shower knob turns but no water

Why Shower Knob Turns But No Water

If water does not flow out of your shower tap, it might be due to different factors, including not settling your water bill or having a leak somewhere in the house. 

If you crank the shower knob and still no water comes out (despite paying your bills), the valve or the handle might be defective. To figure it out, detach the faucet handle and examine the indents on the valve stem, then check the holes in the slot within the handle. 

You should see a pattern of distinct ridges on both sides. 

The best remedy is to replace the stripped valve stem or the handle. However, if you have a rarely customized faucet, you can find replacement components in regular hardware stores. 

If you are so eager to see water shooting from the shower, this post outlines ways to achieve that. 

Reasons Shower Knob Turns But No Water

Here are the reasons your shower knob turns, but no water comes out.

1) Clogged Shower Head

Mineral deposits might build up within the showerhead, causing the fixture to reach a breaking point. Water will ultimately strike a wall of difficult-to-pass mineral formations. 

Consequently, all you can from your shower head is a trickle or no water. 

2) Malfunctioned Water Diverter Valve

This piece is exclusively responsible for transferring water from the pipeline to the showerhead. If it cannot fulfill its duty, the water pressure drops, and the water finally stops flowing to the showerhead.

3) Reduced Water Pressure

Reduced water pressure occurs based on the underlying pipework and the operation of the home’s water system. Problems in this area will show in different water-based installations around the house. 

4) The Main Water Line Is Disconnected

Disconnection of the main water line could stem from a damaged water pipe or you turning it off for various reasons. 

Examine the other faucets in the house to ascertain if this is the issue. You’ll note that none of them is leaking water. 

5) Aging Shower Head

An aging shower head is another reason your shower knob turns but no water jets out of the shower nozzle. The internal parts deteriorate, causing water to back up. 

Water can slow to a trickle, rendering the showerhead inoperable. Therefore, your best bet is to replace the showerhead right away.

See also How to fix single handle shower faucet no water

How To Remedy Shower Knob Turns But No Water

Luckily, there are a few simple techniques to troubleshoot a non-functioning shower faucet. Here are some of them: 

1) Narrow Down The Problem

Determine whether the issue is with the shower, the water system in the entire restroom, or the house’s water supply. Are the faucets in the rest of the home functioning properly? 

If no water flows from any faucet, the issue might be with the house’s water system. Make sure there are no leaks.

Examine the area for any standing water, water leaks, or fresh water-related damage to the walls or ceilings. If you detect any of these problems, it would be wise to contact a plumber. 

If that is not the issue, try turning on the water in your shower first, followed by the other taps in your house.

It’s also conceivable that silt accumulation at the bottom of the tank is causing it to malfunction. 

2) Inspect The Water Flow Valves

If the water problem is limited to the shower, the chief reason is that something disturbed the water supply valve and turned it off. Plumbers usually position the water supply valve beneath the bathroom sink. However, it can occasionally be found just underneath the bathroom, ordinarily in the basement. 

If the water supply valve is disconnected, crank it back on, and the water should flow again. If no water is coming out of your bathroom taps, the same thing might have transpired in the water piping system to the restroom. 

Ensure the knob is turned on. If not, switch it back on and try the sinks, loo, and shower to ensure they are now operational. 

A cracked or corroded rubber ring is a typical source of defective shower valves. The best part is that this is a simple and inexpensive repair because you need to change the worn ring alone.

NOTE: It’s worth mentioning that you can’t just change the shower valve stem; you must replace the whole valve.

See also Can You Shower in a Clawfoot Tub

3) Check The Showerhead

After establishing the water supply valve is not the problem, examine the showerhead. 

When attempting to install a showerhead, it is conceivable that the configuration will be incorrect. You may have messed around with the showerhead and set it to cut off the water. 

Rust and mineral particles, as well as other deposits, maybe prevent water from passing through. It might be the situation if the water pressure progressively reduced over time until it ultimately stopped operating. 

Disconnect the showerhead by turning off the shower piping. If it’s stuck, throw a towel over the joint between the pipe and the showerhead. 

You can use pliers or a wrench to get more leverage. Examine the state of the showerhead and the linking pipe.

Ensure that the setup enables the showerhead to pass water, or else even the top-tier shower head on the globe will be ineffective.

4) Clean The Showerhead

If your showerhead needs cleaning, dip it in white vinegar throughout the night. The vinegar will dissolve the accumulation, allowing improved water flow through the showerhead. 

If necessary, scrape the notches of the pipe threads while cleaning the shower pipe. After cleaning and clearing the showerhead, reattach it to the piping by twisting it. 

If cleaning using vinegar doesn’t yield desired results, you might want to inspect the filter screen within the showerhead. If you don’t have a showerhead’s instruction manual, you can always find it online; and then follow the directions for uninstalling the filter.

After removing the filter screen, follow guidelines for cleaning it, which are usually best achieved by running the component underwater until it becomes clear. 

If you’re still experiencing difficulties, call a professional to mend or replace a non-return valve or a broken shower hose. 

Read also Why new moen shower valve no water

FAQ on Shower Knob Turns But no Water

1. Why Is There No Water Coming Out My Shower?

A clogged showerhead is a common cause of water shortage from a shower. The buildup of limescale and grime within the showerhead might prevent water from flowing out.

In addition, water may not reach the showerhead due to faulty valves or broken pipes. 

2. Why Is There No Water Coming Out Of My Tub Faucet?

If your bathtub faucet does not allow water to flow at its standard rate, the most common cause is low water pressure within the supply lines. If that is not the problem, look at other possibilities-you can find most of them within the shower diverter or the faucet components. 

Final Thoughts 

Water may not come out of the showerhead satisfactorily because mineral deposits have clogged it, the showerhead is deteriorating, someone turned off the main water line, or the showerhead is positioned incorrectly.

Uninstall the showerhead and retest the water flow to check whether it is still coming. If it does, reset the cartridge and firmly replace the showerhead. 

The guide included in this post should restore your shower’s functionality. Be patient with each phase to ensure that it lasts long and does not disappoint.

See also can you put two shower heads on opposite walls

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