Shower Valve Repair in Arvada, CO

What kind of valve is likely behind my Arvada shower trim?

It depends on when the house was built and whether the bathroom has been redone. Arvada grew quickly after World War II from its farming past, and Census survey figures put the median build year at 1979, with about 52% of homes built before 1980. Houses from the postwar decades, including many near Olde Town, often have two- or three-handle compression valves or early single-lever designs. Homes built or remodeled since the 1990s usually have pressure-balancing single-lever valves. A plumber identifies the valve once the trim is off, and that tells you whether parts are available or whether a replacement makes more sense.

Does Arvada's water wear out shower valves faster?

Not noticeably. The City of Arvada treats water at its Ralston and Arvada plants, and its report gives average hardness of about 43 ppm at Ralston and 65 ppm at Arvada, both on the soft side. The city disinfects with chlorine. Soft water leaves little scale, so most valve failures here come from ordinary wear on rubber and plastic parts rather than mineral buildup. A few areas inside city limits are served by other districts, such as Ralston Valley or Consolidated Mutual, and your bill shows which one serves you.

Will I need a permit to fix my shower valve in Arvada?

For a cartridge or seal kit, usually not. Arvada Building Services requires permits before installing or replacing plumbing appliances such as water heaters, and contractors with an active City of Arvada license apply online while homeowners apply in person at City Hall on Ralston Road. Replacing the valve body and its piping is more likely to fall under the permit rules, so ask the plumber or call Building Services at 720-898-7620 before that kind of job.

A local note

If a shower will not shut off and the house valve fails, Arvada's utility line for main breaks and customer service is 720-898-7070. Arvada also prohibits lead and pre-1960 galvanized service lines in its system and runs an inventory and replacement program, worth knowing if your older house is due for wider plumbing work while the walls are open.