The drip-drip sound coming from a leaky shower head is not only an annoyance but can also cost you money. A single drop of water is not much at all, but cumulatively, a dripping shower wastes almost 700 gallons a year every three seconds.
1) Remove the Shower Head
- Turn the shower faucet to the OFF position, ensuring it is entirely in that position. No water should be dribbling out of the showerhead.
- Rotate the showerhead counterclockwise to remove it from the threaded end of the shower arm.
- If the showerhead is stubborn, use a damp towel to grip the showerhead. Occasionally you may have to use channel-lock pliers to remove the showerhead. However, this is usually a sign of a corroded showerhead, which should be replaced.
2) Inspect and Clean the Shower Head
- Inside the showerhead, you’ll see a rubber O-ring, a screen, and possibly other parts.
- Ensure that they are intact, undamaged, and without sediment. If it’s dirty inside the showerhead, you’ll need to clean it.
- Clean the head by immersing it in a wash basin of white vinegar for a couple of hours.
- Use cold water to rinse off parts before putting them back together.
3) Wrap Pipe Threads
- Clean the shower arm threads with a small scrub brush
- Wrap threads with one or two loops of thread-sealing tape, (this tape is sold as “Teflon” tape).
- Cover the tape in the same direction as the threads—clockwise as you look at the end of the shower arm.
4) Put together the showerhead
- Thread the showerhead on the arm and tighten it by hand. Turn the shower faucet on for a few moments to watch how the water stream performs.
- If the showerhead continues to dribble only when the faucet is ON, consider replacing the entire showerhead, which means threading on a new showerhead rather than reattaching the old one.
If they aren’t fixed immediately, leaks can damage your property and health because moisture helps mold grow. If you suspect a shower head leak, you may want your shower head and faucet assessed by an experienced plumber. Gene Wagner Plumbing is ranked among the top two plumbers in Southeastern Wisconsin. Contact us or call us at 414-541-9217.
