A Rialto shower that keeps dripping, won't hold temperature or has a handle that sticks usually needs a new cartridge or seal kit, which a plumber can often install without touching the tile. A cracked or obsolete valve body needs replacing. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Rialto.
Who supplies my water in Rialto, and does it affect the valve?
Rialto has three water retailers. The City of Rialto, through Rialto Water Services, serves part of the city; West Valley Water District and Fontana Water Company serve other parts. Your bill shows which one is yours. The city system relies mainly on groundwater from city wells, and groundwater in this part of the valley tends to carry minerals that collect on cartridge seals and in the small ports of a pressure-balancing valve. That is why so many Rialto shower repairs start with a stiff handle or a slow drip. Scale also clogs the small screens some valves have at their inlets, which can make a shower seem weak even when house pressure is fine.
Can my existing valve be repaired, or does it need replacing?
If the valve body is intact and the manufacturer still makes the cartridge, repair is usually the right call: the plumber pulls the old cartridge, cleans the seat area and installs a new one. A valve that leaks at the soldered or threaded connections, has a cracked casting or comes from a brand with no parts left is a replacement. Replacing the body means reaching it from inside the wall, ideally through a closet or panel on the back side so the tile stays put.
Does Rialto require a permit for this?
A cartridge swap is a repair. Installing a new valve is alteration work, and the City of Rialto Building & Safety Division issues permits through its online portal. Ask your plumber to confirm whether your job needs one; the division can be reached at 909-820-2505.
One more Rialto note
Because three different water providers serve the city, emergency contacts differ by address. If a failed valve leaves water you cannot stop, close the house shutoff and then check your bill for the provider's emergency number. It helps to find that shutoff now, before you need it, and to make sure it still turns. Many shower valves also have small integral stops behind the trim that a plumber can use to isolate the valve without cutting water to the rest of the house, but older valves often lack them.
Shower Valve Repair questions in Rialto
The handle turns but nothing changes. What broke?
Does the tile have to come off to get at the valve?
The shower won't turn off at all. What should I do first?
The shower no longer gets very hot. Is it the valve or the water heater?
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