Difference between revisions of "Fix a Leaking Shower Head"
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===Replacing a Worn Rubber Washer=== | ===Replacing a Worn Rubber Washer=== | ||
#Turn off the water supply to your shower. A leaking shower head can also be caused by a worn out rubber washer. Over time the washer, or “O ring,” starts to crack. Water seeps through those cracks, resulting in a leaking shower head. Replacing this washer will solve the problem. Shut off the water supply to your bathroom, which you can find either near your shower or in your basement, if you have one. | #Turn off the water supply to your shower. A leaking shower head can also be caused by a worn out rubber washer. Over time the washer, or “O ring,” starts to crack. Water seeps through those cracks, resulting in a leaking shower head. Replacing this washer will solve the problem. Shut off the water supply to your bathroom, which you can find either near your shower or in your basement, if you have one. | ||
| − | #* If your shower faucet is a compression faucet, meaning it has two faucet handles to separately control the cold and hot water, you’ll need to feel the water leaking from your shower head to determine if the leak is coming from the cold-water valve or the hot-water valve.<ref>http://www.hometips.com/repair-fix/how-to-repair-leaky-shower-faucet.html</ref> This will let you know which faucet you’ll have to work on. | + | #* If your shower faucet is a compression faucet, meaning it has two faucet handles to separately control the cold and hot water, you’ll need to feel the water leaking from your shower head to determine if the leak is coming from the cold-water valve or the hot-water valve.<ref name="rf18813">http://www.hometips.com/repair-fix/how-to-repair-leaky-shower-faucet.html</ref> This will let you know which faucet you’ll have to work on. |
#Determine which rubber washer needs to be replaced. You can either replace the rubber washer in your shower head or in your shower faucet. The type of shower faucet you have will help to determine which rubber washer needs to be replaced. If you have a compression faucet, also referred to as a two-handle faucet, then you’ll likely need to replace the rubber washer that’s inside the faucet. If you have a single-handle faucet, then it’s likely the rubber washer located inside of the shower head is the one that needs to be replaced. | #Determine which rubber washer needs to be replaced. You can either replace the rubber washer in your shower head or in your shower faucet. The type of shower faucet you have will help to determine which rubber washer needs to be replaced. If you have a compression faucet, also referred to as a two-handle faucet, then you’ll likely need to replace the rubber washer that’s inside the faucet. If you have a single-handle faucet, then it’s likely the rubber washer located inside of the shower head is the one that needs to be replaced. | ||
| − | #Replace the rubber washer in your shower head. To replace the rubber washer in your shower head, start off by taking the shower head apart. While different brands of shower heads are built differently, there should be a collar nut attached to the shower arm. The collar nut looks like a regular metal nut, but it extends lengthwise. It has a neck, or rather a collar, that’s typically about 1.5 times it’s diameter.<ref>http://www.jwwinco.com/products/section11/din6331/</ref> | + | #Replace the rubber washer in your shower head. To replace the rubber washer in your shower head, start off by taking the shower head apart. While different brands of shower heads are built differently, there should be a collar nut attached to the shower arm. The collar nut looks like a regular metal nut, but it extends lengthwise. It has a neck, or rather a collar, that’s typically about 1.5 times it’s diameter.<ref name="rf18814">http://www.jwwinco.com/products/section11/din6331/</ref> |
#* Using a wrench, loosen that collar nut to separate the shower head from the shower arm. Once removed, look beneath the shower head’s swivel ball to find the rubber washer. | #* Using a wrench, loosen that collar nut to separate the shower head from the shower arm. Once removed, look beneath the shower head’s swivel ball to find the rubber washer. | ||
#* The swivel ball is a metal fixture that attaches directly to the shower head, and is what allows the shower head to move around. Look for a metal fixture that somewhat resembles a large nut with a metal ball on the end. If you can rotate it like you would a shower head, then you’ve found the swivel ball. | #* The swivel ball is a metal fixture that attaches directly to the shower head, and is what allows the shower head to move around. Look for a metal fixture that somewhat resembles a large nut with a metal ball on the end. If you can rotate it like you would a shower head, then you’ve found the swivel ball. | ||
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#Reassemble the faucet handle and determine if the leaking shower head is fixed. Reverse the previous steps to reassemble the faucet handle. Before you screw it back on, turn on the water supply to see if the leaking shower head is now fixed. | #Reassemble the faucet handle and determine if the leaking shower head is fixed. Reverse the previous steps to reassemble the faucet handle. Before you screw it back on, turn on the water supply to see if the leaking shower head is now fixed. | ||
===Replacing a Malfunctioning Cartridge Valve=== | ===Replacing a Malfunctioning Cartridge Valve=== | ||
| − | # Turn off the water supply to your shower. In a one-handle shower faucet, a malfunctioning cartridge valve could be the reason for your leaking shower head. If the less-intrusive solutions to fixing your leak problem haven’t worked, then you may need to replace your faucet’s cartridge valve.<ref>http://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/faucet-repair/how-to-fix-a-dripping-shower/view-all</ref> Before you begin, shut off the water supply to your shower, either by shutting off the valve supplying water to your bathroom directly or by turning off the main supply of water throughout your house. | + | # Turn off the water supply to your shower. In a one-handle shower faucet, a malfunctioning cartridge valve could be the reason for your leaking shower head. If the less-intrusive solutions to fixing your leak problem haven’t worked, then you may need to replace your faucet’s cartridge valve.<ref name="rf18815">http://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/faucet-repair/how-to-fix-a-dripping-shower/view-all</ref> Before you begin, shut off the water supply to your shower, either by shutting off the valve supplying water to your bathroom directly or by turning off the main supply of water throughout your house. |
#Remove the faucet handle and expose the cartridge stem. Locate and loosen the faucet handle screw, which may be exposed or located beneath a cap on the handle. Once the screw is removed, you can pull off the handle. | #Remove the faucet handle and expose the cartridge stem. Locate and loosen the faucet handle screw, which may be exposed or located beneath a cap on the handle. Once the screw is removed, you can pull off the handle. | ||
#* Pulling off the handle may be difficult if the handle is pretty set. And if it is, try warming the handle with a hair dryer if you have one. If you don’t have a hair dryer at your disposal, or if the hair dryer simply isn’t working, head to your local hardware store to purchase a handle puller. | #* Pulling off the handle may be difficult if the handle is pretty set. And if it is, try warming the handle with a hair dryer if you have one. If you don’t have a hair dryer at your disposal, or if the hair dryer simply isn’t working, head to your local hardware store to purchase a handle puller. | ||
