A leaky shower head can be very annoying, damaging, and expensive. It can waste gallons of water a week. If your shower head leaks even when it’s turned off, here are some ways to fix that problem.
Tip: Before you start taking apart your shower head, make sure you place a rag over the drain so that small pieces don’t fall in. Also, before messing with the shower valve, make sure you turn off your water supply to prevent any unnecessary messes.
Hard water can build up inside the tiny holes of the shower head. When that happens, water can come out of the faucet, or even between the shower arm and the head. So, take off the shower head and allow it to soak in white vinegar overnight. The next day, make sure to take out any excess with a toothpick and install the shower head back. Hopefully that made a difference. If not, then let’s look at some other methods.
Overtime, the rubber washer, or o-rings and wear out and even crack. They are what provide the watertight connections in the shower head. If you think that they are worn out, then it’s time to replace them.
If you have a compression faucet (two-handle faucet), then you usually need to replace the rubber washers in the faucet. First, you will need to determine if the problem is in the hot or cold valve. To figure that out, all you need to do is feel the water that is leaking. Is it hot? Or cold? Once you figure that out, then you know which valve needs a new rubber washer.
If you have a single-handle faucet, then you usually need to replace the rubber washers in the shower head.
It doesn’t take a plumber to fix a leaky shower head. Unless the damage is more than just hard water buildup or a small worn out rubber washer. Of course, if you are unsure about how to fix something, you should definitely contact a professional. If you feel like your shower head is too damaged, then it might be cheaper to buy a new shower head. Come visit our shop and check our high-quality shower heads!
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