Drips after shutoff
A worn cartridge or seals. Wastes water and stains the tub.
★ 4.8 Stars · 8,500+ Google Reviews · Calls answered 24/7
Shower Valve Repair & Replacement in Northern California
Shower dripping all night? Ice-cold blast every time someone flushes? Handle so stiff it takes two hands? Earl's Plumbing fixes the valve behind the wall, often without touching your tile, and upgrades old valves to anti-scald protection.
Call or text (530) 343-0330 — a real person answers calls day or night.
Earl's Plumbing repairs and replaces shower and tub-shower valves throughout Northern California, from Shasta County to Placer County, family-owned since 1998.
We fix dripping showers, temperature swings, stiff handles, and diverters, replace cartridges and valves, convert old two- and three-handle setups, and install anti-scald valves, shower heads, and trim on Moen, Delta, Kohler, and more, with no service call fee.
Call or text (530) 343-0330.
Tile-saving repairs when possible
$0 service call fee
Anti-scald upgrades
Same-day when available
Financing (OAC)
CSLB #772565
Web-only offer
$25 OFF
Shower Valve Repair or Replacement
Mention this page when you call or text, or add "$25 web offer" when you book online.
📞 Claim by Phone 📅 Claim OnlineOffer ends this month. One per household.
🚿 Shower won't shut off? Turn off the main water to the house.
Some valves have their own shutoffs behind an access panel. Then call us — we answer 24/7.
Shower Valve Problems We Fix
The valve is the part behind the handle that mixes hot and cold. When it wears out, you'll know.
Hot-cold swings
Temperature jumps when someone flushes or runs the dishwasher.
Scalding or no hot water
A failing cartridge or a limit stop set wrong. A real safety issue.
Stiff or loose handle
Mineral buildup or worn parts inside the valve.
Diverter problems
Water still pours from the tub spout when the shower's on.
Weak shower flow
Scale in the valve or head, or a cartridge that's failing.
Stains behind the wall
Water on the other side of the shower wall means a hidden leak.
Old 2- or 3-handle valves
Hard to get parts, and no scald protection.
New Cartridge or New Valve?
Most dripping showers need a cartridge, not a whole new valve. We'll tell you which, and quote both when it's close.
Replace the cartridge when…
- The valve body is in good shape
- Parts are still made for your brand
- It's a drip, stiff handle, or temperature issue
- You like the look of your current trim
Replace the valve when…
- The valve body is corroded or leaking in the wall
- Parts are discontinued
- It's an old two- or three-handle setup
- You want anti-scald protection or you're remodeling
Anti-Scald Valves: Steady Temperature, No Surprises
The California Plumbing Code requires showers to have a pressure-balance or thermostatic valve and limits showerhead water to 120°F. Plenty of older homes still don't have one.
⚖️ Pressure-balance valve
- Reacts instantly when hot or cold pressure drops
- Stops the toilet-flush cold blast or hot surge
- The most common choice for homes
- One handle controls on/off and temperature
🌡️ Thermostatic valve
- Holds the exact temperature you set
- Separate controls for volume and temperature
- Great for multiple heads and body sprays
- A premium upgrade for remodels
Sources: California Plumbing Code §408.4 · The CPSC recommends setting water heaters to 120°F. All parts and fixtures we install are lead-free, as California requires.
Shower & Tub Services We Provide
From a single cartridge to a brand-new shower. Moen, Delta, Kohler, and most other brands.
Cartridge replacement
The most common fix for drips and stiff handles.
Valve replacement
New valve body, from behind the wall when possible.
Tub-shower valves & diverters
Combo valves, diverter spouts, and tub fillers.
Anti-scald upgrades
Pressure-balance and thermostatic valves.
2- & 3-handle conversions
One modern handle with scald protection and a cover plate.
Shower heads & handhelds
Rain heads, handheld sprays, and slide bars.
Trim kits
Matching handles, plates, and spouts in your finish.
Surrounds & new showers
Tub and shower surrounds, new showers, and walk-in tubs.
How We Protect Your Tile
Most people's first question is "Do you have to tear out my shower?" Usually, no.
Diagnose from the front
We pull the handle and trim to check the cartridge and valve body first.
Fix it without opening the wall
Cartridges, seals, stops, and trim all come out through the front.
Go in from behind if needed
A closet or access panel behind the shower is the cleanest way in.
Small opening, covered clean
If we must go through tile, it's the smallest cut possible, hidden by an oversized trim plate. Explained before we start.
