A leaking showerhead may not seem like much, just a minor nuisance. However, you shouldn’t wait to get it fixed as it is likely already causing more significant issues than you may have realized and has the potential to worsen those.
Fortunately, in many cases, you can fix a leaking showerhead yourself. We’ll tell you how.
Issues Caused by Leaky Showerheads
First, consider issues that can result from a leaky showerhead. These include the wasting of water resulting in increased utility bills, mold and structural issues. That’s on top of your damaged showerhead worsening the quality of your showers.
How Can You Identify a Leaking Showerhead?
There are a few ways that you can identify a leaking showerhead.
Worn Out or Damaged Washer or Valve
Take a look at the washer, a small ring that’s located near the showerhead’s base, and the valve. They should be compressed together and not be damaged or worn out. When working as intended, they’ll serve as a barrier to the water that’s rushing through your showerhead, ensuring that no leakages are occurring.
Corroded Showerhead
The showerhead can get corroded, resulting in cracks forming inside or on it. This issue oftentimes results from hard water going through your pipes.
However, if hard water is at fault here, repairing your leaky showerhead won’t fix the bigger issue. That said, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing does provide water filter installation services in Orlando and other areas of Florida and can rectify that problem for you.
Visual Signs Elsewhere
If your showerhead is leaking, you may have damaged floor tiles in the vicinity, nearby paint that’s peeling, wood that appears chalky and numerous general water stains. In addition, note that mold in the vicinity is a sign of excess water, whether as a result of your leaky showerhead or otherwise.
High Water Pressure
An indirect warning sign is especially high water pressure as that can cause various showerhead parts and, in fact, your plumbing system as a whole to wear out much more quickly than they otherwise would, ultimately resulting in a leaky showerhead.
Tools and Materials Needed to Repair Your Showerhead
There are a few tools that you’ll likely need to repair your leaking showerhead. These include a wrench for removing nuts, possibly a deep socket wrench, pliers to help you work with especially small parts and tape to seal connections between your showerhead’s varying parts and holes.
You should also have new parts to replace any damaged ones. These can potentially include a valve, cartridge and O-ring. A complete showerhead replacement could be necessary.
Steps to Take to Fix Your Dripping Showerhead
In most cases, you should do the following steps in order to repair your dripping showerhead.
Turn Off the Water
The first step should be turning off the water. This can usually be done through a shutoff valve that’s located nearby, potentially under your sink. If that’s not possible or it’s not easily located, shut off the water to your entire house.
Remove the Showerhead
In most cases, you should now use you wrench to remove your showerhead. This can be done through a loosening of the nuts that are keeping it attached to the shower arm.
As you do this, be careful to not be too aggressive as doing so could damage the showerhead’s parts.
Disassemble the Showerhead
The specifics of this step will vary, depending on your showerhead type. In the most effective manner possible, disassemble yours at this time. Your pliers will likely be put to good use.
Be careful when doing this step as many of these parts can be easily damaged if you’re not.
Inspect Your Showerhead’s Parts
Now that your showerhead’s parts are separated from each other, take a look at them. Inspect them for any damage or wear that could be causing your showerhead to leak. If you find any, replace them.
Reassemble the Showerhead
Using your tools, reassemble the showerhead. Also consider using tape if doing so will help ensure that there’s a water-tight fit throughout your showerhead.
Test Your Shower
If you made any changes, such as replacing parts, now test your shower and see if any prior leaks that you’d noticed before are no longer occurring. If nothing has changed, ensure that your bolts have been tightened enough.
Trust Benjamin Franklin with Shower Repairs in Orlando, FL
If doing these steps has not fixed your leaky showerhead or you simply want to have professionals handle this for you and for you to spend your valuable time elsewhere, you can trust Benjamin Franklin Plumbing with your shower repairs.
Our punctual plumbers operate throughout the Orlando metropolitan area as well as elsewhere in the Sunshine State, and we’ll be glad to talk with you about your broken showerhead.
FAQs
Will it take long to fix a leaking showerhead?
It shouldn’t take long to fix a leaking showerhead, but that depends on what’s wrong with it. If it’s just a case of switching out a washer or something else that’s relatively simple and you have experience doing these types of things, it should take less than an hour, a little more time than that if you need to buy replacement parts.
What if I don’t bother fixing my leaking showerhead?
Of course, you always have the option of not fixing your leaking showerhead. However, if you go that route, note that this problem will likely worsen, and it’ll be a more difficult fix later. Plus, there may already be mold, water stains and damaged floor tiles that will worsen, or those issues may commence soon. In addition, you’re going to be paying higher water bills for as long as your showerhead is leaking.
If you don’t want to fix it yourself, reach out to Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, and we’ll do it for you.