Showers that are dripping with water can cause severe irritation. It can irritate tenfold if it occurs in an en suite and can be heard while you sleep. It could not only be costing your money in wasted water but also impact your sleep and mental well-being.
Two common causes of a leaking shower are:
1. Leakage in the showerhead
2. Shower valve malfunction
We'll show you how to fix your leaking shower and solve the problem of both.
Repairing the showerhead
Spray the bathroom cleaner on the showerhead, or dip the head in a cleaning solution. After letting the bathroom cleaner sit for a while, scrub it with a toothbrush or wash up the scourer. This is a good practice and will eliminate any limescale or dirt buildup.
After the showerhead has been cleaned, remove the hose from the showerhead. Use some PTFE tape to wrap around the thread. The PTFE tape can be used to seal the seam again. It will also prevent any water from leaking.
Please turn on the main water supply and reconnect the showerhead to its hose. Turn on the main water supply and run the shower. After that, turn off the shower. If a leaky showerhead caused the problem, then this should have fixed the problem.
Repairing the valve
If the showerhead doesn't have the problem, then the mixer valve is likely to be the issue. Below are the steps that can be taken to fix this issue. This is a more difficult task, so you might feel more comfortable hiring a professional plumber.
It is essential to turn off the water supply at the mains. Water can cause serious damage, so do not ignore this crucial step.
To get to the bottom of the problem, you will need to disassemble the valve. Start by removing the handle/lever. The screw at the centre of the valve can be removed with a screwdriver. This will also be needed to be removed if there is a metal plate.
After removing the metal plate, you will see the gasket that lies just behind it. You can remove the gasket and place some plumber's putty in the same area. The plumber's glue is an essential component to waterproof all joints.
Locate the shower stem, usually the part sticking out from the wall. Then replace the washers. The old washers may be leaking water if they have become discoloured or lost. To ensure that the item is in good condition, check it out.
You can clean the pipes and other parts with your bathroom cleaner, and then you can reassemble the valve in the reverse order. Check for leaks by turning the shower on and off several times. The problem should now be solved. If this doesn't work, you should call a professional.