About Plumbers, With Honor

The only noise you should hear from your shower is the flow of water. However, sometimes, showers start to make unusual noises when you use them. For example, you might hear high-pitched squealing or whistling sounds. These sounds are a sign that your shower has a problem. What might be wrong?

1. Blockages in Your Showerhead

If you live in a hard water area, then minerals in your water supply create hard scale deposits. This scale can build up inside your showerhead and block some of its nozzles. Your shower might start to make squealing or whistling noises if the water can't get through a blockage.

While you can descale showerheads to fix this problem in its early stages, this solution doesn't always work. A lot of hard scale might be beyond a simple descaling fix. It might be time to invest in a new showerhead.

2. Blockages in Your Shower Pipe

The pipe that supplies water to your shower should be clean and clear. However, over time, these pipes can get clogged. Mineral deposits and scale can start to coat the inside of a pipe. These deposits reduce the internal size of the pipe so less water can run through it. As water tries to force its way past clogs, it comes into contact with deposits. As it pushes through, you might hear whistles and squeaks.

To fix this problem, you either need to clean out the deposits or replace the pipe if it can't be cleaned. This is a job for a plumber. You won't have easy access to this pipe or the tools to clean it.

3. Problems With Shower Parts

Showers can make squealing or whistling noises if they have problems with a part. For example, if your system contains a cartridge, then a blockage can create sounds in the cartridge when you turn your water on.

These sounds are also sometimes due to wear. For example, your shower valve might have worn down. If this valve has a problem, then you might also notice that it's harder to get your water to the right temperature.

If you have a combined bath/shower unit, then you use a diverter control to switch between the faucet and showerhead water flow. If the valve in your control is worn or broken, then it might whistle or squeak. You can often work out if this valve is at fault because the noises will change in tone or stop when you wiggle the control.

If your shower is making unusual noises, then ask a plumber for help. They can find the source of the noise and fix or replace any faulty parts. Contact a local plumber to learn more.