How to fix a leaky shower faucet

Look at where the water escapes; that names the part. A shower head that keeps dripping after the handle is off usually has a tired cartridge or valve seat in the wall. Drips where the head meets the arm come from a loose connection or worn washer. Dampness at the handle often traces to a perished O-ring or packing nut. Only the first calls for care; the rest are easy. It all sits within faucets, sinks, showers and disposals.

Which part is leaking, and what does each symptom mean?

A head that drips once the shower is off means the cartridge or seat is worn. A spout that drips while the shower runs means the diverter is worn. A weeping handle is a ring or packing problem, and a wet arm means the thread seal gave up. The repairs differ in both method and difficulty.

A quick matching guide:

EPA points a drip-when-off shower toward a handyperson or plumber, because the valve sits inside the wall.

How do you seal the joint between head and arm?

Twist the head off the arm, wind fresh plumber's tape clockwise onto the threads, inspect the rubber washer or O-ring inside the head, swap it if cracked, and thread everything back hand-tight. EPA describes the same steps, and the parts cost little. Drips from the nozzles afterward mean the valve itself is leaking.

Keep it gentle. Overtightening cracks plastic heads and damages the arm. If scale has built up in the head, soak it in a vinegar and water mix and rinse. Where tap water is hard, scale often explains weak spray and stuck diverters. Your water district's quality report lists local hardness, with options for dissolving buildup in removing hard water scale.

How do you replace a worn shower cartridge?

Water off, line drained. Unscrew the handle and trim plate, free the clip or nut that holds the cartridge, and pull it out, using a puller if it clings. A matching replacement goes in with the same orientation; put it back together and turn the supply on gently with the handle left open. Brand and model must match.

Details worth knowing before you start:

1. Identify the brand. Moen, Delta, Kohler and others use different cartridges; the handle shape and trim often show which.
2. Shut the water at the right place. Some showers have stop valves. If not, the house main is the safe choice.
3. Photograph each step. Order and orientation matter.
4. Protect the drain and tub. A dropped screw or clip goes down the drain.
5. Check the seat. A pitted valve body may need a plumber.

If the cartridge sticks, do not force it with a screwdriver. Cartridge pullers exist for this reason, and a stuck cartridge is a common reason to hand the job over. Installing a new tub and shower valve is more involved and is covered in the shower leak plumber page.

What cures a weeping handle?

With the water off, take away the handle and trim and look at the stem's O-ring or packing nut. A flattened or cracked ring gets replaced with an identical size, greased with plumber's silicone and reassembled. A packing nut sometimes needs only a small turn. Going too far binds the handle.

Leaks around the handle can drip into the wall cavity behind the trim, so check the drywall or tile below for staining. If the wall is wet, the supply connection behind it may be the real source. Tub-shower combinations share the problem; the pages on the tub faucet and kitchen and bathroom faucets cover those fixtures.

How much water does a leaky shower waste?

Per EPA, a head leaking ten drips a minute loses over 500 gallons yearly, and a faucet dripping once a second can lose over 3,000. A shower valve that drips round the clock adds to the water bill quietly, and you may only see it when the statement arrives.

Suspect a leak behind the wall? Close every fixture, note the meter, and compare it after two hours. The leaky faucets and high bills guide shows how to put a figure on a drip.

When should a plumber handle a shower leak?

Stop and hand it over when the cartridge refuses to budge, the valve body looks pitted, a stain is spreading on a neighboring wall or ceiling, or you cannot name the model. A full valve swap means opening tile or drywall, which is plumber's work.

A cartridge swap sits far below the dollar line for California's contractor license rule, whereas a valve replacement plus wall repair may not; look the contractor up at CSLB. To ask for a visit, use the quote form; a written price comes before work.

Common questions

What is a realistic time estimate?

Minutes for a head washer. A cartridge swap generally takes under an hour when done by someone experienced, longer on a first attempt. A valve behind tile is a much bigger job, with tile and drywall afterward; the plumber can say more once it is exposed.

What should a shower leak quote cover?

It should say how the valve brand will be identified, whether parts and wall repair are included, how the valve will be reached, and the contractor license number. Add who restores tile or drywall if it must be opened, and keep the figure in writing.

Does anyone have to stay in?

Plan on it: an adult lets the plumber in, shows the shutoff and approves changes. Clear the tub of bottles and mats, and warn everyone that the taps will run dry for a spell, with a bucket ready for flushing.

Why does the shower drip only when hot?

A hot-only drip often points to a worn hot-side seat or a failing cartridge, and heat can make a marginal seal let more through. A mixing cartridge that is failing can also let hot and cold water cross. Either way the usual cure is a matching replacement cartridge.

Is there a way to switch off only the shower?

Only with its own stop valves, which many older homes lack. Without them, close the main house valve. Exercise stops occasionally so they do not seize, and locate the main before you start, since fumbling for it with water already running is how small repairs become floods.