Repair of a shower cabin: how to repair popular damage to a shower cabin with your own hands

Checked by a specialist: Nikolay Fedorenko

Author: Tatyana Zakharova

Last update: April 2019

Beautiful plastic booths quickly filled the world market and quietly moved to the apartments of citizens and houses of rural residents. They were loved for their practicality and functionality.

Over time, some elements of the boxes fail, while others wear out. However, skilled owners repair the shower cabin and repair or replace parts on their own. We will introduce you to methods for eliminating common breakdowns and malfunctions of this type of plumbing equipment.

The content of the article:

Overview of common failures
Shower Cabin Repair Instructions
When is specialist help needed?
Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Overview of common failures

Economical showers with a minimum of functions or expensive hydromassage boxes are designed for daily hygiene - taking a shower.

Some of them can be used as a bath. These are complex devices consisting of many parts. There are a lot of modifications of the boxes: from open ones resembling an ordinary shower with protective partitions to closed, hermetic and stuffed with electronics.

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Now the factory models are making room, letting in simple, but very comfortable showers with partitions. A tilted floor, a walk-in shower and plastic doors are all you need to make them

An open cabin, which can also be done independently. Sheets of tempered glass, a durable plastic tray, floor drains and plumbing mounted on the wall will be required.

The advantage of a budget solution is to save money and space. If you replace the bathtub with a small cabin, you can free up space for the washing machine

Volumetric cab takes up more space, but it is functional. Among the popular features - bath effect, jacuzzi, tropical rain, radio and the Internet

The simplest version of the shower

Model with a plastic pallet

Inexpensive shower 90 * 90

Shower box with a range of additional functions

Do-it-yourself simple models break down without traditional pallet, and complex factory designs, while some of the problems are common.For example, in any of the presented cabs, the protective screen may crack or the mixer may fail.

The list of breakdowns that users of shower boxes often face:

wear of the ladder or the hydraulic lock installed under the bottom;
deformation of the pallet or the appearance of cracks on its surface;
mechanical damage to doors or shields;
breakage of door rollers or hinges responsible for opening;
failure of shower equipment - watering can, hose, faucet.

For complex, electronically controlled models, electrical parts may break or software failures may occur.

Only specialists can deal with electronics on their own, broken glass, drain device or deformed shower box It is better to replace it, however minor damage can be repaired by yourself.

For example, to repair the rollers, restore the pallet, clean the plumbing filter or clean the scratches on the plastic screen, even an amateur can afford it.

Shower Cabin Repair Instructions

Professional repair is another waste of the household budget, and sometimes urgent restoration of parts is sometimes required. Therefore, we will find out how to fix a broken shower stall yourself, without involving qualified craftsmen. Consider only those situations in which special skills are not needed.

How to restore the performance of the mixer?

The structure of the built-in shower mixer is different from the traditional type, installed on the sink or above the bathroom.

It consists of a control unit - two handles and working communications - a thin tube system. The first ceramic cartridge with holes is responsible for switching hot / cold water, the second controls the flow of water in the right direction.

To get to the cartridges, it is necessary to remove the decorative pads and unscrew the fixing nuts. Even monolithic, at first glance, handles always have a collapsible design

It is possible to understand that the cartridge is defective or the housing element has cracked due to a leak. Water begins to leak either when the tap is turned on or continuously. In the first case, the seal is likely to wear, in the second - a crack on the cartridge.

The reverse is also possible - water does not enter the shower well. This is due to clogging: over time, the holes become clogged with calcareous or corrosive deposits.

To cope with the problem, it is necessary to dismantle the entire mixer unit. For work, you need a set of screwdrivers, flat-nose pliers. Purpose: disassemble the mixer, find the cause of the leak, repair or replace the part, install the unit in place.

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Having removed the mixer from the cab wall, unscrew the handles to get to the cartridge. You need to act carefully so as not to damage the decorative elements

In the process of disassembling, we check the degree of wear of replaceable elements - cartridges, seals. Most likely, somewhere there was a crack through which water appears

To make sure that the cause of the leak is really a breakdown, we remove the cartridge from the “slot” and inspect the plastic surfaces from all sides

One of the possible reasons is a crack on the plastic insert, the result of long use. It can be sealed with a special waterproof glue for plumbing plastic

To seal the crack, you need to remove the cartridge. Usually this is achieved by simple unscrewing. If parts are difficult to detach, take pliers and carefully rotate the plastic liner

The cartridge case consists entirely of plastic, so we check it for cracks. If they are found, glue in the same way as the liner

At the same time, we carry out preventive work - we remove sand deposits from metal parts with an emery cloth. As a result, the gaskets must be pressed firmly against them.

