How To Fix a Leaking Shower
We all enjoy taking our hot
showers, especially after a long hard day at work. You also love them in the
morning to freshen you up before you start your day. While a leaking shower may
not interfere with your wonderful hot showers, it can increase your water bill
significantly.
It is challenging to know the
cause of a leaking shower, which is usually behind the wall. You can start by
fixing the showerhead and call a plumber later to find out the real cause of
the leak. To do this:
Materials Needed
1. Teflon tape
2. Old toothbrush
3. Distilled white vinegar
4. Large bowl
5. Crescent wrench
6. Pliers
7. Rubber O-ring
8. Plastic washer
9. Towel
Method
Remove the Showerhead
Before you do this, shut off
the water valve to the bathroom. You can usually find it near the shower or in
the basement. You may also opt to turn off the main water line. Removing the
showerhead can be done easily using your hand.
1. Clench the showerhead, and
turn it counterclockwise to unscrew it, disconnecting it from the pipe.
2. If it does not loosen
easily, hold the shower pipe with one hand and turn it using your other hand.
3. If you still cannot remove
it using your hands, use a crescent wrench or pliers and remove it from the
wall.
Replace the Washers
If the washers or the O-rings
are worn out or damaged, replace them. If they are in good shape, use Teflon tape
to re-wrap the threads on the pipe. The tape seals the gaps between the piping
and showerhead.
Clean The Showerhead
Do this when the showerhead is
off the wall. Immerse the showerhead in a bowl of vinegar and allow it to sit
for two hours. Afterward, rinse the showerhead in hot water. Take an old
toothbrush and wash between the nozzles. Use a clean towel to dry the
showerhead.
Reconnect Back the Showerhead
You can reattach the
showerhead using your hand. If this does not work, use a wrench or pliers to
tighten until it fits well. Do not tighten too much, as you might need to open
it frequently to clean it.
Turn on the water and check if
the shower still leaks. If it does, then there's another solution, which is
fixing a leaking faucet.
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