About 44% of Dunwoody homes were built before 1980, many in the 1970s, so a dripping or erratic shower here often has an older valve with worn stems, washers or cartridge. A plumber can rebuild or replace it, and Dunwoody covers plumbing repairs with single-trade permits. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Dunwoody.
Dunwoody's housing and the valve behind the trim
Census survey data put the median Dunwoody home at 1984, with about 44% built before 1980 and roughly 28% in the 1970s alone. Established neighborhoods around Dunwoody Village hold much of that stock, where two-handle valves and early single-lever designs are common. Those need stems, washers and seats or a hard-to-find cartridge.
DeKalb County Watershed Management supplies water and sewer; the city runs neither. DeKalb is responsible from the main through the meter, and the owner from there to the house. Dunwoody's single-trade component permits cover stand-alone plumbing repairs, and work may not begin until the permit is issued, so ask the plumber how that applies to your valve.
Many 1970s Dunwoody homes have had at least one bathroom remodel, so the trim on the wall may be newer than the valve behind it. The plumber identifies the actual body before ordering anything. If replacement wins out, a pressure-balancing valve is the natural choice, since many original 1970s valves have no protection against sudden temperature changes. Ranch and split-level layouts often put a hall closet behind the shower, which can make reaching the valve easier.
What to do right now
- If the shower won't shut off, close the main valve to the house.
- Count the handles and look for a brand on the trim.
- Note whether the problem is a drip, temperature swings or weak flow.
- Check for loose tile around the handles and stains below the bathroom.
- Check a closet or hall behind the shower for an access panel.
- Ask the plumber about the city permit before work starts.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Drip from two-handle valve | Worn washer or seat |
| Drip from single-lever valve | Worn cartridge seals |
| Hot surges | No pressure balancing, or a worn balancing spool |
| Handle must be forced closed | Worn stem or seat |
| Rusty water at first | Older galvanized pipe shedding rust |
What affects the cost
- Rebuild or replace: new stems and seats usually cost less than a new body.
- Parts: 1970s valves may need specialty parts.
- Walls: older tile without access adds repair work.
- Permit: Dunwoody's single-trade permit applies to plumbing repairs.
- Upgrade: a pressure-balancing replacement adds scald protection.
Shower Valve Repair questions in Dunwoody
Can an old two-handle or three-handle shower valve be rebuilt?
Do I need a permit to replace a shower valve here?
Is an anti-scald or thermostatic valve worth the upgrade?
How can I tell if the valve is leaking inside the wall?
More plumbing services in Dunwoody
Shower Valve Repair nearby
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