A leaky shower faucet can be a frustrating problem. The good news, however, is that you can repair it yourself. Shower faucet repair is not a complicated process, and you can do it in a relatively short time if you have some basic tools to work with. If you are careful to do things properly, you will be able to fix your shower quickly without any unnecessary issues.
The first thing you must do before you start your shower faucet repair project is turn off the water supply to the shower. This might be a specific shut off to the shower, or you might need to shut off the entire home’s water source. Then, do not forget to open the faucet and let the pipes empty out before you begin working. Getting soaking wet before you even start your project can be quite frustrating, so be sure to avoid it.
Most shower faucets have a small screw that must be removed in order to check for what is causing the dripping. Many faucets have a decorative plastic cover over the screw that you can pry off easily. Just be sure to save both the screw and the cover in a place where you will not lose them. Many people forget that screws can slide down the shower drain all too easily. You can prevent this by putting a rag or towel over the drain when you start your repair work.
A very common reason why showers start to leak is a damaged or old washer. Washers are cheap to buy at a plumbing supply store and replacing them is easy. If you accidentally purchase a washer that is not the right size, however, you will continue to have a problem. For that reason, double check that your washer is the correct size when you buy it.
Shower faucet repair is a fairly simple do-it-yourself project. Even if plumbing is not your forte, you can handle this job with just some basic tools. Be sure to avoid some of the common problems with this project mentioned above, and you will have your shower fixed in no time!