As with almost all aspects of your home, you may find things start to go wrong with your shower over the years.
However, it doesn't always mean you have to replace your system completely. Sometimes there's a solution that requires you to simply buy a new part or conduct a little bit of maintenance. Like a car, your shower would benefit from a service every once in a while, just to make sure everything is running smoothly.
To help you to save some hard-earned cash and stop you from ripping your current bathroom out in the process, here's a few common issues you may encounter with your shower that can be easily solved.
My shower's heating is all wrong
Whether your shower won't heat up at all or you can't get it to a temperature that won't scald you, this can make taking a shower either an uncomfortable experience or a nigh-on impossibility.
There are a number of reasons why something may be wrong here. If your shower is electric, then the connection to the power supply should be your first point of call. Once you have ruled this out, then other issues that could be causing you trouble could be a faulty heating element or thermostat.
Some showers also contain an anti-scald safety adjustment that may be malfunctioning if you can't seem to get the water running hot.
However, if the temperature is too high, then it may be worth checking the stop tap is fully open and the sprayhead is clean. A build-up of limescale in the heater can also contribute to this, so there are plenty of aspects to consider before calling in a professional.
No pressure!
There are fewer things more disappointing than stepping into the shower in the morning and being greeted with a trickle of water, as opposed to a blast.
Just like managing the temperature of your shower, there are a number of reasons why your water pressure may be less than satisfying - some of which won't even involve you spending a penny to solve them.
If you're lucky, arguably the easiest solution to poor water pressure is to check your shower head isn't blocked. These can be removed and checked without difficulty and - following a good clean - can sometimes be all that's needed.
However, if that doesn't do the trick, then one of the first things to check next is the plumbing itself, as pipes that are in poor condition due to rust or corrosion can result in them becoming clogged up. Similarly, if they are quite old, it may be that they are too wide for modern showers and this can be rectified by installing pipe reduction apparatus.
If the loss of pressure has happened suddenly, it could be worth calling your utility provider to find out if there is a problem with the network, as opposed to just you.
There's a leak
A leaking shower can cause a host of problems, with worse-case scenarios involving damp caused by the water finding its way into your walls or floor via holes in between tiles.
One of the most common causes when it comes to addressing leaks is poor or old sealant. If you or your plumber did an inadequate job in sealing the shower and thereby waterproofing it, this can result in major trouble if nothing is done to improve the situation.
Just like sealant, grout is another element that, if applied poorly, can cause long-term damage to your bathroom when water inevitably finds its way through to permeate the walls.
Sometimes, the shower tray could be the source of any leaks if it has not been installed properly. A common issue is when the legs of the tray have not been level set, therefore any line of protection offered by sealant will be compromised if the tray moves, as it will be pulled away from the wall.
If the leak is coming from the shower itself, it may be a case of simply tightening up the shower hose and head or checking for broken nuts or washers. However, internal problems that might be occurring within an electric shower to cause the leak might mean you have to replace the unit completely.
My shower is coming off the wall
If you have accidentally banged into your shower and knocked it off the wall, then this is obviously something that needs to be rectified as soon as possible.
For a start, your water pipes alone will not be strong enough to support the shower unit and if it is no longer attached to the wall, then this will cause undue pressure on the pipes themselves, which could cause further damage.
If you have an electric shower this could prove to be even more risky as there is a chance the wiring inside could be exposed to moisture - something that has the potential to cause dangerous shocks.
To reattach it, you may need to remove the casing to screw the fittings back to the wall. However, if the shower is plastic and has subsequently cracked, it may be that you need to purchase replacement parts or a new shower completely.