You finally lay down after a long day and you hear it.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
A leaky showerhead strikes again! Though it may just seem annoying, if left unfixed, it’s actually a huge waste of water and money. Those drips add up over time and can greatly increase your monthly water bill.
When it comes to dripping shower head repair, here’s one potential solution you can try on your own. Depending on the cause of the problem, this may or may not work, but it’s certainly worth a try:
1. First, shut off the water main to your entire house. You can do this by locating the outdoor water valve, lifting off the cover and turning it clockwise. If it’s too difficult to turn using your hands, try using a wrench to get some additional leverage.
2. Next, remove the showerhead. Simply unscrew it from the pipe using your hands. Again, you can use a wrench if it’s nice and snug and hard to turn. If you do use a wrench, place a towel on the bottom of the shower and cover the drain – that way you don’t cause any damage if you accidentally drop the wrench and no small parts fall down the drain.
3. Look inside for a small plastic washer, or what could also be a rubber ring in the shape of a circle. If it looks like it’s worn out or damaged (which often happens over time) buy a replacement. This could be a simple answer to your question of how to repair a dripping showerhead!
4. Clean the showerhead parts, which often build up with sediment and slow water flow. Simply boil water and 3 cups of vinegar. Once it has started boiling, turn off the heat and place the shower head parts in the water for 20-30 minutes.
5. If the washer or rubber ring appears okay, it’s time to tape it and reattach the clean showerhead. Using a small amount of Teflon tape, wrap the threads on the pipe stem.
6. Screw the showerhead back on, tightening it with a wrench or pliers until you can’t turn it anymore. Don’t turn it too tightly though, or it could break from too much pressure.
7. Turn the water main back on, run the shower for a few seconds, then wait a few minutes to see if there is still a drip.
This may work as a quick and easy way to repair leaky showerhead valve yourself!
Cost to Repair a Leaky Shower Head
If this doesn’t work, or you’re just not sure what the problem is, you can rely on a professional plumber to inspect and replace a basic showerhead for you. This typically takes anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes and can range from $50 to $100.
Single showerheads could cost $20 to $300, depending on which kind of fancy features you want. It all depends on which type of showerhead you have, the depth of the problem and the amount of materials needed to fix the problem.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Bay Area Can Help with this Type of Bathroom Plumbing Repair
For this type of common bathroom plumbing issue, our team at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Bay Area is more than happy to pay you a visit.
Our plumbers have decades of experience and know all there is to know about leaky bathroom plumbing. We’ll do a thorough inspection and will write up a cost estimate before we begin work.
Give us a call today!
