Temple Hills was built mainly from the 1950s through the 1970s, with a median home from around 1973, so many showers still have older valves that drip or lack pressure balancing. A worn washer, stem or cartridge is the usual cause. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Temple Hills.
Temple Hills showers
Temple Hills is largely garden apartments, duplexes and single-family neighborhoods from the post-war decades, near the Green Line and Joint Base Andrews. Bathrooms from that period commonly have two-handle valves or early single-lever designs, and a number of them have never been replaced. WSSC Water supplies the area, treating river water with chlorine and a corrosion inhibitor, and owns the service line up to the property line. In a duplex or apartment, the valve may sit on a wall shared with the unit next door, which affects how it can be reached. A valve that has gone decades without service usually has hardened washers or a stiff cartridge rather than anything exotic. If your shower is giving trouble, start here.
Steps to take now
- Stop water that will not shut off. Use the stops behind the trim if they exist, or close the house main. In an apartment, call building maintenance too.
- Check the hot water elsewhere. Compare the shower with the bathroom sink to separate a valve problem from a water heater problem.
- Test for surges. Have someone flush a toilet while you hold a hand under the shower. A spike in heat means no balancing.
- Look for hidden water. Check the wall behind the shower and the ceiling below for stains or soft spots.
- Record details. Note how many handles there are, any brand marking, and the wall surface.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Probable cause |
|---|---|
| Drip from the showerhead | Hardened washers or worn cartridge seals |
| Shower scalds when a toilet flushes | Old valve with no pressure balancing |
| Handle tight, gritty or loose | Corroded stem, mineral film or stripped splines |
| Spout runs while the shower is on | Worn diverter |
| Damp drywall behind the tub | Leak at the valve body or a pipe joint |
What moves the cost
- Parts versus valve. Washers, stems and cartridges cost much less to fit than a new valve body.
- Valve age. Older brands may have no parts, making replacement the only route.
- Access. Shared walls in duplexes and apartments can limit how a valve is reached.
- Connected piping. Older supply pipe may need short replacements.
- Permits. Plumbing permits come from WSSC Water, not Prince George's County; simple fixture replacement generally needs none.
Shower Valve Repair questions in Temple Hills
Why does my shower turn scalding or icy when someone flushes a toilet?
Is a pressure-balancing or thermostatic valve worth the upgrade?
What should I do if the shower won't shut off?
What kind of valve is likely behind the trim in an older home here?
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