You should replace a shower valve if it leaks behind the wall, won’t hold a temperature, won’t shut off fully, scalds you when other fixtures run, or is corroded and seeping at the trim. Modern code in Washington and Idaho requires a pressure-balance or thermostatic anti-scald valve, so older non-pressure-balance valves are also good candidates for replacement.
Signs it’s time
- Leak inside the wall (often a stain on adjacent wall or ceiling below)
- Sudden hot-water surges when toilet flushes
- Won’t fully shut off or stays at one temperature
- Trim shows corrosion or pitting
- Pre-1990s non-anti-scald valve
We replace valves with proper anti-scald models through our shower plumbing service.
