That bathroom drip is more than just annoying. It can also cause water damage over time, and that cost adds up.
Just ask other Australian homeowners. There’s been a 72% rise in water damage-related claims over the last five years, and the cost of the average claim has gone up by several thousand.
Here’s the good news: if you address a leaking shower early, it doesn’t need to be an expensive problem. Here’s what to do if you have a leaking shower.
Figure Out the Cause
First things first: throw out what you think you know about your leaking shower head.
When you have a leaking shower, it’s easy to form theories about the cause. The problem is that if you make assumptions, you may end up making the wrong repairs. Remember–water travels easily, so if you see a puddle, don’t automatically look for a nearby culprit.
That said, there are some cases where the cause of a leaky shower is obvious.
For example, if you have a wet floor after showering, the best place to start is the caulking. If the caulking is loose, you may have your culprit. However, if the caulking isn’t the issue, you may have a pipe leak.
A leaking shower head is pretty obvious–just look for the telltale drip. Don’t neglect the drain, though–if water isn’t flowing out effectively, the drain could be the culprit.
If you can’t find the cause of your leak, call leak detection services right away. Water damage can quickly become expensive, and you don’t want the issue to fester.
How to Stop a Leaking Shower
Once you identify the cause of your leak, you can do a bit of basic DIY repair work.
We won’t discuss drain or pan leaks. If you find a drain or pan leak due to a cracked membrane, the only repair option is to replace the shower pan. Unless you happen to be a professional plumber, you should always hire professionals for that job. Also, keep in mind that if the job is more complex than changing a showerhead and screws, or if you’re not especially handy, it’s worth paying the pros to do it right.
Replacing the Showerhead
If the showerhead is the culprit, your first step is to turn off the water. Locate your water valve and give it a few clockwise turns until you can’t keep turning it. If you can’t turn the valve easily, use a towel, not a wrench.
Once the water is off, take off the showerhead and inspect it. You should find rubber O-rings and a screen. Make sure these are clean and well-fitted.
If the inside of the showerhead is dirty (a frequent cause of leaks) just submerge your showerhead in white vinegar for an hour or two. For lighter debris buildup, give it a good scrub with an old toothbrush and vinegar, followed by a good rinse. For serious lime deposits, you can add baking soda to the vinegar and soak your showerhead overnight.
Your Plumbing Repair Expert
If you have a leaking shower without an obvious cause or a cause that’s beyond your DIY powers to repair, we’re here to help.
At K-Oz Plumbing, we offer comprehensive plumbing services backed by 20 years of experience. But most importantly, customer satisfaction is our highest priority–just look at our 100% customer satisfaction ratings on Truelocal, Google, Facebook, and Service Seeking.
If you need to speak with an expert about your plumbing issue, our team is here to help. Click here to get in touch today.