After the glue has dried, and all other parts are cleaned, install the cartridge in the "slot". Check the repair by blowing. If air does not pass - repair is completed

Step 1 - disassembling the control unit

Step 2 - checking the integrity of the elements

Step 3 - diagnosing cartridge status

Step 4 - detect the cause of the leak

Step 5 - removing the liner from the housing

Step 6 - checking the surface of the case

Step 7 - Stripping Metal Parts

Step 8 - reinserting the cartridge

Sizing cracks is a temporary fix to the problem. In order for the mixer to continue to perform all available functions, it is necessary to replace shower cartridge on a new one.

However, preventive cleaning of metal and plastic parts does not hurt. In order to reduce limescale, we recommend using filters both special for shower cabins and general ones installed on water supply pipes.

Recommendations for pallet restoration

Cast-iron and even steel pallets are not used in shower cabins. New models are made from acrylic - a durable, “warm”, lightweight material.

But the acrylic bottom has a huge minus - frequent breakdowns due to the large weight of the person taking a shower, or due to mechanical damage. In both cases, cracks form through which water flows out.

The new pallet has a smooth shiny surface, without cracks, chips and scuffs. This is a sealed base with a hole for draining used water into the sewer

If water began to flow from under the base of the cabin, the bottom was significantly deformed or cracks became visible - this is a signal for urgent repair.

A small fray can be restored without removing the pallet from its place, but for a thorough repair it is necessary to disassemble the booth and dismantle the base.

Tool for work:

spatula, chisel, stationery knife, sandpaper - to remove the acrylic layer;
drill with nozzles and engraver - for cleaning the base and cracks;
brushes for applying glue and acrylic fill.

To completely renew the pallet, first you need to remove the old acrylic layer, clean all surfaces, make a patch of fiberglass on the outside and acrylic fill on the inside.

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Manually or with the help of improvised tools, we completely remove the old acrylic to free the base and clean the cracks on both sides. This is a simple procedure requiring only patience. After this, cracks are easily detected.

Using a grinder, we first clean the inner surface, removing the remnants of acrylic, then the outer one from dirt. Manually, with sandpaper, the same will have to do much longer. Separately process the edges of the cracks - so as not to protrude

Degrease the outer surface of the pallet with a solvent (acetone), prepare an epoxy-based adhesive. Apply glue in a thick layer, then gently place pieces of fiberglass on the holes and carefully coat the top with glue again. Waiting for drying

Pre-degrease the surface, grind irregularities or gloss over with automotive putty. We clean so that even pores are not left, then gently fill with a ready-made liquid solution, starting from the edges

Stage 1 - Removing Old Acrylic Coating

Stage 2 - stripping the inside and outside

Stage 3 - sealing cracks from the outside

Stage 4 - fill with acrylic inside

In order for the patchwork made of fiberglass to serve for a long time, you need to choose a quality glue. An example of a reliable composition is two-component glue EDF. It does not react to water and maintains the quality of bonding for many years.

The advantage of the imported analogue of Plexus MA 420 is its excellent adhesion even with an unpolished surface. But there is an alternative of more than 2 thousand rubles, while the domestic EAF is 140-160 rubles.

If you restore the acrylic pallet in accordance with all the rules, it will look like a new product.On the plus side, it’s a longer service life by enhancing finishes on both sides.

If the choice is to replace and repair, you can safely experiment with the restoration yourself. It doesn’t work out - you can always buy a replacement, but if everything succeeds, you will get an almost new pallet and useful skills.

If it is impossible to restore the worn-out capacity, it is better to buy and put a new one shower tray. The rules of its assembly and installation will be introduced by our recommended article.

Most often, with the replacement of the pallet, you have to put a new one shower trap. About how to install and connect to the sewer outlet, it is written in our recommended article.

Can I repair the rollers?

Small inconspicuous rollers are hidden under decorative overlays at the bottom of glass or plastic doors.

They are tightly covered, nevertheless, water penetrates through the cracks even inside the bearings. The result is internal metal elements castors for showers become covered with rust and clogged with mud - a precipitate of tap water that is not ideal in composition.

There are two ways to remove the roller from the door: squeeze the plastic / glass and pull out the part or completely dismantle the door. The second method is suitable for prophylactic cleaning of all elements.

