How to Fix a Leaky Shower Head

Experiencing a leaky shower head can irritate and make the ears uncomfortable. In addition, the constant sound of water dripping day in and out can lead to a lot of water loss and disturb everyone in the house.

Suppose you are a victim of a leaking shower head and have spent hours on the internet trying to find the perfect way to fix the leaky shower head.

In that case, you can relax because this article has amalgamated all the information you need. You will learn why shower heads leak in the first place and how to fix a leaky shower head.

What Are The Different Problems That Arises From A Leaky Shower Head?

Imagine if you leave this problem as it is, there will be a huge water loss, which is unsuitable for the planet and your wallet. So if you think that your shower head is leaking, you should take immediate steps to fix it or get it fixed!

There is one more problem with a leaky shower head. Did you know this can ruin your bathroom walls if you do not get your leaky shower head fixed?

Your bathroom walls can get molds and structural issues, leading to dry rots. You do not have to invest extra money in your bathroom walls.

Here are some tools that can help you avoid water leaks and alert you in case of a leaking faucet.

Before we get to the part where we will learn about how you can fix your shower head, let us first look at why your shower head leaks in the first place or what causes shower heads to leak!

What Causes Shower Heads To Leak In The First Place?

Various reasons can cause a leaky shower head. However, the most common and foremost reason for a leaky shower head is when your shower has accumulated a lot of dirt and demands some cleaning. Along with the dirt, there can be grime and limescale, which affects the water flow.

Another main reason your shower head might leak is the seals inside the shower head might get worn out or damaged.

The seal between the shower head and shower hose, called rubber washers or O-rings, prevents the water from leaking. However, with time, if you do not maintain the rubber washers by cleaning them, it starts to get worn out, and at the end of the day, it starts to leak.

Another one of the reasons is when the shower’s valve gets damaged due to the worn out and damaged washers.

Now that we know about the causes of a leaky shower head, we will finally look at how you can fix a shower head!

How To Repair A Dripping Shower Head?

There are a lot of ways in which you can fix a leaky shower head. In this section, we will look at the different ways you can look into this problem. Let us now look at each method and learn about the steps along the way.

Method 1: Unclogging The Shower Head

Step 1: You need to first turn off the water supply of your shower at the knob if you are planning on replacing the head or for routine inspection during maintenance. The cause of a leaking shower head is when the holes get clogged.

The reason being such clogs is because of lime and other minerals that gets deposited in the holes as time goes by. This method is the easiest because you do not have to change the entire structure of your shower system. All you need to do is dismember a few parts.

Read Here: How To Unclog A Shower Head And Get The Water Pressure Back!

If you think something is wrong with your shower head, this is the first step you should take. You can do this by either turning off the main water line or shutting off the water valve inside the bathroom.

Step 2: Now, your next step is to remove the shower head so you can clean the nooks and corners. First, look at the structure of your shower. If the faceplate can be unscrewed, do that. Otherwise, you can simply remove the entire shower head from where it was fixed. Next, search for the places where there were screws and unscrew them one by one. If the shower head does not come out at once, rotate it anti-clockwise and pull it open.

Step 3: White vinegar to the rescue!

White vinegar is an excellent material with which you can remove stains and specks of dirt from anywhere. Take a large container to soak the shower head in, or you can do this step in your sink. Then take the white vinegar and pour it inside the container or the sink. The amount should be enough to cover the entire shower head. Leave it for up to 8 hours. You can calculate it better if you do this method overnight.

Step 4: Finally, remove the lime or any other kind of deposits that you will find in the shower head. To do so, you need to find a toothpick or a safety pin to poke the holes and remove the dirt. Then all you need to do is scrub the surface properly.

Step 5: The final step is to re-attach the shower head and check whether there is any kind of leakage or not. To do this, all you need to do is to put back the faceplate and shower head. Then, turn the water supply on and switch on the shower.

Method 2: Changing The Worn Out Rubber Washer

Step 1: The common step – turn off the water supply.

As discussed earlier, you might notice the rubber washer or O ring getting cracked or worn out. In this scenario, the only option is to replace the rubber washer. Then, turn off the water supply of your house.

The O rings are continually maintained with the help of some kind of lubricant. However, when it comes to the faucets, you need to be mindful if you have two separate ones – one for hot water and another for cold water. In this scenario, you need to check whether the water is dripping from the hot or cold water tap.

Step 2: Check the kind of rubber washer you have.

This step is self-explanatory, but it is significant. The shower faucet you already have will decide what kind of rubber washer you need. For example, if you have a two-handle faucet, you must change the rubber washer inside the shower head.

Step 3: Now, simply replace the rubber washer!

Whether you need to replace the rubber washer inside the faucet or the shower head, read the instructions correctly when buying the rubber washer. Then, follow the said instructions and replace the rubber washer.

Step 4: Re-assemble everything back to normal!

Just like you have dismembered the entire shower head and faucet, put everything together. One essential tip is that when you unscrew the shower head, count the number of screws and keep them in a secured place.

After this, check whether there is any sign of leakage. If not, you are good to go!

No More Shower Head Leakages For You!

You must be very careful when replacing things and cleaning the inner parts of the shower head. While performing these steps, if in any way you feel that you need professional help, stop midway and do so.

The steps mentioned in this article are pretty simple, and you can do them independently. To avoid unforeseen situations, clean the shower faucets and shower heads regularly. You will save a lot of money and prevent your bathroom from looking dirty.

We hope that this article has helped you in many ways. But, be careful while you do these, and do not hurt yourself! Let us know if you know innovative methods for fixing leaking shower heads!

How to Fix a Leaky Shower Head – 2 Quick Methods

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