You turn on the shower, expecting that nice rush of water, and… nothing. The sinks are working fine, but the shower is bone dry.
Super frustrating, right?
The good news is, this usually doesn’t mean your whole plumbing system is shot. It’s often something small that’s just blocking water from getting to the shower.
In fact, there are a handful of common culprits that cause this exact problem, and most of them are pretty easy to figure out.
In this post, we’ll explain why there’s no water in the shower but sinks are fine, and how to fix it.
#1 Your Showerhead Is Clogged
First up, it’s super common for the showerhead to get clogged.
Over time, minerals from your water (like calcium) build up in the tiny holes of the showerhead. This can block water from flowing properly, or even stop it altogether.
Sometimes, you’ll notice water coming out in weird patterns, or it might just be a weak trickle. Other times, it can completely shut off.
How can you tell if your showerhead is clogged?
Well, if you turn on the water and it’s not coming out, or it’s just barely dribbling, that’s a good sign something’s wrong with the showerhead.
Also Read: Shower Valve Sticks Out Too Far
Try removing the showerhead and soaking it in a mixture of vinegar and water. Vinegar helps break down those mineral deposits. After a few hours, scrub it out with a brush, rinse it, and screw it back on.
If that doesn’t work, you might need to replace the showerhead entirely.
#2 Your Shower Valve Cartridge Is Stuck
Next, there’s the shower valve cartridge.
This little piece controls the flow of water into your shower. If it’s stuck, you’re in trouble. Over time, valve cartridges can wear out or become corroded.
This can cause them to get stuck or stop working, and suddenly, no water in the shower.
How do you know if the valve cartridge is the problem?
Well, if you’ve already checked the showerhead and everything looks fine, but still no water, the valve might be to blame. You might need to remove the faucet handle and the trim to get a look at the valve.
If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, it might be time to call in a professional plumber. They can replace it pretty easily.
#3 Your Tub/Shower Diverter Is Broken Or Jammed
If you’ve got a tub/shower combo, the diverter is the lever or knob that lets you switch between filling the tub and turning on the shower.
If this diverter is broken or stuck, it might be blocking the flow of water to the showerhead.
It’s not always obvious when the diverter is the issue.
Also Read: Tub Won’t Drain But Not Clogged
You might still hear water running in the tub, but nothing’s coming out of the shower. Or maybe the diverter won’t budge at all. If it’s stuck in the “tub” position, you’ll have no water in the shower.
Check to see if the diverter is loose, broken, or clogged with debris.
Sometimes just a good cleaning can solve the problem. If it’s damaged, though, it might need replacing.
#4 Your Shower’s Shutoff Valve Is Closed
Okay, this one might sound super basic, but it happens.
If your shower’s shutoff valve is closed, there’s no way water will flow through to your showerhead. The shutoff valve is typically located behind the shower wall, near the pipes that feed the shower.
It’s usually a simple valve that can be turned off or on, but if someone (maybe even you) accidentally closed it, then, well… you’ll get zero water in the shower.
You probably won’t be able to see the shutoff valve, but sometimes the pipe leading to the shower has a valve right on it.
Check around the shower area to see if you can find a valve that might be closed.
If it is, just turn it back on, and you should be good to go.
Also Read: Toilet Hard To Flush
#5 Your Shower Pipe Is Frozen Or Blocked
If you live somewhere with cold winters, it’s possible that your shower pipes have frozen.
When water freezes in pipes, it blocks the flow. So, even though your sinks are fine (they have their own pipes), the shower pipe could be the culprit.
If you suspect your pipes have frozen, the first thing to do is warm them up carefully.
You can try using a hairdryer, space heater, or even a heat lamp to gently warm the area around the frozen pipe. Don’t use an open flame (like a blowtorch!) – that can damage the pipes.
If you can’t get to the frozen pipes or you’re not sure how to do it safely, call a plumber ASAP.
Frozen pipes can burst, and that’s a whole other issue
What To Do If There’s No Water In Shower
Okay, so now that we’ve covered why there’s no water in shower but sinks are fine, let’s talk about what you can do about it.
Here’s a quick rundown of the steps:
- Take off the showerhead and test the water flow.
- Switch the tub diverter back and forth if you have a combo setup.
- Look for an access panel that might hide a shutoff valve.
If none of that helps, you’re likely dealing with a bad valve cartridge, a broken diverter, or a pipe issue. Those can get messy if you’re not familiar with plumbing tools.
When To Call A Pro
If you’ve done the easy tests and still have no luck, it’s time to bring in a plumber.
Replacing a shower valve cartridge, for example, can require special tools and know-how. Frozen pipes also need careful handling to avoid bursting and flooding your bathroom.
Calling a pro saves time and keeps you from turning a small problem into a big one.
Plus, it’s usually a quick job for them to spot what’s wrong and get water flowing again.
Bottom Line
The main reasons you have no water in your shower but sinks are fine usually come down to a clogged showerhead, a faulty valve cartridge, a broken tub diverter, a closed shutoff valve, or a frozen or blocked pipe.
Most of these things are fixable, especially if you’re a DIY kind of person. Start with the simple checks, like removing the showerhead or testing the diverter.
But if you’ve tried everything and you’re still stuck, don’t hesitate to call in a plumber.