Quick Fixes for Shower Knobs

Hot is Cold, and Cold is Hot

• If you turn your single handle faucet to hot, and cold water comes out of your shower head, or and vice versa, your handle might have been installed upside down. To reinstall the handle the right way, remove the plastic center cap with a flat head screwdriver. Unscrew the Phillips screw holding your shower faucet knob in place, then pull the knob off the valve beneath. Flip the knob around and replace it in the proper position. Tighten the screw and put the plastic cap back. The water controls should now work as expected.

Squeaky Knobs

• If your shower faucet knobs squeak when you turn the water on and off, try applying some grease to smooth things out. Remove the knob or knobs from the faucet. Locate the threads on which the knobs turn. Apply a coating of plumber's grease to the threads so the entire surface is covered. This will eliminate the friction which is causing the noises, and should prevent it from returning for the long haul. Replace the knobs, then turn the water on and off to work the grease into each groove of the knob threads. The sound should be gone, and the knobs may even be easier to turn.

Loose Knobs

• Your shower faucet knobs might become loose over time with normal use. Besides being annoying to you, loose knobs can damage the valve stem within your shower faucet as they slip over the grooves that they are meant to grip and turn. This constant scraping wears away the grooves on both ends, and can result in both a stripped knob and valve, neither of which will turn at all. To fix loose knobs, remove the knobs to access the valve stem beneath. Use Teflon tape to wrap the valve stem until it is thick enough to fill the space between it and the inside of the knob. Replace the knob and check that all is tight.

The Right Faucet

• If it is time to replace your shower faucet, choosing the right one can go a long way toward making the job quicker and easier. Choose a new faucet that has the same basic makeup as your old one. For example, if you have faucet with two knobs, replace it with a faucet with two knobs. When selecting your new faucet, consider quality as much as design. Shower faucets are not as easy to work on, or replace as sink faucets. Choosing one that will last a long time, and work well, is important.