Mr. Steam

Strip old caulk and lay a clean, watertight bead around your tub or shower -- the $15 maintenance job that prevents thousands in water damage and mold.

Fix a shower head that keeps dripping after you turn it off -- figure out if it is a normal drain, a worn cartridge, bad washers, or a loose connection, and fix it.

Replace a shower valve cartridge or the entire valve body to fix temperature swings, stop leaks, or deal with a shower that will not turn off -- single-handle and two-handle valves covered.

Deep clean your shower door tracks to clear soap scum, mold, and mineral buildup -- fix stiff doors and stop water leaks from clogged weep holes.

Weak shower flow? Could be a clogged head, partially closed valve, worn cartridge, low house pressure, or an aggressive flow restrictor. Fix depends on whether the problem is shower-only or whole-house.

Water escaping around, under, or between shower door panels -- worn seals, misaligned doors, bad caulk, or spray hitting the gaps directly. Most fixes take under an hour and cost less than $30.

Tub draining slow or holding standing water? Almost always a hair clog in the stopper, crossbar, or P-trap. Soap scum and conditioner cement it into a dense mat. Clearable in under 30 minutes.

Scalding hot or ice cold without touching the handle? Failing pressure-balancing cartridge, competing water demand, or a heater issue. Replacing the cartridge is the most common fix.