How can I fix my leaky shower?
Posted by James on April 29, 2011 · 2 Comments
Question by neve_freak2001: How can I fix my leaky shower?
My shower head leaks a lot. We’ve tried tightening the faucet at the bolt and not just the handle and it still drips and drips. The back of the shower wall where you would normally open up and look at the pipes has cabinets built up against it. (A really stupid design I know but not one we made.) Does anyone know how we can get our shower to stop dripping?
Best answer:
Answer by ZekeThePlumber
The seat, where the stem of the faucet cartridge seals, is dirty and letting water bypass I would presume.
You should be able to take the handle for the shower apart (if it’s a 3 handle faucet) AFTER you turn the water off (some cartridges can blow out under pressure so turn the water off then turn the handle to relieve the water pressure) and clean the seat where the stem tightens down against it and re-install cartridge.
What do you think? Answer below!
Yes, you have to remove the valve under the handle. It either has a worn seat and seal or something is in there obstructing it to keep it from closing (likely it is worn). You may have to buy a new valve seal.
step 1, remove head and see if it still leaks. shower heads hold water and drip even if faucet doesn’t. If water is still dripping out of shower arm, (bent pipe coming out of wall) then it’s your faucet. there are too many types of faucets to tell you how to fix yours. Some have washers and seats, some have cartridges which are difficult to find unless you know brand which is hardly ever put on trim. Best answer I can give is to call plumber that can easily identify faucet and correct problem. Back in the 70’s, a box of washers and a seat grinding tool would be all you need to fix any faucet but now they are a real pain to find parts