Why is my shower screeching?

For some reason, the plumbing in my shower makes a horrendous  screeching sound. I wanted it to be the mineral build-up on the shower head, but it was not. 

It is one of the single lever systems with some form of built in temperature/pressure balance so that flushing a toilet does not change the shower temp.

Done ny best to ignore it so far, but Mrs NOHOME has declared it above her threshold of annoyance and declared that it shall be fixed either by me or a plumber. I would rather puts the funds toward car parts.

I took the hvac route and not plumbering after tech school because I didn't want to have to deal with poop, so my suggestion is replace all of it and if it still does it call a priest.

Pex and exorcisms are cheapish.

There is a cartridge or multiple cartridges in the valve unit that do the constant pressure and temperature magic. Either wear or buildup causes them to resonate as they adjust and make that terrible noise.  Luckily they are replaceable, the hard part is knowing what parts to buy.  If you can figure out what type of fixture it is look up how to replace them.

Remove the shower head and fire it up, full blast.  If there is no screeching..........

Good water pressure banging through the 1/2" copper tubed 90 degree bends makes noise, but start with the head.

Because it can see you naked!!!   Hahahaha... Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I agree about the pressure balance valve.  If it's a proper brand name, parts should be easily found.  If it's a no name unit, buy a good one and replace it.  

Soldering will be involved, I bet.

Streetwiseguy said:

Because it can see you naked!!!   Hahahaha... Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

Thanks for posting that, so I didn't have to.

Streetwiseguy said:

Because it can see you naked!!!   Hahahaha... Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I was going to write that but felt it was too savage. So kudos to you for going there

In reply to 914Driver :

I could not hear the noise with the head removed, however even after a good clean with CLR, it is there. 

I've had dozens of showers that do this.  It isn't a mineral build up or anything voodoo.  It's the fact that you take a 1/2" line with 25 psi in it and suddenly ask it to change flow in a tiny 1/8" restrictor plate in the head.  You're making the water whistle, and just like any other harmonically tuned instrument, it's going to sing when you make big changes

It's no different than how you make your mouth whistle.  Take all the air in your lungs and push it against a small opening in your lips.

Easy answer.  Take the head off, pull out the little plastic restrictor.  Either leave it out or drill it a few sizes bigger.  Done.

Is there any hesitation at all when it makes that noise?

So, to prove all you smart-asses wrong...took a shower with clothes on and it still screams ;-)

Stops screaming when I move the lever to cold water only...but then I started screaming so no net gain.

I am pretty sure it is time to pull the DELTA cartridge and head off to HD for a new part.

Pete

NOHOME said:

So, to prove all you smart-asses wrong...took a shower with clothes on and it still screams ;-)

Maybe it's the way you dress?

In reply to jstein77 :

Tough room...

lol

NOHOME said:

So, to prove all you smart-asses wrong...took a shower with clothes on and it still screams ;-)

Stops screaming when I move the lever to cold water only...but then I started screaming so no net gain.

I am pretty sure it is time to pull the DELTA cartridge and head off to HD for a new part.

 

Pete

Two things before you spend money.  Try just popping the restrictor out of the shower head.  As you said above, when the head was off, it didn't screech.  I'm telling you... it's the head, not the cartridge.

Second, call up a plumbing supply house and check prices on their Delta cartridge.  HD and Lowes have intense buying power with the big name faucets and more or less force them into making sub-standard parts.  The guts of a box-store faucet are made of plastic and disappointment.  The "real" faucets are made with brass and pride.

I could be proven wrong, but at least that is something easy to check before you spend money.

In reply to Curtis73 :

will do!

Floating Doc said:

Streetwiseguy said:

Because it can see you naked!!!   Hahahaha... Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

Thanks for posting that, so I didn't have to.

Ditto.

Curtis73 said:

I've had dozens of showers that do this.  It isn't a mineral build up or anything voodoo.  It's the fact that you take a 1/2" line with 25 psi in it and suddenly ask it to change flow in a tiny 1/8" restrictor plate in the head.  You're making the water whistle, and just like any other harmonically tuned instrument, it's going to sing when you make big changes

It's no different than how you make your mouth whistle.  Take all the air in your lungs and push it against a small opening in your lips.

Easy answer.  Take the head off, pull out the little plastic restrictor.  Either leave it out or drill it a few sizes bigger.  Done.

This. Remove the restrictor or drill it out.