After a shower, you typically just switch off the tap and walk away. Given the shower area is already wet, you might not notice a tiny leak. Usually, you don’t take the time to closely examine the shower head and taps.
However, a shower head leaking water is an issue and can waste a significant amount of water. Even worse, your water bill can skyrocket without you even realising it.
A leaky shower head might seem minor now, but ignoring it can lead to bigger issues. It might even hint at a deeper problem with your plumbing.
The constant moisture caused by a dripping tap or shower head can damage tiles and other surfaces in your bathroom, creating mould and water damage.
Water sneaking out of your shower arm or tap can be a real pain, costly, wasteful, and damaging. Just because you can’t hear that drip doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Sometimes, it’s the hidden leaks that wreak the most havoc.
Make sure your main water supply is fully switched off to check for leaks. Don’t forget to consider things like the washing machine or evaporative cooler too.
Check your mains water meter and see if the dial is moving. If it is, stop your search – you leak. If the dial is not moving, note down the numbers on the meter, representing kilolitres and litres if the dial is not visibly moving. Get on with your day for 10 minutes, remembering not to use water in or around the house. Go back and check the meter for another meter reading. If the numbers don’t match, you’ve got a leak in your water supply – somewhere.
If you’ve detected a leak, you need to find it! They can be anywhere in the house and can be undetected. The telltale signs can be wet areas like the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry. And also in places where damp patches can be easily detected. It could be in your garden and irrigation systems, hidden pipework, hot water and air conditioning systems.
Even if you’re quite handy, remember that Australia has strict rules on what plumbing jobs you can tackle. You can buy a washer kit and replace parts like the rubber washer yourself. However, for anything more, you’ll need a licensed plumber. If you’re unsure, it’s better to play it safe and not risk breaching regulations or insurance coverage.
Why is my shower head dripping water?
A few things might be making your shower leak, often starting at the shower head. Finding the source of the drip makes fixing it much easier. At times, the shower head or tap might drip even when turned off, stopping again later.
Fixing a leaky shower faucet or head is important to prevent further plumbing complications and water wastage. The first step is to understand why it’s leaking.
Below are some common reasons for your leaky shower head or faucets to fail:
- A worn-out rubber, washer, o-ring, or valve. If you have an older shower, the faucets may deteriorate over time.
- A build-up of mineral deposits. Over time, your shower fittings can accumulate with limescale and other deposits from water and debris.
- Old fittings or incorrect installation. A fitting may be loose or not connected properly.
If you have a compression faucet and the leaking persists, replace the faucet washer. However, the best action plan to fix leaking shower heads is to determine the shower head style and taps you have installed. This ensures you buy the correct tools and replacements for your leaky showerhead.
How do I stop my shower head from dripping?
Let’s jump into how to fix a dripping shower head with step-by-step instructions below:
Step 1
Turn off the hot and cold water supply to the shower. Some shower faucets have water shutoff valves built into the faucet body; you turn the valves with a screwdriver to shut off the water flow from the hot and cold supply tubes into the faucet body.
Carefully have the shower head removed by unscrewing it counterclockwise. Search the area for any signs of accumulated mineral deposits. You can soak the entire shower head in white vinegar for 8 hours.
Inspect the shower head and pay attention to the water holes. Brush over the holes with an old toothbrush, or use a pin to remove limescale and scum. Once this is complete, reattach the fittings.
Step 2
Make sure the main water is still shut off. Remove the faucet handle by using a deep socket wrench. You can purchase a washer kit at most home improvement and hardware stores. Using this kit, replace all rubber washers and valves in one go. When buying the equipment, remember what type of faucet you have in your bathroom.
Step 3
A diverter valve changes the direction of water from the tap to the shower. To find this, detach your current tap handle. You will need to remove and inspect your existing diverter valve first. If it is worn, replace it with a new one. You can find these at most hardware stores. If your current one is still in good condition, clean it with white vinegar.
Step 4
A cartridge valve controls the change of water temperature from hot to cold and the water pressure of a single-handled tap. You can easily find this in your local hardware store.
To replace this is pretty simple. Start by disconnecting the tap handle to expose the valve. Remove the old one and install the replacement.
Turn the water to the house and see if the dripping has stopped. You must contact your local licensed plumber if you can still see the faucet or shower head leaking with water.
Do you need a plumber?
A professional plumber will have the tools and expertise to save your water supply and fix your water leak issues. You can still take the first steps: turn off the water, remove the showerhead, change the rubber washer, and replace the shower valve to fix a leaky faucet or shower faucet. However, further investigation may be needed, and only a professional plumbing team can do a durable shower fixture for you.
That’s all for now, best of luck!
