shower grout?
I have a tiled shower in an older house, and it's been a struggle to keep the grout clear of mold and mildew. I'm planning on installing a bathroom vent to prevent future buildup, but in the ...
6
votes
2answers
428 views
Shower water going under the shower curtain
I have a shower over my bath, but due to the shape of the bath the shower curtain does not cover the entire length of the bath, so sometimes water is getting under the curtain and on to the carpet.
...
6
votes
1answer
174 views
Why does it take a long time for water to start draining from my tub faucet?
Sorry for the awkwardly worded title, I couldn't really describe the issue in one sentence.
My shower has a handle that controls both pressure and temperature. To begin showering, I turn the handle, ...
6
votes
1answer
600 views
Why does flushing a toilet or running a clothes washer sometimes change shower temperature?
Admittedly, this isn't something that is happening to me but I'm curious: I've heard that in some houses, flushing toilets or running a clothes washer sometimes changes the water temperature for ...
6
votes
2answers
6k views
What is causing a whistling sound coming from my upstairs bathroom?
My upstairs shower is causing a high-pitched whistling sound when it's running and there is a showerhead attached. If I remove the showerhead, but keep the water flowing, the whistling noise stops. It ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
What are some permanent shower shelf options?
I have found shower caddies and suction cup add-ons, but I want to add shelves to my shower surround that are permanent. I haven't had much lucking finding anything. What are my options, and where ...
6
votes
2answers
495 views
What could cause water hammer after changing a valve cartridge?
I fixed my delta 1400 series shower faucet the other day by replacing the valve cartridge with a non-delta brand.
Everything went well, until I turned it on, now the shower pipe is hammering. The ...
5
votes
4answers
12k views
Why won't my shower's temperature handle let the water get hot enough?
Whenever I go to take a shower, I have to turn the handle to the absolute hottest setting just to avoid freezing. I know the hot water works in my house, so that's not the issue. It just seems like I ...
5
votes
5answers
469 views
Should I spray down the shower with a diluted bleach solution after using it?
I have a tile shower in the basement that is not very well ventilated. My mother-in-law suggested a spray bottle of 1/2 bleach, 1/2 water, and spraying it around the surfaces of the shower after ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the best way to install a shower curtain when one wall is sloped
I have a converted attic bedroom with a bathroom. I want to install a curtain rod, but one side of the rod has to connect to a sloped wall (the roof). What would be the best way to install a rod in ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
What is the minimum required distance from a shower to an electrical outlet?
In Fairfax County Virginia, what is the minimum distance that an outlet must be from a shower in the bathroom? Does the minimum distance change if it is GFI outlet?
5
votes
4answers
595 views
Why is the first shower of the day is colder than the second?
Description
Since I've moved into this house, I've noticed that the first shower of the day is colder than the any subsequent shower. More specifically, if no hot water has been used for a while, ...
5
votes
1answer
303 views
Do I need to use silicon seal (caulk) and a sealant strip around the base of my shower
The seal around the inside of the shower cubicle (standard single person mass produced unit) had rotten (it's about 15 years old) so I ripped it out, cleaned up the surfaces and am redoing it. The ...
5
votes
1answer
466 views
How do I prevent this bath faucet from leaking while the shower is running?
Here's a photo of my setup:
The hose and nozzle hanging down in the picture make up the shower head assembly (it is a hand shower that can hang up on the wall or be removed for directed use). ...
5
votes
1answer
905 views
Why is my shower faucet turning itself off?
My shower has a wall mount single lever faucet similar to this: http://www.cn-faucet.com/Wall-Mount-Single-Lever-Faucets-141.html
Over time, it has become more sensitive and now, in most angles, ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Can a ½ inch water pipe supply enough pressure for a shower head and body sprayers?
I have a ½" water supply feeding my shower currently. We're currently doing a remodel and would like to install a shower system (shower head and three body sprayers).
Can I use the current supply to ...
5
votes
1answer
170 views
Is a glass shower screen a suitable backing for mosaics?
I have an old boxed-in corner shower. The glass screen has three panels which are all very hazy. I can't afford to replace it right now. I was thinking of putting mosaics (big pictures - not little ...
5
votes
0answers
143 views
Recommendations for particular brand/models of shower enclosures? [closed]
We have a partially finished basement. Our unfinished laundry had a toilet and sink in the corner. Both are ancient and we're going to replace them. Still, they're in the corner of our laundry room, ...
