Leaky Showerhead: How to Repair

You’ve managed to finally lay down in bed after a long and tiring day at work; only to hear the annoying sound of water dripping.

Drip, drip, drip, and you know it, something’s leaking! And not so surprisingly it’s nothing else but your showerhead.

Let’s face it; a leaking plumbing fixture, be it a faucet or a showerhead can be a nuisance. Even if it doesn’t seem like a major issue, you’ll be surprised at the wastage each drop of water ultimately amounts to. That’s why you don’t have any other option besides getting it fixed or replaced.

But doesn’t mean contacting your local plumber right away. Leaking faucets are common plumbing problems with minor underlying causes, so make sure you try repairing them yourself before seeking help.

That’s where the problem arises. Not every homeowner knows how to fix a leaky showerhead; instead, they end up unnecessarily spending money, replacing it. That’s why we’ve curated this step-by-step guide on repairing leaking showerheads.

So, without further ado, let’s begin.

Steps To Repair A Leaky Showerhead

The thought of repairing a leaking showerhead itself is enough to frustrate us all. But even if it seems like a hassle, leaving it unfixed can lead to a huge wastage of water and money. The drips gradually add up, increasing your monthly water bills.

Now, you may contact a professional plumber to inspect and replace the plumbing fixture, which hardly takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Then again, why spend money when you can easily repair, or at least try to fix the showerhead on your own.

Let’s now go through the steps involved in repairing a leaky showerhead.

Step 1

First things first, shut off the main water supply to your entire house by locating the outdoor water valve. Lift its cover and turn it clockwise using your hands or a wrench for added leverage.

Step 2

Once you turn off the water valve, remove the showerhead by unscrewing it from the pipe. You may use your hands for this, but in case it’s too snug and hard to turn, opt for a wrench.

However, if you use a wrench, place a towel at the bottom of your shower and cover the drain. This will help prevent damages in case you accidentally drop the wrench. It will also make sure that no small parts fall down the drain.

Step 3

Next, you’ll need to look inside the showerhead for a small plastic washer or something similar to a rubber ring in the shape of a circle. If it appears damaged or worn out, that’s what’s causing the issue, and you’ll therefore need to buy a replacement.

Step 4

Your showerhead might drip because of clogged up debris and sediment build-up, which, in turn, slow down the water flow. That’s why it’s important to use the opportunity to clean the showerhead parts.

All you have to do is boil water with three cups of vinegar. Once it begins boiling, turn off the heat, and place the parts in the mixture for 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 5

After replacing the small plastic washer or rubber ring, you’ll have to tape and reattach the clean showerhead. For this, use Teflon tape and wrap the threads on the pipe stem.

Step 6

Now, it’s time you screw the showerhead back on while tightening it with a pair of pliers or a wrench. Just make sure you don’t turn it too tightly; otherwise, it might break due to excessive pressure.

Step 7

The last step involves making sure you’ve solved the plumbing problem once and for all. That said, once you’ve re-installed the showerhead, turn the water valve back on and run the shower for a few seconds.

After that, wait for a few minutes to check whether there’s still a drip; if not, you’ve fixed your showerhead yourself!

Final Words

Through this guide, we’ve tried to highlight the potential fix to leaking showerheads – a common plumbing problem caused by damaged plastic washers or sediment build-up. And we’re sure that the steps listed above will work as a quick and easy way to repair your showerhead on your own.

But in case it doesn’t work, you’ll need to seek assistance from a reliable plumbing service. Only a professional plumber will be able to thoroughly inspect the showerhead to locate the problem and provide a suitable solution.

On that note, we now come to the end of this guide on how to repair a leaky showerhead. Here’s hoping we were able to help you tackle this plumbing problem without any hassle.

With this, we’ll take your leave. Take care!