How To Repair A Leaky Shower Faucet
Skillful advice and videos on how to repair a shower faucet that drips or leaks. Very helpful, specific advice for fixing the main types of shower faucets.
A leaky shower faucet or shower head tin be both irritating and expensive. Across the annoying baste, drip, drip, a leaky shower faucet (valve) can waste hundreds of gallons of water every week. And worse, a leak on the hot water side of the shower valve tin can waste significant energy because the water heater must continually operate to warm the h2o being drawn unnecessarily.
Ane reader whose home was equipped with an electric water heater complained that his leaking shower valve caused his electric beak to triple.
Even more than concerning is the shower valve that leaks inside the wall. Over time, water dribbling into the wall can cause dry rot, mold, and structural issues that tin be both chancy and very expensive to repair.
What Causes a Leaky Shower Faucet or Shower Head Drip?
When h2o drips or drizzles from a shower head, there is a problem with the shower faucet (valve). In most cases, inner seals are worn, or parts have become corroded or clogged with hard water deposits. And the rubber O-rings and gaskets that seal connections between moving metal parts article of clothing down with time and use. When they do, water squirts or drips out. For more, please see How a Shower Works.
Advice for Fixing Leaky Shower Faucets
If you turn off a shower faucet and the water keeps dribbling out of the shower head, a natural instinct is to crank the handle closed as hard every bit you can. Unfortunately, this may only make things worse. Be sure the faucet handle is turned all of the way off, but don't over-tighten it! This may damage the valve.
When working on shower faucets, place rags in the tub or shower flooring beneath the faucets and over the drain to protect the surfaces and preclude small parts from being dropped downwards the drain. Before opening up a shower valve, turn off the water supply. In some houses, a shut-off valve is located in the bathroom, most the shower, or in the basement. If y'all can't find the shower shut-off valves, plow off the h2o supply to the entire house. For more most this, run into How to Shut Off the Water Supply.
If you have to shut off the water to the entire business firm, programme and organize ahead of time. Read through all of the instructions and accept the tools and materials that y'all'll demand readily on manus to minimize the time your abode'south water will be off—and alarm your family. After shutting off the house water, faucets and h2o-using appliances won't piece of work but each toilet will accept one flush.
Subsequently you've turned off the h2o supply, open the bathroom sink faucet to drain any water from the nearby pipes.
There are many types of shower faucet valves. The methods for fixing the leak will depend upon the type of shower valve. In the articles listed below, y'all will discover stride-by-stride instructions for fixing the major brands of shower faucets.
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How to Fix a Leaky Two-Handle Shower Faucet
A shower valve that's operated by two faucet handles—ane hot and 1 cold—is typically a compression faucet, as discussed in the article How a Compression Faucet Works. Leaks in a compression faucet generally occur when a rubber seal or washer wears out over time, assuasive h2o to seep between movable metal parts.
Fixing a compression shower faucet involves disassembling the unit and replacing the lacking washers and seals. Information technology's important to close off the h2o supply to the shower, and to protect the surface of the tub or shower floor and cover the drain. Buy a faucet washer kit so you'll accept the necessary replacement O-rings and washers on manus. Scan faucet washer kits at Amazon.
Outset, feel the h2o leaking from the tub spout or shower head. If information technology's warm, you know that the leak is coming from the hot-water valve. If the water has been dripping for a while and it is cold, the leak is probably coming from the common cold-water valve.
i Start by removing the faucet handle. Methods for doing this volition depend upon the faucet'south design. Older or merely-designed faucets frequently have an exposed screw front end and center or a locking screw in the side. Newer and more than decorative models of faucets hide the spiral below a cover cap. With these, you demand to pry off the cover cap to expose the screw. If your faucet handle is the type with a embrace cap and there is no obvious method of removal, utilize a very thin screwdriver or pocketknife to pry the cap off. Be conscientious not to scratch the terminate or damage the material.
ii Once y'all've removed the cover cap, use a screwdriver to unscrew the locking spiral, turning it counterclockwise. Remove it and set up information technology aside. Then wiggle and pull on the handle to extract it from the faucet body. This can be difficult to exercise. Yous can buy a faucet puller, or improvise with a screwdriver every bit shown in the video below. Find faucet pullers on Amazon.
3 Afterwards removing the handle, remove the trim and the sleeve that fits over the faucet stalk. You lot'll demand a plumber'due south deep socket, as shown in the video, to extract the faucet stem from the valve body (you can find an cheap prepare online). Fit it over the stem's hex nut and turn it counterclockwise to unscrew the assembly. At first, you may demand to apply significant strength to break it free. Unscrew the faucet stem and pull information technology out of the valve body.
four Replace all faucet washers, O-rings, seals, and the flat washer at the end of the stalk (remove the screw to replaced the washer).
5 And then opposite the procedures to replace the faucet stem in the valve body. Earlier you put it in, lubricate the threads with plumber'southward grease. Tighten it in the valve body. Temporarily put the handle dorsum on, plow on the water supply, and test the valve. Then terminate reassembly. Finally, seal the trim to the wall with tub caulk. Shop for tub caulk online.
How to Fix a Leaky Delta Shower Faucet
If your shower has a leaky Delta shower faucet, here is how to cease the leak. Before get-go, please read the information titled "Advice for Fixing Leaky Shower Faucets" above. Close off the water supply to the shower and protect the surface of the tub or shower floor. Also cover the drain so you lot don't accidentally driblet small parts downwardly information technology. Purchase a Delta replacement cartridge on Amazon then you'll take the necessary replacement on hand. Hither's a video that shows this procedure:
1 Remove the encompass cap that hides the screw property the handle, and then unscrew the handle and pull it off.
2 Remove the two screws that hold escutcheon trim plate in identify, and and then pull the escutcheon plate away from the wall, exposing the hole in the wall effectually the valve.
three Slide off the exterior sleeve (sometimes called a "terminate tube") by gripping it and pulling it outward. Then remove the brass bonnet with a pair of locking jaw pliers, turning information technology counterclockwise.
four Remove the one-time cartridge past pulling off the plastic cap, and and then gripping and wiggling the cartridge until it'due south loose enough to pull off. Feel inside the valve area for whatsoever deposits or loose particles, and clean with a rag.
