Are you trying to fix a leaky showerhead but have no idea where to begin fixing it? Perhaps your showerhead is constantly leaking, even when you have turned off your shower faucet?
Please don’t fret. In this article, we share some valuable tips on how to fix a leaky showerhead. Fixing your showerhead will not only give you peace of mind, but it will save money as well.
But before we dive in, let’s clear this up:
Why Is Your Showerhead Leaking?
Your showerhead could be leaking for several reasons. First, leaks may be due to damaged inner seals. But sometimes, a showerhead leaks because shower washers are beginning to split. Or it could be that there is grime, dirt, or limescale in your showerhead that is blocking water from flowing and causing your showerhead to leak constantly.
Leaving a showerhead leaking for far too long will wastewater and increase your monthly bill. So, it’s always a good idea to fix it right away. Follow these easy steps to fix your leaking showerhead:
Step 1: Start by turning the water supply off.
Before you get started, turn off the water supply to avoid any unpleasant surprises later. Sometimes this could mean turning off the water supply from the outside. Turning water off will allow you to unscrew the showerhead and locate the cause of the leak effortlessly. Just make sure that you alert everyone in the house that the water may be off for a couple of minutes.
Step 2: Remove your showerhead from the shower hose
Removing a showerhead will be easy if it is one of those that you screw onto the threaded end of the shower pipe. But if your showerhead is of those old ones, you may need adjustable pliers or a wrench to remove. While removing your showerhead, ensure that you don’t lose the rubber washer, or similar components, as when you’ll need them when you put the showerhead back.
Step 3: Clean your showerhead
Take a good look at your showerhead. Do you see any grime or dirt on it? That could be what is blocking water from flowing. Go to the kitchen, get vinegar, pour it into an empty bucket, and soak your showerhead inside for a while. Make sure that you leave your showerhead soaking at least for half an hour.
Step 3: Check if the rubber washer is still in good condition.
This component is responsible for preventing water between your showerhead and shower hose. Check if your rubber wash is not damaged or worn out, as this may cause a leak. If it looks damaged, it’s advisable to consider replacing it with a new one. Take the worn-out rubber shower and go to your nearest hardware shop to purchase a new one. Only go for a quality rubber shower as it will last you for a long time.
Step 4: Check the valve
To be on the safe side, check the valve on your shower taps as well. If your shower has two taps, one should typically be for cold water, the other for hot water. You need to check both taps to see if none causes any leaking. If the valve looks damaged, you need to consider replacing it as well.
Step 4: Attach the showerhead again
At this stage, you will have attached the new rubber shower. Up next, reattach the showerhead and make sure that it is tight. Just make sure that you connect everything correctly and don’t leave any components.
Step 5: Turn the water on
Once you are sure that you have attached everything back, you can now turn the water back on. If you have done all the above, you will notice that there won’t be any leak coming from your showerhead.
If your showerhead is not the only thing leaking and you suspect there could be other underlying plumbing issues, contact us here or you can call (310) 815-1515