You will need to clean or replace when the door starts to open with an effort, strange noises will appear when moving and a partial lock.

The problem is solved simply: you need a solution against rust, kerosene, grease, a screwdriver and pliers.

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The upper part is a decorative part that simultaneously protects the roller. Carefully remove it, taking care not to scratch the paint layer.

We use a screwdriver to unscrew the only screw on which the roller is held, then remove the plastic part from the inside and remove the roller from the outside

To get to the internal elements of the bearing, gently poke the gland with a needle, a thin screwdriver or a clerical knife and remove it

To remove traces of corrosion, we use a rust converter - a special solution that simultaneously removes deposits and protects them from their subsequent appearance

If it was possible to remove the rust, but the bearing scrolls with difficulty, we additionally process with kerosene until the balls begin to move freely

To keep the bearing running longer, apply a thick layer of grease - literally fill the entire interior. Then insert the oil seal in place

Despite the external serviceability, the roller may not work well, so after assembly, be sure to check its functionality - scroll with your fingers

The updated, well-oiled roller is installed in place in the reverse order: we move the glass, insert the product, fasten it to the plate attached from the inside

Step 1 - Removing the Trim

Step 2 - unscrewing the fasteners and removing the roller

Step 3 - Removing the Gland for Access to the Bearing

Step 4 - Removing Rust

Step 5 - processing the bearing with kerosene

Step 6 - Lubrication and Gland Installation

Step 7 - Testing the Cleaned Roller

Step 8 - mounting the roller on the door

The final touch is the installation of a decorative trim. We check the quality of work by opening and closing the cabin door. After cleaning, it should move freely, without creaking and delays.

The sooner you notice a problem and clean the rollers, the easier the procedure will go. In advanced cases, the balls inside the body are tightly “welded”; it becomes extremely difficult to restore their work. In some situations, buying new parts is easier, but you can’t always find the right size.

When is specialist help needed?

We do not recommend repairing the cab electronics. If the equipment stops executing commands correctly, you need to call the wizard.Warranty repairs are free, so be sure to keep your checks and a package of documents.

For after-sales service, you can contact a company specializing in the repair of plumbing. You can also contact the master to replace the windows, the pallet or completely disassemble / assemble the booth. If you do not have experience of such work and free time, then you can save more than one day by spending a small amount.

Do not be afraid to contact private traders. Often these are the same masters from service centers who work part-time at leisure, or experienced retired specialists

If you have free time and desire on your own replace glass shower cubicle, tangible help will be provided by the instruction presented by us.

Before starting repairs it is useful to familiarize yourself with the prices of parts. It also happens that replacing a tray or shower unit costs a little more than restoration work, so it makes sense not to waste time and simply install new structural elements.

A common problem for operating a shower box is disturbance in connecting to communication networks. About how to connect a shower to the water supply and sewerage, it is written in next article. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with useful information.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Videos shot by masters and amateurs contain many useful tips and tricks for repair work.

Video # 1. How to restore the pan or prevent leakage:

Video # 2. How to avoid buying a new door roller:

Video # 3. Assembly instruction - useful for replacing spare parts:

Video # 4. Self replacement siphon under the booth:

Do not forget that the shower cubicle has to work in extreme conditions: high humidity, sudden changes in temperature, mechanical pressure, constant change of modes, poorly filtered water.

In order for the details of the hydroboxing to work properly, and repair was a rare occurrence, it is necessary to carry out preventive cleaning, often ventilate the room and monitor the quality of the water.

Want to talk about how to repair your own shower stall? Is there any useful technology information that is useful to site visitors? Please write comments, ask questions, post a photo on the topic of the article in the block below.

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Denis

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We have a shower cabin for three years now, they took a not too expensive model, but not the cheapest one either. We selected it according to dimensions: it suits us, not close. For all the time, only the mixer failed, I had to buy a new one. Shortcomings happen only on trifles: from time to time I tighten the wheels of the doors, as they become very loose during operation. There is no problem with the pallet; if it is well looked after, it will last a long time.

Kirill

There have never been problems with the pallet, and if I had, I would not have repaired it myself. Too complicated work, you need a specialist.
The mixer is also behaving normally, the only thing that needs attention is the rollers. But I bought a rust shredder and regularly process them to maintain order. It’s better not to run such things, so that later you do not have to change completely.

Sergei

I have a closed Niagara shower.Over time, the roof of the cabin was deformed (“waves” appeared in two places). You cannot use a rain shower - water flows through the upper slots, pours outside onto the floor. And what to do?