How to Replace the Washers on a Leaky Shower Head

Shower head washers are small, hard-wearing rubber O-rings, which are used to create a watertight seal around the shower head. When these washers become worn out, shower heads will no longer maintain a watertight seal around them, resulting in water leakage. Therefore, if your shower head is leaky, chances are high that your washers have given in to the wear and tear of age. The good news is that it is quite easy to replace worn out washers.

Here's how you can replace shower head washers and make sure your shower head is working properly again:

Cut off the water supply

The first thing that you need to do before performing any sort of repair work on your shower head is to cut off the water supply to the faucet. This can be done by turning off the water supply at the main water supply line or by closing the shutoff valve connected to the bathroom. If you will need water to keep flowing to the rest of the house while you continue with the repair work, it is best to cut off water supply by turning off the shutoff valve connected to the bathroom. 

Remove the faucet

The next step is to detach the shower head from the shower pipe. This can be done using a screwdriver or a wrench, depending on the kind of mechanism used to mount it in place. Make sure to drain out any water that might be left inside the faucet.

Take the faucet apart

Next, take the shower head apart, starting with the faceplate or guard. Disassemble the faucet until you locate to the washers, which are typically found on the shower stem. Remove the old washers and use a clean towel or rag to soak up water that may have remained inside the faucet.

Install the new washers

The shower head is designed to work with a set of washers. It is a good idea to replace all washers at a go regardless of their condition, so you can avoid the trouble of having to disassemble the faucet all over again if leaking recurs after just a short time. Once you are done installing the new washers, fasten everything back together and turn the water supply back on. If there's no more leaking, then you have successfully performed the repairs. Otherwise, you may need to call in a professional to deal with the problem.

For more information on leaking shower repairs, click here!


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