Failure Problems & Plumbing Blockage With a Shower Faucet Injector

Hard Water Deposits

• The blockage in the shower faucet injector may be the result of hard water. According to the DIY Home Repairs website, calcium buildup is the most common cause of showerhead- or faucet-related clogs. The presence of hard water results in an accumulation of calcium deposits, which over time will clog the injector and block water flow. Unscrew the showerhead or sprayer and submerge it in a bowl of white vinegar for at least 24 hours to dissolve the buildup. However, if the injector is wall-mounted, you can pour vinegar in a plastic bag and tie it to the shower’s faucet to let the injector soak in this solution. You can also pour the vinegar into a spray bottle and squirt this solution into the injector; leave it for an hour, then rinse.

Sediment

• An accumulation of sediment and other debris will form a blockage in the shower faucet injector, resulting in a water flow failure. Depending on the severity of the blockage, there may be limited water flow or the water may be completely hindered from coming out of the injector. The sediment and debris may be a result of dirt coming into the shower from the main water supply provided by your city’s water company. If you can unscrew the showerhead to reach the injector, you will notice a small plastic disk inside of it. Slowly pry the disk out and use a straight pin and clean water to clear debris from the disk’s tiny holes. If the shower faucet injector is wall-mounted, try to disassemble it for cleaning or push a straight pin through the holes to dislodge the sediment.

Loose Parts

• Loose shower parts may also cause injector failure. There are various rubber parts in a shower valve, and the routine wear and tear they experience causes deterioration. Eventually damaged, broken pieces get carried by the water flow into the injector, resulting in blockage. If this is the case, take the injector apart to locate and remove the broken pieces to restore proper water flow.

Shower Settings

• Inadvertently changing the shower’s settings can cause a plumbing blockage in the shower faucet injector, preventing water flow. Depending on the model of your shower, there is a knob on either the shower or the tub spout that determines whether water flows from the shower or the tub. If this device is switched to “tub,” water will fail to come out of the shower faucet injector. However, changing the setting to “shower” will restore water flow to the shower faucet injector.