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How do you Fix a Leaking Shower Head?

If your shower head is leaking, it’s likely due to a part that has worn out over time. O-rings, seals, and other shower faucet components can become brittle, crack, warp, or collect scale deposits as they age. In homes with hard water this is especially common, as minerals can create a sort of sticky plaque that allows mineral content in water to get trapped as it passes through, creating a buildup that worsens over time. This leaves small parts vulnerable to cracks and breaking, resulting in a leaky shower head.

While these parts can be fixed by handy homeowners who have the knowhow to tackle such projects, many homeowners will need to solicit the help of a professional plumber. If you poke around and find an obvious cause for the leak after turning off the water, you can carefully remove the broken part and take it with you to a hardware store to find a replacement and install it by reversing the processed needed to remove it.

If the shower cartridge is to blame, it may not be obvious that it is the culprit. Removing and replacing it is the best way to test whether it will fix the leak. Depending on the brand and age of your shower faucet, the manufacturer may be willing to send you a replacement for free, or at a discount over buying it at a hardware store. This is worth trying if the cartridge is accessible and easily removable. However, if you remove the cover and the cartridge feels stuck, do not wrench on it hard to remove it, or you could break the inside housing, necessitating a costly whole faucet replacement.

Additional resources:
How to Fix a Leaking Faucet in your Home
Fixing a Shower Faucet - DIY Tutorial
How to Fix Shower Leaks
Why is My Water Bill so High All of a Sudden?
Is Installing a Faucet Easy?
Price Guide: How Much is Faucet Repair?
What Causes a Leaking Shower Faucet?
Leaking Shower Faucet? Do this Next!