A dripping bathe head isn’t simply annoying: It’s additionally a waste of water with environmental and monetary penalties. There are a variety of various points that might end in a leaking bathe head, together with some greatest left to plumbing professionals.
That stated, in case your bathe head begins dripping at some point out of nowhere, you would possibly as effectively strive these easy options first. That approach you received’t find yourself hiring a professional for one thing primary that you can have performed your self for a fraction of the associated fee. Right here’s what to do.
The right way to repair a dripping bathe head
Three frequent causes of a leaking bathe head are a buildup of minerals, a worn-out O-ring, and deteriorated plumbing tape on the bathe arm. Right here’s tips on how to cope with every downside:
Clear your bathe head
The minerals in exhausting water can construct up over time, forsaking deposits like limescale, which might clog the little holes in your bathe head. When that occurs, the water nonetheless has to go someplace, and since it will probably’t stream out by means of the holes, it could be pressured out between the arm and bathe head, leading to a leak.
Whereas it’s technically attainable to scrub your bathe head with out eradicating it by soaking it in a plastic bag, that ought to solely be a final resort, within the occasion that your bathe head is so corroded that it received’t budge. It’s far more practical to take away the bathe head and soak it in answer of white vinegar and water, utilizing a toothbrush to assault any notably cussed mineral deposits.
This Lifehacker article walks you thru the entire course of.
Change the O-ring
If cleansing your bathe head didn’t cease the drip, and it’s time to show your consideration to the O-ring or washer. These small components create watertight seals between the bathe head and bathe arm, however they don’t final ceaselessly, and may crack or deteriorate over time, leaving you with a leak.
To change yours out for a brand new one, first take away the bathe head from the arm, then the O-ring or washer from the bathe head. Your new one must be precisely the identical because the one you’re changing, so the simplest factor to do is carry the previous one with you to the ironmongery store and ask for one to match it. Upon getting it, pop within the new O-ring or washer, then reassemble and reattach your bathe head.
Swap out the plumber’s tape
Whenever you eliminated the bathe head from the arm, you in all probability seen some tape left behind. That’s plumber’s tape (also referred to as thread seal tape, and beforehand often called Teflon tape), and it too turns into much less efficient over time, and could also be no less than partially accountable for your dripping bathe head.
First, gently unwrap the previous tape, eradicating it from the bathe arm. Then, use a toothbrush to wash away any sticky residue. Subsequent, wrap new plumber’s tape across the grooved part on the finish of the bathe arm (the threads) two or 3 times in a clockwise course, urgent it firmly into the grooves as you go. Lastly, reattach your bathe head.
If none of this works, it’s in all probability time to usher in a plumber. And even for those who didn’t handle to cease the dripping, your makes an attempt weren’t a waste of time: You now have a clear and correctly sealed bathe head.