5 Then insert the new cartridge. Note that one side of the cartridge is marked "Hot" and should be positioned on the hot water (normally left) side. Button it firmly in identify. If necessary, conform the rotational limit finish, according to the manufacturer's directions that come with the replacement cartridge.
6 Put the brass bonnet back on the valve and turn it clockwise to tighten information technology. Be sure the threads grip properly. Manus-tighten, and and so apply locking jaw pliers to snug it down. Clean the wall where the escutcheon plate goes, and and so put the outer sleeve back on the cartridge and push it into place. Replace the escutcheon plate and handle.
7 Turn the h2o supply back on and, if everything works fine, caulk the perimeter of the escutcheon plate with tub caulk to seal it to the wall.
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How to Fix a Leaky Price Pfister Shower Faucet
Every bit when working on other types of shower valves, get-go by shutting off the water supply and protecting the tub and drain with rags. Ideally, your shower plumbing will have a local h2o supply valve that you can close off (similar to the valve under a sink) that is attainable through a removable panel. In most cases, there isn't one of these, so you'll demand to shut off the master valve for the unabridged house.
Open a nearby faucet to empty the shower pipes. Before beginning, please read the information titled "Advice for Fixing Leaky Shower Faucets" in a higher place. If your defective shower valve is made by Price Pfister, you'll be happy to know that they stand behind their products with a strong warranty. If you can prove that you bought their valve after 1997, they will transport you free parts. Information technology's definitely worth a call to their 800 number at 1-800-732-8238. You can also purchase a replacement valve on Amazon.
1 Pry the decorative push button off of the cease of the shower stem to expose the screw that secures the handle assembly. Utilize a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screw, turning it counterclockwise. Then remove the handle assembly.
2 Next, unscrew the threaded sleeve, turning it counterclockwise, and remove information technology from the escutcheon trim plate. If the escutcheon trim is caulked to the wall, use a precipitous pocketknife to cut the seal. Exist conscientious non to scratch the surfaces. Remove the plate from the wall.
3 To remove the cartridge, unscrew the four screws that hold the dogged-eared mounting flange. Once more, plow them counterclockwise to remove them. Accomplish in and pull the plastic cartridge out of the valve. Be certain the rubber O-rings come out with the cartridge.
4 Use a rag and, if necessary, steel wool to clean the inner surfaces of the valve. And then supercede the one-time plastic cartridge with a new i, and supervene upon the threaded slice and the flange.
5 Be sure the condom gasket will seal properly. Position information technology and so the orientation is properly aligned. Utilize the metal ring and four screws to secure information technology. When it'south tight, turn the h2o supply back on and bank check for leaks. If you don't discover any leaks, caulk around the perimeter of the trim and so replace the escutcheon trim and the handle. Hither is a really helpful video that shows this process.
How to Gear up a Leaky Moen Shower Faucet
Before start a shower valve replacement, read the information titled "Communication for Fixing Leaky Shower Faucets" higher up. Shut off the water supply to the shower and protect the surface of the tub or shower floor. Also embrace the drain to prevent accidentally dropping minor parts down it. Purchase a Moen replacement cartridge on Amazon and accept it on hand.
1 Pry off the plastic cover at the elevation of the control valve, and then remove the screw at the center of the knob, using a Phillips screwdriver. Unscrew the ii screws that secure the escutcheon plate and pull the plate off of the wall. Gently pry information technology with a apartment-bladed screwdriver if necessary. Exist careful non to scratch the cease.
2 Pull the stop tube straight out, sliding information technology off of the cartridge. Using a pair of pliers, pull the U-shaped cartridge retainer clip off of the valve torso. Slide the modest spacer washer off of the shaft and set it bated with the servant clip.
3 A white plastic nut-like tool should be packaged with the new cartridge. Slip this plastic nut tool over the shaft so it interlocks with the cartridge. And so turn it back and forth with pliers to release the cartridge from the valve body. Remove the nut, so employ pliers to grip the stem of the cartridge and pull information technology directly out of the valve body.
four Push the new replacement cartridge direct into the valve body until it seats. Slip the plastic nut tool onto the cartridge and orient the cartridge so that its ears are at the top and bottom of the valve body. Slide the U-shaped servant clip back into the valve body until it snaps into place. If the servant clip doesn't snap into place properly, the cartridge is not seated correctly in the valve torso—readjust it with the plastic nut tool.
5 Now turn the water supply back on. Temporarily mount the faucet knob on the shaft. Holding a bucket under the shower head, turn on the hot h2o to make certain the hot h2o works. If the water doesn't get hot, you'll need to readjust the cartridge with the plastic nut tool and check once more until you get hot water.
six Put the small-scale spacer washer back onto the shaft. Slide the cease tube dorsum onto the valve torso. Supercede the escutcheon plate and secure it with its two screws, turning them clockwise until snug. Put the plastic knob back on, screw it in place, and secure the comprehend plate over the screw.
This helpful video volition guide you through this procedure from showtime to finish:
Side by side SEE:
• Low Flow Shower Head Buying Guide
• How to Replace a Shower Caput
• Showers Buying Guide
• Shower Door Buying Guide
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Source: https://www.hometips.com/repair-fix/how-to-repair-leaky-shower-faucet.html
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