How To Repair A Leaky Single-Handled Shower Faucet

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That drip drip drip coming from your shower is not going to go away on it's own. If anything, it's only going to get worse. All of that extra water dripping can lead to a high water bill and damage to your tub or to the hardware in your tub. Make the faucet repair yourself by following the instructions below.

What You'll Need For The Job:

  • Screwdriver
  • Adjustable wrench
  • New cartridge
  • Plumbing grease
  • Small knife

Instructions:

  1. To start, you'll need to turn the water off to your shower. If you don't have a shutoff valve or don't know where it's located, you can turn the water off at your main water supply. Turn the water on at a faucet elsewhere in your home to allow any extra water in your pipes to run out and to be sure the water is shut off.
  2. Next, use a small knife to carefully remove the cap covering the screw holding the handle cover in place. Remove the screw and then remove the handle cover. Then remove the stop tube.
  3. You should have the cartridge exposed. Use a pair of pliers to remove the cartridge. Inspect this part for damage such as a worn out washer ring. Take the old cartridge to your local hardware store to find the same exact part you'll need. 
  4. Replace the cartridge in your faucet and twist it into place using your pliers. Don't tighten it too far or you'll end up with another leak in your faucet.
  5. Next, replace the stop tube and finally the handle cover. Replace the screw in the handle cover.
  6. Turn the water back on and test your shower faucet. Turn it on and turn it back off to see if the faucet leaks after you shut it off. If it is still leaking, you may have a different issue and may need to call a professional to make the repair for you. If it doesn't leak any longer, you got the job done right.

If your shower faucet is leaking, you need to make the repair or call a professional to do the work for you, otherwise you're simply wasting water, which may cause further damage or could end up causing a much bigger leak.

Leave this job to a professional if you don't know anything about plumbing to ensure this job is done properly. Don't tackle this job yourself only to make a bigger and costlier problem for yourself.


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