Spencer has one of the oldest housing stocks in the area, so a dripping or unreliable shower here is often a decades-old valve that needs rebuilding or replacing. Many older valves can still be serviced if parts exist. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Spencer.
Spencer's older homes
Spencer grew up around Southern Railway's Spencer Shops, now the NC Transportation Museum. About 76% of Spencer homes were built before 1980 and about 34% before 1940, per Census survey data, with a median build year of 1950. That means many bathrooms have two- or three-handle compression valves, some of them original, and some may be fed by aging supply piping. Water comes from Salisbury-Rowan Utilities, which disinfects with chlorine rather than chloramine, per its 2022 report. In houses this old, a plumber also looks at the pipe that feeds the valve, since a new valve on a corroded supply line can simply move the leak a few inches.
What to do now
- Close the main shutoff if the shower won't stop running. SRU maintains the line from the main to the meter; the owner is responsible from the meter to the house.
- Don't force a stiff handle, since an old stem can break and make things worse.
- Check for leaks on walls and ceilings near the bathroom.
- Count the handles and note any brand name to help the plumber prepare.
- Look for an access panel behind the shower wall.
Signs and their usual causes
| Sign | Usual cause |
|---|---|
| Constant drip from the showerhead | Worn washers or seats in an older valve |
| Handle turns past where it used to stop | Worn stem or stripped parts |
| Rusty or discolored water at the shower | Aging pipe feeding the valve |
| Temperature jumps when water is used elsewhere | No pressure balancing on an older valve |
| Water stains near the shower | Leak at the valve or its connections |
Cost factors
- Rebuilding with stems, washers and seats versus replacing the valve
- Parts availability for an older valve
- Opening plaster or tile walls, common in older homes
- Replacing old supply pipe at the same time
- New trim for a new valve
Rowan County Building Inspections handles plumbing permits for Spencer if the valve is replaced. Utility gas heats about 39% of homes in ZIP 28159, higher than most nearby ZIPs, so if a lukewarm shower turns out to be a water heater problem, note whether yours runs on gas or electricity when you call.
Shower Valve Repair questions in Spencer
Our shower has separate hot and cold handles. Can that kind of valve still be repaired?
Should an older shower valve be swapped for an anti-scald model?
The shower won't turn off. How do I stop the water?
When is a new cartridge enough, and when does the whole valve need replacing?
More plumbing services in Spencer
Shower Valve Repair nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: