How To Fix A Leaking Shower Head Repair Guide

Difficulty

Easy

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Time Required

                          10 - 15 minutes

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How to Fix a Leaking Shower Head
6 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              How to Fix a Leaking Shower Head

Use a ruler to measure about 8" long on the teflon tape. Then use a pair of scissors to cut it.

Use a ruler to measure about 8" long on the teflon tape. Then use a pair of scissors to cut it.

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Step 2

Place the wrench on the shower head mount. Adjust the wrench to fit tightly on the mount.
For showerheads with shiny finishes, use a rag between the showerhead and the wrench to prevent scratching off the finish.
Turn the wrench counter-clockwise to loosen the showerhead, then unscrew it the rest of the way by hand to remove it.
Be careful not to have the shower head fall down and hit yourself when taking it down.

Place the wrench on the shower head mount. Adjust the wrench to fit tightly on the mount.

For showerheads with shiny finishes, use a rag between the showerhead and the wrench to prevent scratching off the finish.

Turn the wrench counter-clockwise to loosen the showerhead, then unscrew it the rest of the way by hand to remove it.

Be careful not to have the shower head fall down and hit yourself when taking it down.

Step 3

Place and hold one end of the tape on the threads at the end of the shower arm (the pipe coming out of the wall).
Teflon tape likes to stick to itself, so be careful not to let it fold over itself, or you’ll be unfolding it all day.
While taking care to keep the tape flat, wrap it clockwise around the threads, completely covering them and wrapping back over itself to stick.
Be sure to wrap the tape clockwise, so that as you tighten the showerhead it won’t unravel the tape.

Place and hold one end of the tape on the threads at the end of the shower arm (the pipe coming out of the wall).

Teflon tape likes to stick to itself, so be careful not to let it fold over itself, or you’ll be unfolding it all day.

While taking care to keep the tape flat, wrap it clockwise around the threads, completely covering them and wrapping back over itself to stick.

Be sure to wrap the tape clockwise, so that as you tighten the showerhead it won’t unravel the tape.

Step 4

Thread the showerhead back onto the shower arm.
Spin it on a few times to get it hand tight.

Thread the showerhead back onto the shower arm.

Spin it on a few times to get it hand tight.

Step 5

Test out the showerhead with your hand tightening first. If it still leaks, you may need to wrench on it a bit to seal things up.
Again, use the rag trick if your showerhead is shiny and you could scratch off the finish.
Be careful not to overtighten, as you could very easily damage the showerhead, shower arm, or plumbing within the shower wall.

Test out the showerhead with your hand tightening first. If it still leaks, you may need to wrench on it a bit to seal things up.

Again, use the rag trick if your showerhead is shiny and you could scratch off the finish.

Be careful not to overtighten, as you could very easily damage the showerhead, shower arm, or plumbing within the shower wall.

Step 6

The tape is replaced! However this may not have solved your problem. If the showerhead still leaks from the joint with the shower arm, there may be dirt or debris in the joint, or damaged threads on the shower arm.
Try tightening the showerhead a little more with your wrench, or reapplying teflon tape to ensure a good layer.

The tape is replaced! However this may not have solved your problem. If the showerhead still leaks from the joint with the shower arm, there may be dirt or debris in the joint, or damaged threads on the shower arm.

Try tightening the showerhead a little more with your wrench, or reapplying teflon tape to ensure a good layer.

This guide is made to maintain the tightened connection between the shower head and the pipe. If the shower head is leaking water elsewhere except at the connection, please seek for other fixing guides for repairing shower head leaking problem.

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                                                                                      6 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 4 other contributors

                    Jiahui Wu

Member since: 02/23/2015

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                       Cal Poly, Team 12-5, Green Winter 2015                        

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                                            7 Guides authored

Craig Armstrong - Jun 15, 2016

I found the rubber washer was missing on the end of the hose so I put a 1/4" rubber grommet and it just happened to squish in the middle for a leak-less connection.

Rose Geiger - Oct 14, 2018

My shower head is leaky in it’s joint and it’s not possible to wrap this place with tape. Water is dripping from the joint and it looks odd. Is there any solution for this or should I replace the shower head with a new one.

Ralph Matthews - Jul 1, 2021

I have handheld shower head with slide bar, I tried the above method but still, sometimes it drips. Do you have other methods for shower leakage issues?

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team