How to Fix a Dripping Shower Head

Overview

A dripping shower head wastes water and can be annoying. This guide covers fixing a leaky shower head.

Step-by-Step Fix

1. First, locate the main stopcock for your house or the isolation valve for your shower, and turn it off completely to stop the water flow. This crucial safety step prevents any accidental flooding and ensures you can work without water spraying everywhere.
2. Carefully unscrew your shower head from the end of the shower hose or the shower arm, turning it anti-clockwise by hand. If it's a bit stiff, you might need a pipe wrench, but always protect any chrome finish with a cloth to prevent scratches.
3. Once detached, thoroughly inspect the rubber washer or O-ring located inside the shower head's connector for any signs of wear, cracking, or flattening. If it looks damaged or hardened, replace it with a new, correctly sized rubber washer, ensuring it sits snugly in its groove.
4. Take a roll of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) tape, also known as plumber's tape, and wrap it clockwise around the threaded end of the shower arm or hose connector. Apply 5-7 layers firmly to ensure a good seal, smoothing it down as you go.
5. Carefully screw the shower head back onto the shower arm or hose connector, turning it clockwise by hand until it feels secure. Give it a final quarter-turn with a wrench if necessary, but be careful not to overtighten and damage the threads or fittings.
6. Slowly turn the main water supply or shower isolation valve back on, checking for any immediate leaks around the newly reattached shower head. Then, turn on your shower to full pressure and observe for several minutes to confirm that the dripping has stopped completely.

Common Symptoms & Diagnostic Resolutions

Review the common error codes and operating symptoms below to quickly identify the root cause of the fault before ordering replacement parts.

Frequently Asked Questions