A leaky shower faucet is not just frustrating, but it can be expensive. Your money is going down the drain in the form of higher water bills. Fortunately, in most cases, a leaky shower faucet can be fixed in a few DIY steps.
Tools you may need:
- Phillips-Head screwdriver
- Slotted screwdriver
- Wrench (Some shower faucets require a specialised tool, a cartridge puller, to remove the cartridge. Read your manufacturer’s manual for more information.)
- Needle nose pliers
- Hex key (Sometimes called an Allen key, this tool is needed to remove some faucet handles.)
Materials you might need:
- Faucet repair kit with replacement parts
- Shower faucet cartridge or stem
- Silicone faucet grease
- Old towel or rag
Firstly gather your supplies and then turn off your water supply - That way, you won’t have to go without water for too long.
Step by step guide on how to fix a leaking shower with two handles :
If you can't tell which handle is leaking in a shower faucet with two handles, put your hand under the water to see if it's hot or cold. You may need to replace the washer in both handles, if both are leaking follow the steps before.
- Turn off the water to the shower faucet. You may have to turn off the water to the entire house if you don't have a shut-off valve only for the shower.
- Put a rag or old towel over the shower floor to protect it in case you drop any tools or parts. Make sure it covers the drain, too, so small parts can't fall in it.
- Open the shower faucet or faucets, if you're working on a two-handled shower faucet, to release the pressure and let any water drain out.
- If your shower handle has a cap over the screw in the centre of the handle, pry it off with a flathead screwdriver and put it aside for later. Unscrew the handle and remove it.
- Next, remove the decorative faceplate behind the handle and take it off the shower wall. You may have to pry it off. If it has threads, unscrew the faceplate from the wall and remove it.
- Look behind the faceplate to find the metal sleeve over the shower valve. Pull it off or unscrew it.
- Put a deep well socket wrench over the metal stem of the faucet that is leaking. Use it to grip the valve nut as the base of the stem.
- Unscrew the valve nut and put it aside for later. Remove the wrench and nut from the valve.
- Using your fingers, carefully pull the metal stem out of the wall. Replace the old rubber washer with a new one. You may need to pull the old one off with needle-nose pliers.
- Make sure the new washer is the same size as the old one and put on in exactly the same way the old one was positioned. Put a little silicone faucet grease on the washer for a better seal.
- If the metal stem is worn or damaged, replace it with a new one designed for your faucet brand and model. Remember: you may have to do this for both handles.
- Put the new metal stem into place or re-use the old one if it's in good shape. To finish up, replace the faceplate, handle and cover cap, if the handle has one. Turn on the water supply, run the water and check for leaks. If you still have leaks, you may need to call a sealant specialist.
If the leaks persist, or you don't have time to learn how to fix a leaky shower faucet you may want to replace the shower faucet with a new or updated model. If you need further assistance, if the problem persists or are unsure and would prefer to leave it to the experts, please contact us on 1300557227. Saba Seal has over 15 years experience in Shower Sealing and Repairing Leaking showers. We pride ourselves on having the highest quality workmanship in the industry and use only quality products. With that said we confidently provide our clients with a lifetime warranty on all shower seal repairs that are completed by a Saba Seal specialist.
