Shower head leak - drip...drip...drip...

Posted by miamicuse on August 19, 2005, 12:51 am

My shower head is leaking with a drop of water every twenty seconds or so.
Removed the head and the shower arm is leaking the same way. So is the leak
somewhere in the faucet handles? The shower head is in the middle about 6.5
feet high, and at about 4 feet high I have a hot and a cold faucet handle by
Delta. What do I need to change? Replace the entire faucet unit? That
would require opening up the tiled wall...

Thanks in advance,

MC

Posted by Rich on August 19, 2005, 7:34 am

> My shower head is leaking with a drop of water every twenty seconds or so.
> Removed the head and the shower arm is leaking the same way. So is the
> leak
> somewhere in the faucet handles? The shower head is in the middle about
> 6.5
> feet high, and at about 4 feet high I have a hot and a cold faucet handle
> by
> Delta. What do I need to change? Replace the entire faucet unit? That
> would require opening up the tiled wall...
> Thanks in advance,
> MC

If its a single handle unit that starts cold then goes to hot as you rotate
it then when you turn it off turn it back towards cold just a little bit.
This solved my dripping problem as I can't get the unit apart because the
plumber melted the o-ring to the body so I'm going to need a gear puller to
separate the two, but for now just turning it a little solved it for me.

Rich

Posted by No on August 19, 2005, 8:52 am

You say handles so I'm assuming that you have a hot and cold plus a center
to divert the water between the tub and the shower. This is an easy fix. You
just need a new washer or two. Can you tell if the water dripping out is hot
or cold? That will tell you which washer you need to replace. if you cant
tell, or if its warm, you should replace both.

To replace washer(s).
Shut off water to fixture, or whole house.
Remove cap on end of handle.
Remove screw under cap, rightey tightey, leftey loosey.
Pull off handle, it should pull straight off after screw is removed.
below handle, close to wall, is a large nut with the valve stem (the part
that holds the handle) in the middle. Unscrew this nut.
Once loose, remove the nut and stem together. You will have to put the
handle back on, no screw, and turn the stem in the direction you turn the
water on, to get the assembly out.
At the end of the valve stem there is a washer.
Take the stems, left and right, to the hardware store and match the washers.
Replace the washers and reverser the above procedure to put it all back
together again.

Have fun.

This is a one trip to the hardware store job and should only cost you .10
cents.

Posted by miamicuse on August 19, 2005, 10:50 am

Yes I have two handles one hot and cold. I will check to see if it's the
cold or hot water and report back. It's a showe stall so no diverter at all
for tub and shower. Just two handles and a shower.

Thanks,

MC

> You say handles so I'm assuming that you have a hot and cold plus a center
> to divert the water between the tub and the shower. This is an easy fix.

You

> just need a new washer or two. Can you tell if the water dripping out is

hot

> or cold? That will tell you which washer you need to replace. if you cant
> tell, or if its warm, you should replace both.
> To replace washer(s).
> Shut off water to fixture, or whole house.
> Remove cap on end of handle.
> Remove screw under cap, rightey tightey, leftey loosey.
> Pull off handle, it should pull straight off after screw is removed.
> below handle, close to wall, is a large nut with the valve stem (the part
> that holds the handle) in the middle. Unscrew this nut.
> Once loose, remove the nut and stem together. You will have to put the
> handle back on, no screw, and turn the stem in the direction you turn the
> water on, to get the assembly out.
> At the end of the valve stem there is a washer.
> Take the stems, left and right, to the hardware store and match the

washers.

> Replace the washers and reverser the above procedure to put it all back
> together again.
> Have fun.
> This is a one trip to the hardware store job and should only cost you .10
> cents.

> > My shower head is leaking with a drop of water every twenty seconds or

so.

> > Removed the head and the shower arm is leaking the same way. So is the
> > leak
> > somewhere in the faucet handles? The shower head is in the middle about
> > 6.5
> > feet high, and at about 4 feet high I have a hot and a cold faucet

handle

> > by
> > Delta. What do I need to change? Replace the entire faucet unit? That
> > would require opening up the tiled wall...
> > Thanks in advance,
> > MC

Posted by PipeDown on August 19, 2005, 7:57 pm

Replace both at the same time and save yourself a job later.

There are a variety of different valve styles so you may have to turn off
the main water, remove the valve core and take it to the store for
comparison (unless you know the brand and can figure it out from the
diagrams on the web). Newer ceramic cartridges can be used for hot or cold
so make sure to install properly or the knob will turn the wrong way

Look inside the hole where the valve was when removed and make sure no
debris has gotten stuck inside (old solder, metal shavings and broken rubber
washer bits)

> Yes I have two handles one hot and cold. I will check to see if it's the
> cold or hot water and report back. It's a showe stall so no diverter at
> all
> for tub and shower. Just two handles and a shower.
> Thanks,
> MC

>> You say handles so I'm assuming that you have a hot and cold plus a
>> center
>> to divert the water between the tub and the shower. This is an easy fix.

> You

>> just need a new washer or two. Can you tell if the water dripping out is

> hot

>> or cold? That will tell you which washer you need to replace. if you cant
>> tell, or if its warm, you should replace both.
>> To replace washer(s).
>> Shut off water to fixture, or whole house.
>> Remove cap on end of handle.
>> Remove screw under cap, rightey tightey, leftey loosey.
>> Pull off handle, it should pull straight off after screw is removed.
>> below handle, close to wall, is a large nut with the valve stem (the part
>> that holds the handle) in the middle. Unscrew this nut.
>> Once loose, remove the nut and stem together. You will have to put the
>> handle back on, no screw, and turn the stem in the direction you turn the
>> water on, to get the assembly out.
>> At the end of the valve stem there is a washer.
>> Take the stems, left and right, to the hardware store and match the

> washers.

>> Replace the washers and reverser the above procedure to put it all back
>> together again.
>> Have fun.
>> This is a one trip to the hardware store job and should only cost you .10
>> cents.

>> > My shower head is leaking with a drop of water every twenty seconds or

> so.

>> > Removed the head and the shower arm is leaking the same way. So is the
>> > leak
>> > somewhere in the faucet handles? The shower head is in the middle
>> > about
>> > 6.5
>> > feet high, and at about 4 feet high I have a hot and a cold faucet

> handle

>> > by
>> > Delta. What do I need to change? Replace the entire faucet unit?
>> > That
>> > would require opening up the tiled wall...
>> > Thanks in advance,
>> > MC

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