Shower repairs — Oldham & Greater Manchester
A shower that drips, trickles or leaks through the ceiling below is usually a plumbing fault rather than an electrical one, and most are fixable without ripping the whole enclosure out. I cover mixer showers, electric showers on the plumbing side, and power showers across Oldham and the surrounding area.
Common shower faults
These are the calls I get most about showers going wrong:
- Water leaking through the ceiling or wall below the shower after use
- The mixer valve drips constantly even with the shower off
- Water temperature swings between scalding and cold with no warning
- Low pressure or a weak trickle that used to run fine
- The shower tray or enclosure feels loose or the seal has failed at the base
- A thermostatic cartridge has stuck, so hot and cold no longer balance
- Water pooling at the shower door or tray edge instead of draining away
- A power shower pump that's noisy, cutting out, or losing pressure
Clear quote before any work starts. A call-out fee may apply — always confirmed on the phone before we travel.
How I approach a shower repair
Getting to the actual fault matters more than guessing at parts.
- 01
Establish what type of shower it is
Mixer, electric, power-assisted or digital — each has a different fault pattern. I check what's feeding it and how it's controlled before touching anything. - 02
Trace leaks to their real source
A stain on the ceiling below a shower can come from the tray seal, the waste trap, the mixer valve itself, or even a grout failure letting water behind the tiles. I trace it properly rather than resealing blind and hoping. - 03
Strip and inspect the valve or cartridge
Dripping and temperature swings are usually a worn cartridge, a failed O-ring, or scale build-up inside the valve — especially common on hard water in this area. Where the part is available, it gets replaced rather than the whole valve swapped out. - 04
Check the shower tray, waste and seal
If the leak is coming from below rather than the valve, I check the tray's level, the waste connection underneath, and the silicone seal around the base — a bad fall on the tray will let water sit and find a way through eventually. - 05
Test thoroughly before I leave
Full temperature range, pressure check, and a look underneath or through the ceiling void where access allows, so the leak is genuinely fixed and not just quieter for a week.
What I do and don't touch
I handle the plumbing side of showers fully — mixer valves, pipework, tray and waste connections, thermostatic cartridges, and power shower pumps. Where a shower is fed by a combi boiler or has an electric shower unit with wiring involved, I do not touch the boiler or the electrics — I'm not Gas Safe registered and don't do gas or boiler work at all, and electrical faults on electric showers need a qualified electrician.
Most of what actually goes wrong with showers in older housing stock around Oldham is plumbing rather than electrical anyway: scaled-up cartridges from hard water, tired tray seals, and pipework that's been disturbed during a bathroom refit. That's the part I sort.
If I open a shower up and find the fault is genuinely electrical or on the boiler side, I'll say so plainly and point you toward the right trade rather than pretending I can finish the job.
Is this an emergency, or can it be booked in?
Both are fine — but it helps us prioritise if you know which one you're describing.
- Water is actively coming through a ceiling or light fitting below
- The shower won't turn off or is stuck running
- A leak is soaking into a floor near an electrical socket or consumer unit
- The shower drips but isn't causing damage
- Pressure has dropped gradually over time
- You've noticed a stain that isn't actively growing
- You want the tray reseal done as routine maintenance
Emergency? Here's what to send us
A photo or short video helps too. The more we know before setting off, the less time is wasted when we get there.
Your postcode
So we can tell you straight away whether you're inside the radius we cover.
What the problem is
In your own words — where the water is coming from and how long it's been going on.
A phone number
The best number to reach you on when we're close, so nobody is left waiting at the wrong door.
House or flat
Flats, shared risers and upstairs neighbours change how a leak has to be isolated.
Shower Repairs — common questions
Do you repair electric showers?
I work on the plumbing side — the water feed, pipework and waste connection. Electrical faults inside an electric shower unit need a qualified electrician, and I'll tell you clearly if that's what's wrong.
Do you touch combi boilers that feed the shower?
No — I don't do any gas or boiler work at all. If the fault turns out to be on the boiler side, I'll let you know so you can get a Gas Safe engineer out.
Why does my shower run hot then cold?
Usually a worn or scaled thermostatic cartridge that can no longer balance the mix properly. It's a fairly common repair and often doesn't need the whole valve replacing.
Can you fix a leak without removing all the tiles?
Often, yes — a lot of leaks are at the tray seal, the waste, or the valve itself and can be reached without major tile removal. If tiles do need to come off to get at pipework, I'll explain why before starting.
What will it cost to fix?
You'll get a clear quote before work starts, based on what's actually wrong once I've had a look. A call-out fee may apply and is confirmed on the phone before I travel.
More answers on our plumbing FAQ page and in how it works.
Related jobs we take on
Areas we cover for this
Plumbing emergency right now?
Call and speak to the plumber who will be doing the job — not a call centre. Lines are open 24 hours a day, every day.
You get a clear quote before work starts. A call-out fee may apply — confirmed on the phone before we travel.