Leaking showers most often urge you to make an immediate call to the local plumber. This is because the problem of shower leaks is often considered too complex by you to handle yourself. But this is not the case. The shower leaks can be fixed by even a novice provided that he possesses the correct logic and a wise supervision. Here are some tips that make you a do-it-yourself plumber as far as fixing your shower leaks is concerned.
Before kicking off the assignment make sure that you have the required plumbing tools to aid the repair work. It includes the typical pipe wrenches or the crescent wrenches and the Teflon tapes. The washers made of plastic or rubber O-ring may be needed as well.
The leaks are most likely to be located at the join between the shower head and the pipe. Remove the shower head by hand or use wrench of respective size if it is a screwed one.
Once removed look out for the condition of the washer at the junction where head screws into the stem. If it is in a crumbling state and is leaving black stains on the fingers then replace it with a new one(of same size). Just insert it gently into the place such that it is laid flat in the assembly.
Once the washer is fixed, move towards the shower stem to tighten the thread wrap. The threads are bound to get loosened after a bit of a time and hence require regular repairs. Wrap the stem with a Teflon tape making sure that it is wrapped around tightly. Only two wraps of tape around the threads are necessary enough to seal the connection. Wrap in the same direction as the threads flow.
Hand-tighten the head on the stem after the washer and the threads are fixed. Don't over tight the head as that may lead to stripping of the stem's threads. After the shower is assembled test the shower for any leaks by turning the water supply on.
If the shower is still dripping then a review of the same procedure may be considered. Increase the number of wraps around the threads to three and also tighten the head a bit more.
By this time the problem should have been solved but if it doesn't then the services of a plumber have to be availed as the leaks might have to do with the shower's water-control valve. - 30517
Before kicking off the assignment make sure that you have the required plumbing tools to aid the repair work. It includes the typical pipe wrenches or the crescent wrenches and the Teflon tapes. The washers made of plastic or rubber O-ring may be needed as well.
The leaks are most likely to be located at the join between the shower head and the pipe. Remove the shower head by hand or use wrench of respective size if it is a screwed one.
Once removed look out for the condition of the washer at the junction where head screws into the stem. If it is in a crumbling state and is leaving black stains on the fingers then replace it with a new one(of same size). Just insert it gently into the place such that it is laid flat in the assembly.
Once the washer is fixed, move towards the shower stem to tighten the thread wrap. The threads are bound to get loosened after a bit of a time and hence require regular repairs. Wrap the stem with a Teflon tape making sure that it is wrapped around tightly. Only two wraps of tape around the threads are necessary enough to seal the connection. Wrap in the same direction as the threads flow.
Hand-tighten the head on the stem after the washer and the threads are fixed. Don't over tight the head as that may lead to stripping of the stem's threads. After the shower is assembled test the shower for any leaks by turning the water supply on.
If the shower is still dripping then a review of the same procedure may be considered. Increase the number of wraps around the threads to three and also tighten the head a bit more.
By this time the problem should have been solved but if it doesn't then the services of a plumber have to be availed as the leaks might have to do with the shower's water-control valve. - 30517
About the Author:
Scott Rodgers is a distinguished author who has been providing great contents on plumbing works all over the country. His splendid knowledge has, in fact, sparked significant rise in revenue for talented plumbers across the country, from Winter Park Plumbers(Need one? click here!) to West Palm Beach Plumbers(Need one? click here!).