Why Homeowners Call Earl's for Shower Valves
A drip is a small problem. We keep it that way.
Cartridge first
If a cartridge fixes it, that's what we'll recommend, not a new valve.
Tile-saving approach
We work from the front or behind whenever we can.
Code-compliant valves
Anti-scald protection and lead-free parts on every new valve.
No service call fee
Free quote before any work. You decide, no pressure.
Same-day when available
Calls answered 24/7. A shower that won't shut off gets priority.
100% satisfaction guarantee
If it's not right, we make it right. 28 years and three local offices behind that.
That Drip Is Louder at 2 AM
A dripping shower is easy to ignore during the day. At night, in a quiet house, it's all you can hear. And every drip is water and money going down the drain.
Here's the good news: most of the time it's a cartridge, and we can fix it without touching your tile. If the valve really is worn out, or it's one of those old three-handle setups, we'll show you the options, explain exactly what has to be opened, and give you one price before we start. While we're in there, we'll make sure nobody gets scalded when someone flushes.
— Clinton EarlOwner, Earl's Plumbing · Your Friend in the Business
28
Years serving Northern CA
8,500+
Google reviews
$0
Service call fee
24/7
Calls answered
Chico 4.8 ★ · 5,039 reviews
Redding 4.8 ★ · 2,527 reviews
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Call or Text Your Nearest Earl's Office
Three local offices covering eight Northern California counties. Every line takes calls and texts.
Redding
Redding · Anderson · Cottonwood · Shasta Lake · Palo Cedro · Red Bluff · Corning
(530) 244-3275
Schedule Shower Valve Repair Online — Free Quote
Book in about a minute, right here on the page. Mention "$25 web offer" in your notes and we'll apply it.
1Pick your service
2Choose a time that works
3Get a confirmation — done
Rather talk to a person? Call or text (530) 343-0330 — we answer 24/7.
Shower won't shut off? Call for the fastest scheduling: (530) 343-0330.
Shower Valve Questions, Answered
Drips, temperature swings, anti-scald valves, and your tile. Straight answers here.
Why does my shower keep dripping after I turn it off?
A shower that drips after it is turned off almost always has a worn cartridge or worn washers and seats inside the valve. Mineral buildup from hard water speeds up the wear. Replacing the cartridge usually stops the drip without opening the wall. If the valve body is corroded or parts are no longer made, the valve may need replacing.
Why does my shower get hot or cold when someone flushes?
A flushing toilet or running dishwasher pulls cold water pressure away from the shower. A pressure-balance or thermostatic shower valve adjusts instantly to keep the temperature steady. Many older valves have no such protection, or the balancing part inside has worn out. A new cartridge or an anti-scald valve upgrade usually fixes it.
What is an anti-scald shower valve?
An anti-scald valve protects against sudden temperature changes. A pressure-balance valve reacts to pressure drops on the hot or cold side, and a thermostatic valve holds a set temperature. The California Plumbing Code requires showers and tub-shower combinations to have one of these valve types and limits showerhead water to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Should I replace the shower cartridge or the whole valve?
Replace the cartridge when the valve body is in good shape and parts are available. It is the quicker, lower-cost fix for drips, stiff handles, and temperature problems. Replace the whole valve when the body is corroded or leaking, parts are discontinued, it is an old two- or three-handle setup, or you are remodeling the shower anyway.
Can a shower valve be replaced without tearing out the tile?
Often, yes. When there is a closet or access panel behind the shower, we can replace the valve from the back. When there is not, we work through the smallest opening possible and cover it with an oversized trim plate made for this purpose. We explain exactly what has to be opened and how it will be finished before any work begins.
Can you convert an old two- or three-handle shower to a single handle?
Yes. Earl's Plumbing replaces old two- and three-handle tub and shower valves with a modern single-handle valve that includes scald protection. The new trim usually needs a larger cover plate to hide the old handle holes, or a small tile repair. We will show you the trim options and quote the conversion before starting.
What temperature should my water heater be set to?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends setting your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent scald burns, especially in homes with young children or older adults. If your shower still gets dangerously hot at that setting, or swings in temperature, the shower valve is the next thing to check.
How much does shower valve repair cost?
It depends on whether it's a cartridge, a full valve, or a conversion, and on how we can reach the pipes. A cartridge swap is a much smaller job than a new valve behind tile. We don't charge a service call fee, you'll get a free quote first, and online customers get $25 off.