How to Repair a Leaking Showerhead

Quck answer

To fix a leaky showerhead, follow these steps:

1. Turn off the water supply to the showerhead.

2. Remove the showerhead by twisting it counterclockwise.

3. Check the rubber washer inside the showerhead for any damage or wear.

4. Replace the rubber washer if necessary.

5. Clean any debris or sediment from the showerhead.

6. Apply plumber’s tape to the threaded end of the shower arm.

7. Reattach the showerhead by twisting it clockwise onto the shower arm.

8. Turn on the water supply and check for any leaks.

9. If the showerhead still leaks, consider replacing it with a new one.

By following these steps, you can easily fix a leaky showerhead and prevent any further water wastage.

When a showerhead is described as leaky, it can mean different things. It could be that water drips out around the joint where the showerhead connects to the shower arm on the wall. It could also mean that a small amount of water continues to drip out of the showerhead even when the shower valve is turned off. In some cases, the leak may not be visible from the showerhead itself but is happening inside the wall, causing serious damage.

Fixing a leaky showerhead can be simple or complex, depending on the cause. The first step is to determine the cause of the leak. This can be done by carefully observing the behavior of the shower valve and showerhead.

Identifying the Cause of a Leaky Showerhead

Identifying the cause of a leaky showerhead is usually easy. You can do this by observing the shower when the faucet is on and off. If you have a tub/shower combination, problems often originate from the diverter valve that controls the flow of water between the tub spout and the showerhead. Watching the shower while shifting the diverter valve can help identify if the problem is with the diverter valve.

Leaky Showerhead Diagnosis Chart

Symptom

Cause

Solutions

Water dribbles from the showerhead even when the faucet is off	Faulty valve cartridge	Replace the valve cartridge
Leaking occurs at the joint between the showerhead and shower arm when the faucet is on	Faulty seal on the shower arm	Reseal the threads of the shower arm
The tub spout dribbles, and there is insufficient flow to the showerhead	Faulty diverter valve	Replace the tub spout; repair the diverter valve
The shower arm leaks inside the wall	Faulty seal on the drop-ear elbow or broken shower arm	Reseal the threads of the shower arm; replace the shower arm
Water dribbles instead of sprays from the showerhead	Showerhead clogged with sediment or mineral deposits	Clean the showerhead; replace the showerhead

The materials needed to fix a leaky showerhead are basic supplies available at hardware stores or home centers. You may already have some of them at home. After identifying the cause of the problem based on the symptoms, read the repair instructions and gather the necessary tools and materials.

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Carlina Teteris/Moment/GettyImages

Replacing a Shower Valve Cartridge

If your showerhead and/or tub spout continue to drip water even when the shower valve is off, the problem is likely with the internal cartridge of the shower valve. When the rubber or neoprene seals inside the cartridge wear out or crack, they allow a small amount of water to pass through the valve and out of the showerhead. While some cartridges can be repaired by replacing only the rubber seals, it is more common to replace the entire cartridge.

Most shower faucet manufacturers, like Moen, highly recommend using original equipment manufacturer cartridges as they are specifically designed to fit the specifications of your faucet. It is easiest to find the correct cartridge if you have the faucet model number, but visual cues can also be used to identify the faucet model.

The procedure for replacing the valve cartridge may vary depending on the manufacturer, but the general steps are as follows:

Turn off the water supply to the faucet.
Remove the faucet handle and the escutcheon cover plate on the faucet valve.
Loosen the retaining ring or mounting ring that secures the valve cartridge in place.
Remove the old cartridge from the faucet body. The method for doing this may vary depending on the faucet style.
Install a new cartridge that is an exact duplicate, ensuring it is properly aligned within the faucet body.
Reattach the retaining ring that secures the cartridge.
Adjust the temperature control feature on the new faucet according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Reattach the cover plate and handle, turn on the water, and test the faucet.

Resealing a Shower Arm

If water dribbles out around the joint where the showerhead is threaded onto the angled arm coming out of the wall when the faucet valve is turned on, resealing the shower arm joint is usually the solution.

Wrap a cloth around the showerhead to prevent scratches, then use tongue-and-groove pliers to unscrew the showerhead from the shower arm.
Thoroughly clean the threads on the shower arm using a clean rag or small brush, ensuring they are clean and in good condition.
Wrap several loops of plumbers’ thread-seal tape around the threads of the shower arm in a clockwise direction.
Using tongue-and-groove pliers, screw the showerhead back onto the shower arm. Once again, wrap the showerhead with a cloth to prevent scratching and be careful not to overtighten and damage the shower arm.

In older showers, the threads of the shower arm may be heavily corroded. In this case, the best solution is to replace the shower arm entirely.

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Jon Lovette/DigitalVision/GettyImages

Replacing a Tub Spout

In a tub/shower combination, if water continues to dribble out of the spout without the full stream flowing up to the showerhead, the issue is likely with the diverter valve. In many showers, the diverter is a simple gate valve on the tub spout that is operated by pulling or pushing the handle. You can test its operation by operating the handle while the faucet is fully on. If the water is not fully diverted up to the showerhead, it means the valve is faulty.

