Plumbing Articles
How to Fix a Leaking Showerhead Faucet by Nancy Dean
A leaky showerhead can be both annoying and costly. After a few hours, the constant dripping noise is as brutal on the eardrums as nails on a chalkboard. And, even though a singular drip is only a few milliliters of water, it doesn't take long before that leaky showerhead wastes hundreds of gallons - adding an extra zero to the end of the water bill.
Most homeowners don't realize that a leaking showerhead is pretty simple to fix. There's no need to buy a new one or, worse yet, hire a plumber. You can finish the job yourself in just a few short minutes with nothing more than a screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, and a washer that you can buy for a nickel at any hardware store.
Now that you've decided to take on the job yourself, you need to understand the two most common things that go wrong with showerheads. Either they start leaking at the point where the pipe screws into the actual showerhead, or the holes in the showerhead become clogged, causing water backups and creating a leak.
First, you'll need to unscrew the showerhead from the outlet pipe. To protect the showerhead from damage, wrap a towel around the point where the head screws onto the outlet piping. Take the pliers and remove the head from the outlet. You'll see the washer. Pull it off and replace it with the new one. If you think you need a tighter seal, use plumbers tape across the threads before screwing the showerhead back in.
Also, if you have a rotating or swiveling showerhead, you might as well take an extra step while you have it taken apart. To increase the swivel range and flexibility, take some lubricant, preferably silicone, and lube up the interior swivel ball before you screw the head back in.
If the
holes in
the showerhead
are clogged,
take off
the faceplate
by removing
the screws
attaching
it to the
head. If
you can't
remove the
faceplate,
that's okay,
just keep
the entire
unit unscrewed.
The reason
showerheads
get clogged
is the lime
deposits
that are
formed and
get stuck
in the holes
over time.
To get rid
of the lime
deposits,
take either
the faceplate
or the whole
showerhead,
and soak
it in a
bowl of
white vinegar
for at least
eight hours.
This will
dissolve
the deposits,
and make
them easy
to remove
by sticking
a toothpick
or small
nail through
the holes
in the showerhead.
After that,
scrub the
faceplate
with a stiff
plastic
brush and
screw the
unit back
into the
wall.
About the Author
Nancy Dean is a freelance author who frequently contributes to several websites, including http://www.allfaucets.info/. Coming from a family full of carpenters, she enjoys both doing and writing about home improvement projects.