4
votes
1answer
155 views
Why is the caulk cracking and the toilet rocking?
We paid a lot of money to have our bathroom gutted and redone. After several problems with the contractor not returning calls to correct shoddy work, we are at a loss. I am not sure if the shower ...
4
votes
2answers
478 views
How can I correct the slope of a marble shower sill?
Our master shower is tiled in marble; it's almost perfect except... the sill has a slight slope running out of the shower instead of into it. As a result, every time we take a shower, a small amount ...
4
votes
2answers
996 views
Mounting shower curtain rod to tile
In my new place my shower is tile and has a spring loaded shower curtain rod. I have my curved rod from a previous residence and would like to mount it. I can operate a drill, but I have never gone ...
4
votes
2answers
390 views
How do I remove this shower fixture?
I'm a little desperate here. When we moved into this home, we inherited this shower fixture. Now it's leaking. But, I can't figure out how to remove it!?
I've tried to back it all the way off ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Design guidelines for walk-in shower sizing?
I'm renovating my bath and am interested in a walk-in shower area (i.e. no doors). How can I calculate a "safe" distance from the shower head for the door area? Are there design guidelines for ...
4
votes
2answers
468 views
Is the drain cover in my shower sufficient?
I bought a new house about a month ago. In the apartment that I moved from, I had a cheap rubber drain cover that seemed to work very well at preventing hair from getting into the drain, similar to ...
4
votes
2answers
258 views
How do I remove this shower sliding door?
I'm trying to remove the sliding doors of my shower to clean up the rails and also replace a broken "holder" (sorry I don't know the exact name of that part).
Do you have an idea how to remove a ...
4
votes
1answer
111 views
How can I repair damaged epoxy grout in a shower?
I have a small opening in my shower tile floor that is grouted with epoxy grout. It is collecting water. I've dried all the water that has made it in the opening but want to know if I need to use ...
4
votes
1answer
344 views
How can I replace the seal on the bottom of my shower door?
I am trying to replace the seal on the bottom of my shower door. Any ideas what it is called and/or what I could replace it with? The "Shower Door Company" of Atlanta, Georgia made the door, which is ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
How much thinset is enough?
I'm having a shower tiled and I noticed that the tiler didn't put thinset over the entire area, just on the back of individual tiles.
The tiles are heavy stone 3/8x6x12. He used a 1/2 x 1/2 trowel to ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
How to fix a bathtub faucet that leaks only when the shower runs?
I just moved into an apartment and the faucet in the tub is fine when all of the water is off. It leaks when I turn on the water and switch it to the shower head. What could be the problem?
It's a ...
4
votes
1answer
266 views
What is the proper preparation to re-apply silicone caulk?
We have a Swan Stone shower surround that consists of 3 solid surface panels caulked at the corners with a corner molding them applied and caulked.
The previous owners weren't great at things like ...
4
votes
2answers
428 views
What kind of material do I need above the tile line in my shower?
I have a shower with original, 100-year-old tile.
The tile and the drywall-like material above the tile line has survived well, but we're planning to replace it in the entire bathroom due to ...
4
votes
1answer
401 views
Tub Faucet Sticks Out From Wall. How do I fix it?
My bathtub faucet sticks out from the wall so far that you can see the hole in the tile where the pipe comes out.
I am a bit perplexed on how to fix this issue. I have an access hole on the other ...
3
votes
3answers
994 views
3
votes
1answer
2k views
Why am I seeing stagnant water inside the shower drainage pipe hole?
I was cleaning the shower drainage pipe (removing hair etc) in the upstairs bathroom and I can see water around 1 foot deep. See the pic.
Is that normal? Shouldn't the pipe be empty? If water stays ...
3
votes
2answers
134 views
Can disconnecting the cold switch on a shower pump save money?
I've moved into a house that has one twin pump on the hot and cold water pipes (leading from the tanks) to make the upstairs shower more powerful. It works fine in the shower, as it switches itself on ...
3
votes
2answers
631 views
How can I prevent water pooling on a windowsill from getting behind wall tiles in a shower?
I have a windowsill in a shower which had regular 6" ceramic wall tiles over drywall.
Some water had obviously pooled on this, got under the joint at the lip of the tiles and rotted the drywall. So I ...
