If you have a beautiful, clean bathroom, it’s no use if the drip … the drip … the drip wakes you up at night. That crazy sound that gets louder and louder when you want to go back to sleep. Water torture can happen to anyone. A leak in the shower head is even louder than in the sink. It has to fall further.
What can you do? Think about it before you call that plumber who costs $ 75 an hour and can start charging as soon as they leave your house. They may live on the other side of town. Why don’t you go to your trusty computer first and find a leaky shower head? You will find plenty of troubleshooting ideas that don’t sound too intimidating.
When you find one that looks reliable and not too overwhelming, collect the items you need: a towel, washers or o-rings, screwdriver, pipe wrench, pliers, pipe sealant, and rubber grommets. If you have a neighbor who is a very clever guy who you have seen do projects that have not fallen apart, ask him. He should be able to tell you if the information he has is good or bad. If he’s really a nice guy, he might even come and do the work for you. Just in case. Look over the shower head, where is the leak coming from? Does it appear to be coming off the faceplate or from behind the shower head?
Begin by removing the shower head very carefully. Place the towel around the shower head before you begin. Make sure you have unscrewed the screw under the shower head so it pops out. Using pliers, unscrew the head.
You should see a washer under the head. Remove that old washer and replace it with a new one. Your problem could very well be limescale deposits. Try removing the faceplate that is over the shower head. There are only a couple of screws. Take the entire shower head and soak it in white vinegar for up to eight hours. It would also soak the faceplate. Scrub the faceplate of the shower from which the water comes out with a stiff brush. If there are more lime blockages, you should only need a toothpick to dislodge it.
Now put some plumber’s tape on the area where the shower head screws in and tighten. Make sure to place it clockwise as it will bunch up and cause more leakage if you don’t. Pull the tape so it does not wrinkle. Flip the pipe around five or six times. Screw the shower head back on, but don’t over-tighten it, just a tight hand will suffice.
You have just successfully repaired your leaky shower head. You do not believe me? Turn on the water and look. Wait until midnight. Use the alarm to wake up because the water is not dripping. There is no dripping. Success! Now go back to sleep and rest what you should have been doing the whole time.