How To Fix a Leaky Shower Head

If your shower head is leaking, turn off the water and examine the shower head fixture to try to figure out what may be causing the leak. There can be several different sources of a shower head leak. Water can be leaking from the shower head itself or from the connection between the shower faucet arm (the part coming out of the wall) and the head.

A cracked head, a broken seal or damaged internal washer can cause a leak that originates from the shower head itself, whereas a loose connection or worn gasket can cause a leak that originates from the area where the head connects to the arm. Determining where the water is coming from will help you determine how to fix the problem. If you can’t tell at this point where the water is coming from, wipe down the entire area to dry it up really well and rub a little bit of liquid soap on the head and arm and then turn the water back on and look for any bubbles – this will let you know where water is seeping through.

If the head is leaking, cover the drain with a towel and then take the shower head apart systematically so you keep track of where each part goes. (You can take pictures with your phone as you go to ensure you will know how to put it back together when you’re done.) Look for any parts that are visibly damaged and replace them by taking the piece to the hardware store and getting a replacement. Washers and gaskets are very inexpensive pieces, but they play an integral role in the proper functioning of your shower faucet, so you want to be sure to get the right size for your specific faucet instead of just trying to make something work that you already have on hand. Once you have replaced any worn or broken parts, use plumber’s tape around the pipe threads as you reassemble the shower head. Then, turn the water back on and test the head to see if it’s leaking.

If the connection is leaking and seems like it may be loose, use a wrench or pliers and carefully tighten it some and then turn the water back on to test your fix. When tightening the connection, be sure to go slow and do so gently to avoid overtightening, which can cause far more significant damage. (When tightening the connection if you notice any irregular twisting or hear any grinding sounds, stop, and call a plumber right away! It’s possible that you may have done damage to the pipe inside the wall due to overtightening, which can result in a major leak behind your shower wall.) But, if the connection does not seem loose, follow the same steps that you would use to check the washer inside a shower head to check the gasket inside the connection piece.

If these steps do not fix your shower head leak or you suspect something more serious may be going on with your plumbing, call a local plumber to have it looked at by a professional. You can reach us at 1 (800) 674-9130 and we will send out a licensed plumber to fix your shower head leak as soon as possible. Don’t ignore your problem and continue wasting water!

Additional resources:
Fixing My Leaky Shower Head
Leaky Faucet Fixes
How to Fix My Shower Faucet Myself
Leaking Shower Fix Tips
Possible Expensive Water Bill Reasons
Do I Need to Call a Pro to Install a Faucet?
Is Leaky Faucet Repair Expensive?
Reasons for Leaky Shower Faucets
Leaky Shower Faucet: What to Do Now?
Tutorials to Fix a Leaking Shower Head
Shower Faucet Repair Tips from the Pros