Sometimes, applying lubricating oil can restore the functionality of this type of gate diverter, but often, it is necessary to replace the old spout with a new one. Fortunately, this is a relatively easy replacement. Some tub spouts are screwed onto a threaded adapter at the end of the water stubout pipe, while others are secured with a setscrew that can be loosened with a hex wrench or screwdriver.

To remove the tub spout, look for a small cap on the side of the spout near the wall. Take off the cap and loosen the setscrew with an Allen wrench or screwdriver. Then, remove the spout.
If there is no setscrew, the spout is threaded. Use tongue-and-groove pliers to unscrew the spout counterclockwise from the pipe.
Purchase a new spout that is the same size and configuration as the old one.
If the tub is threaded, wrap plumbers’ thread-seal tape around the threads on the pipe.
Attach the new spout to the pipe by sliding or screwing it on. If it is a screw model, use a cloth to protect the finish as you screw it on. For setscrew types, tighten the setscrew to secure the spout.
Turn on the water and test the diverter. If needed, apply caulk around the spout where it meets the wall.

Fixing a Diverter Valve

In some tub/shower combinations, the diverter valve that switches water between the spout and showerhead is operated by a third handle on the wall. To fix this, replace the valve stem in the diverter. While it might be possible to fix it by replacing a washer or seal at the end of the stem, it is more common to replace the entire stem with a new one designed for your faucet model.

Shut off the water supply to the tub/shower faucet.
Remove the cap from the diverter handle to expose the mounting screw. Take out the screw and remove the handle.
If possible, take off the escutcheon plate that covers the base of the diverter where it goes into the wall. This may not always be possible.
If there is a protective sleeve around the diverter stem, remove it.
Using a deep-set socket, unscrew the diverter stem from the faucet body. Make sure to remove any nylon washer at the end of the stem.
Purchase and install a new diverter stem. Screw it into place using the deep-set socket.
Reassemble the escutcheon plate and handle on the diverter.
Turn on the water and test the diverter valve.

Replacing a Shower Arm

There are several signs that indicate the need to replace the angled shower arm connecting the showerhead to the pipe inside the wall. If the threads on the shower arm are corroded or in bad condition when unscrewing the showerhead, it is best to replace the shower arm as part of the overall repair.

If there is a leakage of water inside the wall, it is probable that there is a crack in the shower arm or a faulty connection at the threaded part of the arm where it attaches to the threaded elbow (known as a drop-ear 90-degree elbow) inside the wall. This elbow is where the shower arm turns downwards to the vertical pipe leading to the faucet. If there is a leak at this point, you may observe water draining inside the wall to the floor below or notice that moisture inside the wall has caused tiles to become loose or damage the wall surface.

This is a significant problem that may necessitate structural repairs or replacing wall materials. If you are fortunate enough to detect the problem early, you may be able to resolve it by simply replacing the shower arm.

Here are the steps to replace the shower arm:

1. Turn off the water supply to the shower.

2. Use tongue-and-groove pliers to unscrew the showerhead from the shower arm. If you plan on reusing the showerhead, wrap it with a cloth to prevent scratching the finish as you unscrew it.

3. Remove the escutcheon plate that covers the area where the shower arm enters the wall. In most cases, the plate can be easily slid off the shower arm. You may need to remove caulk to free it from the wall.

4. Carefully unscrew the shower arm from the threaded drop-ear elbow inside the wall. Be cautious to remove the shower arm intact without breaking it off. If the pipe comes out intact, skip to step eight.

5. If the shower arm breaks off during removal (which is common with old materials), use an expandable pipe extractor to remove the remaining piece of pipe. Choose a pipe extractor fitting that matches the size of the shower arm pipe and insert it into the threaded piece of pipe still attached to the elbow.

6. Use an adjustable wrench to tighten the center bolt of the pipe extractor tool in a clockwise direction. As you do this, the inner teeth on the extractor will expand and grip the inside of the pipe.

7. Once the extractor has a firm grip on the pipe, use the adjustable wrench to twist the base of the extractor counterclockwise. The tool will unscrew the remaining portion of the shower arm from the threaded elbow fitting.

8. Wrap thread-seal tape around the threads of a new shower arm and hand-thread it into the elbow fitting inside the wall. Protect the finish of the arm by wrapping it with a rag, then use tongue-and-groove pliers to tighten it. Ensure that the arm points downward.

9. Replace the escutcheon plate and showerhead, then turn on the water.

Cleaning a Showerhead:

If water dribbles out of a showerhead instead of coming out in clear jets of spray, it is likely that mineral particles or scale have built up inside the showerhead, partially blocking the holes. The solution is usually to clean the showerhead. Some showerheads can be disassembled for easier cleaning, but cheaper models may not allow this.

Cover the showerhead with a cloth to protect it and then unscrew it from the shower arm.
If possible, take apart the showerhead and use a small brush to remove any visible particles from the different pieces.
Put the showerhead (or the disassembled parts) into a small container or plastic bag filled with white vinegar or a lime-dissolving solution, like Lime-A-Way. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight until the scale buildup has dissolved.
Rinse the pieces with clean water and then put the showerhead back together.
Clean the threads on the shower arm and wrap it with a few loops of new thread-seal tape. Then, screw the showerhead back onto the arm.
Turn on the water and check if the showerhead is working properly. If it continues to dribble instead of spraying, it means the showerhead cannot be fixed. Buy and install a new showerhead.

Bowen Briggs