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Tips to Fix Leaky Shower Faucets

All types of leaky faucets are extremely irritating, but shower faucets with a leakage are probably the most discomforting amongst all. A leaky shower faucet drips continuously resulting in wastage of a substantial amount of water. Moreover, leakages in the shower faucet make it extremely difficult to maintain a dry and clean bathroom floor. These inconveniences make it important that a leaking shower faucet is immediately fixed. In this post, we will share simple tips that can help you take care of your leaky shower faucet, in case professional help is not available.

Before starting the repairing work, your first task is to get hold of all plumbing materials that would be required for this job. Prepare a comprehensive list of materials that must include a set of screwdrivers, a couple of pliers, a pocket knife, an adjustable wrench, cartridge, grease, washers, sealant, and O-rings. You are ready to get started once you have these materials.

Your leakage fixing process should start with cutting off the supply of water to the shower. You may find it difficult to locate that particular water pipe’s knob. In that case, you may disconnect the water supply main. Now you can remove the shower faucet from its place and allow the remaining water to drain out through your shower head. The next step for you is to remove the handle of the faucet. There is a screw in all faucet handles. It can be either concealed or exposed. Find out this screw and unscrew the handle of the faucet using an adjustable wrench. Ensure no scratch marks are created on the faucet handle by using duct tape on the tip of the wrench. After its removal, inspect the handle thoroughly. Use a piece of dry to remove accumulated grime and dirt from the handle.

More often than not, a leaking shower faucet is caused by loose valves or worn out rubber washers, threading, or O-rings, etc. Check all these factors to find out the root cause of your problem. If you have a loosened valve, use your pliers to tighten it. Now test the faucet after re-attaching it. Your job is done if there is no leakage anymore.

If the problem persists, check the rubber washer. Replace it with a new washer of the same thickness and size if the existing one is worn out. A loosened or worn out threading could also be the responsible factor. While replacing the plumbing thread, be sure to tightly wrap the thread around this stem. Otherwise, the thread may get entangled with certain internal components of the system. Finally, examine the O-ring and change it if there is any problem with it.

Always apply sealants on the valve’s threads while attaching it back in its own place. A layer of petroleum jelly or grease should be added to the faucet handle’s threads while screwing it in. Now, wait for approximately an hour before turning on the shower. Immediately contact a professional plumber, if the problem still persists.

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Written by Anta

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