There's almost nothing more irritating than a constant dripping noise, especially when it's coming from your own shower head!

But aside from being an annoyance, a leaky shower head can also waste water and increase your bills, making it an important issue to address both for your peace of mind and your wallet.

Luckily, there are some easy-to-follow shower head fixes that might just put an end to your drip troubles. Keep in mind that whilst some issues are best left to professional plumbers, there's no harm in giving this a go if you suspect the problem might be simple and easy to resolve at home.

So, roll up your sleeves and let's get to fixing that leak!

There are a lot of benefits from regularly checking and maintaining your shower head – don’t forget to do it every once in a while! Credit: Pixabay/tookapic.

There are three common causes for a leaky shower head: a buildup of minerals, a worn-out O-ring, and deteriorated plumbing tape on the shower arm. We'll walk you through the steps to sort out each issue.

1. Clean your shower head

Mineral buildup is a common cause for shower heads to start dripping, especially if your tap water is hard water. Over time, minerals like limescale collect and block the tiny holes in your shower head. If the water isn't able to flow out as it should, it may end up leaking from the arm instead.

To clean your shower head, we recommend removing it and soaking it in a solution of white vinegar and water. Use an old toothbrush to scrub away stubborn mineral deposits. If your shower head is too corroded to remove, you can try soaking it in a plastic bag filled with vinegar solution and wrapping the bag around it, but this method is less effective.

2. Replace the O-ring

If your shower head still drips after a thorough clean, it could be time to check the O-ring or washer. These small parts create watertight seals between the shower head and shower arm, and they can crack or deteriorate over time, leading to a leak.

To replace the O-ring, first, remove the shower head from the arm, then carefully remove the O-ring or washer. Take the old part to the local hardware store and ask for an exact match, as they need to be the same size to work effectively. Once you have a new O-ring or washer, pop it into your shower head, reassemble, and reattach.

3. Swap out the plumber's tape

When removing the shower head, you may notice some tape wrapped around the threads of the shower arm. This is called plumber's tape (previously known as Teflon tape), which helps seal the connection but can become less effective over time.

Gently unwrap the old tape before using a toothbrush to scrub away any sticky residue. Wrap the new plumber's tape (you can buy one from Bunnings) around the threaded end of the shower arm, pressing it firmly into the grooves and applying two or three layers in a clockwise direction. Finally, reattach your shower head.

Key Takeaways

• A dripping shower head can be caused by a buildup of minerals, a worn-out O-ring, or deteriorated plumbing tape on the shower arm.
• Cleaning the shower head by soaking it in a solution of white vinegar and water can help remove mineral deposits and potentially fix the leak.
• Replacing the O-ring or washer, and swapping out the plumber's tape on the shower arm, can also help to create a watertight seal and stop drips.

If you've tried all these steps and your shower head still leaks, it might be time to call in a professional plumber. But if these simple fixes solved the problem, you can congratulate yourself for successfully tackling a home repair job and saving a few dollars in the process!

So, what are your thoughts? Are you willing to give these tips a try? We understand that bathroom issues go beyond just the shower head, so if you have any other suggestions or advice for fixing other pesky problems, please share them with us in the comments section below. We would greatly appreciate hearing from you!

 

[Reaper123]

You can buy plumbers tape (teflon tape) from any hardware store not just Bunnings.

 

[scifibob]

if you have a std shower head its much simpler to just change the arm there aprox $19 or so at bunnings and come with thread tape --https://www.bunnings.com.au/brasshards-wels-3-star-chrome-all-directional-shower-rose_p5004127
dead simple to replace -27 years handyman for rentals have changed the odd 1 or 1000

 

[Trudi]

It's not difficult to replace the shower head.

 

[terri]

This is my biggest annoyance. A dripping shower, or any tap. Thanks for the advice but I think my 60 plus year old home needs a bit more than vinegar. But I'll give it a try.

 

[scifibob]

terri
sounds like its dripping when turned off --thats the tap washers that need to be done
make sure they reface the tap seat when they change the washers -takes 5 min and gives a flat surface for washer to sit so they last longer--also grease the thread on the spindal so they dont seize -most plumbers and dodgy handyman will just replace the washer not service the tap properly -washer-o ring -tap face -grease and refit tap --10 min / tap but sometimes they can take longer if a bit old /seized [like me]