Englewood's housing is mostly older, so a dripping or temperamental shower may have an aging two-handle valve or early single-lever model behind the trim. Many can be repaired with a cartridge or rebuild kit, but the City of Englewood lists bath and shower valves among work that needs a permit. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Englewood.
Englewood homes and water
Englewood has some of the older housing in the south metro. Census survey figures show a median build year of 1964, with about two-thirds of homes built before 1980, and the northwest part of the city has houses dating from the 1910s. Older bathrooms here often hold two- or three-handle compression valves or early single-lever designs. Some are still rebuildable; others are long discontinued.
Englewood Utilities runs its own system independent of Denver Water, drawing from the South Platte River and storing water in McLellan Reservoir. At the Allen Water Treatment Plant the water gets free chlorine, ultraviolet treatment and chloramines to maintain a residual in the pipes. That treatment affects aquarium owners and some filters more than shower parts.
Permits are spelled out clearly. The City of Englewood Building Division lists bath and shower drains and valves, along with water line alterations, as work that needs a permit, while a direct toilet or sink replacement does not. Homeowners who do their own work file an affidavit. Applications go through the city's online permit system.
What the fix usually looks like
| What you have | Typical route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Two-handle valve, parts available | Rebuild stems and seats | Keeps original tile in place |
| Two-handle valve, no parts | Replace with single-lever valve | Needs a permit in Englewood |
| Newer single-lever valve dripping | New cartridge | Worn seals inside the cartridge |
| Temperature swings on a flush | Balancing cartridge or new valve | Older valves may lack balancing |
| Galvanized supply lines at the valve | Replace valve and nearby pipe | Old pipe can restrict flow |
Signs worth calling about
- Handles that need more force each month to stop a drip
- Scalding or cold bursts when a toilet flushes
- Low flow at the shower alone
- Stains on the ceiling below an upstairs bath
Timing
Winter's colder supply water exposes valves that can no longer mix enough hot water. If the valve needs replacing, plan around the permit, and if new tile is planned, settle the valve first. Englewood also runs a Lead Reduction Program that replaces lead and older galvanized service lines with copper, worth asking about if your home is older. For water emergencies, Englewood Utilities is at 303-762-2635 during business hours and 303-762-2650 after hours.
Shower Valve Repair questions in Englewood
Is a permit needed to replace a shower valve here?
Our house is decades old. What kind of shower valve is likely behind the trim?
Can an older two- or three-handle shower valve be rebuilt?
Why does the shower turn scalding or icy when someone flushes or runs water elsewhere?
More plumbing services in Englewood
Shower Valve Repair nearby
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