A leaky showerhead can be a real drag. In some cases, you may notice that your showerhead leaks when your shower isn’t on or that your water pressure is suffering from the leaks. Not only do you miss out on having a great shower experience, often when you need it the most, but you may end up opening a shocking water bill from the utility company. Having a leak in your shower shouldn’t make you immediately toss out the offending showerhead. Instead, there’s a good chance that a simple minor fix will help put an end to the leak.
Did you know that a slow drip can waste about a dollar or two of water in a month? While that might not seem like something you need to worry about, a fast drip can be adding on $6 per month to your water bill. That can add up, especially if you have more leaky faucets around your home. Fixing a leaky shower head can help stop your water bill from climbing from water not being actively used in your home.
Clean the Showerhead
One of the first things you should consider doing when your showerhead’s performance isn’t what it used to be is to clean the showerhead. It’s possible that it’s leaking because the nozzles that let the water out of the showerhead have been clogged up. If you live in an area with hard water, you may notice a build-up of materials clogging it up. Even in regions with soft water, your leaking shower head may be caused by it being dirty if you haven’t cleaned it in a while. Minerals in your water can build up in the showerhead and block the holes. You’ll want to mix equal parts vinegar and hot water or a specialty cleaner like CLR and let the showerhead soak in it.
You can either take your showerhead down to put it into a bowl or fill up a baggy and rubber band it around the showerhead so that the showerhead is immersed in the mixture. Rinse off the mixture, and your showerhead should be clear of any clogs. Remember to turn off the water to your shower if you plan on removing it using the closest water shutoff valve.
Check Connections and Seals
You may find that a clogged showerhead isn’t what is causing your leak. It’s possible that the connection or the seal for your showerhead is the root of your problem. You may need to check the o-ring or washer that’s inside the showerhead. Over time, they can get smashed or damaged in such a way that they are no longer watertight. Replacing damaged o-rings and washers could possibly fix your leak. If you are having issues with the showerhead or connections, our experienced team is just a call away and can help with all plumbing services.
You may also find that you need to re-wrap some plumber’s tape around the threads of the showerhead and thread it back in. The threads may not have been threaded correctly, or the previous tape may have been damaged, which led to a showerhead leak. It’s possible that the threads themselves were damaged, so either the stem of the faucet needs to be replaced, or you can invest in a new showerhead. When removing the showerhead, don’t forget to turn off the water to your shower.
Check the Pipes in the Wall
You also want to inspect the pipe that comes out of the wall. Is it dirty? You may want to clean it with the same toothbrush or soft brush you used on the showerhead. In addition, you’ll want to remove the plumber’s tape or Teflon tape that was wrapped around the threads. If there was no white Teflon tape on the threads, it’s possible that’s where your leak came from, and you need to replace it. You’ll want to rewrap the threads with this white tape a few times before threading the showerhead back onto the pipe. It should lay flat against the threads and helps to create a better seal.
Consider a New Showerhead
If your leaking showerhead is old, you may be able to fix the leak, but it also may be time to invest in a newer showerhead. Are you keeping your old showerhead because you like that it has good water pressure and worry that a newer and more efficient showerhead won’t be the same? You shouldn’t worry, as many of the newer showerheads are designed to not only help save water but to have wonderfully intense water pressure.
Test the Showerhead
Once you’ve cleaned, inspected, replaced damaged parts, and re-applied Teflon tape, you’ll want to put the showerhead back on to see if you have conquered the leak. If the leak is back, you’ll want to check back over the steps. For instance, did you thread the showerhead back on correctly? You may find that checking your work eliminates the problem. However, it may end up being the showerhead itself or something else with your plumbing situation.
Contact an Experienced Colorado Springs Plumber Near You
These tips should help you find and fix the leak in your showerhead. However, if you’re still noticing a leak or would like a professional opinion, you can contact our plumbers at Jolly Plumbing today. Our professional staff can help you identify where the problem is occurring in your shower and get it fixed. We have been in the plumbing and heating business since 1955 and stand by our excellent reputation.
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