Why Does My Showerhead Keep Leaking Water? For many people, a leaking showerhead is one of the most annoying and frustrating issues they will come across in their homes. When you turn on your water to take a shower or bath and find that there is a constant drip from the head, it can definitely ruin your day.

And when you try to repair this leak by tightening the connection at the wall, but it doesn’t work, frustration sets in even deeper. But what do you do when your showerhead keeps leaking water? Here are some tips that will hopefully help correct any faulty showerheads in your home:

Check for Leaks in Your Water Lines

One common mistake people make when they have a leaking showerhead is just assuming the problem is the showerhead and try to solve the problem by fixing or replacing it. But, more times than not, it is actually a leak in your water lines that is causing the issue.

This can come from either pressure problems (if you don’t have enough water pressure coming out of the showerhead) or temperature problems (if you get too much hot or cold water that causes your pipes to expand or contract).

Check Under Your Sink for Leaks

While whoever installed your sink may have done a great job at placing all of your pipes correctly, there are many instances where leaks are hiding under sinks – especially if there are loose pieces on any of the plumbing fixtures. Since this might be an easy fix, checking under your sink is a good place to start looking for a leak.

Check Out the Plumbing Fixtures

There are many places in your bathroom that can have leaks.

But if you have made sure there aren’t any loose pieces under your sink and you’ve checked all of your water lines coming from the wall, it might be time to look more closely at each of your bathroom fixtures. And since water tends to follow the path of least resistance, this means testing all of your plumbing fixtures one by one until you find the one that’s leaking.

Be Sure All Parts Are Tightened

Even if your showerhead is brand new, there may actually be a problem with a part that has been overlooked or was not tightened properly by the manufacturer. This can be a minor issue that a pair of pliers or a wrench can take care of.

For those who have never taken their showerhead apart, you may just need to go ahead and do it yourself. In some cases, there are parts inside the head that either come loose over time or were not tightened correctly from the factory. You should be able to find out which part is defective very easily if you have access to an adjustable wrench and screwdriver.

Check Out Your Hardware Store for Solutions

In many instances, your hardware store will carry a wide range of different replacement parts that you might need for your plumbing fixtures – including showerheads! If your showerhead is just a few years old, there is a good chance that you will be able to find an exact matching one at your local hardware store.

Consult with a Plumber

While many leaks in showers can easily be fixed by homeowners themselves, there are some leaking showerhead problems that can only be solved by getting in touch with a professional plumber.

If the problem is more complicated than replacing faulty parts or adjusting screws, you may need to consult with someone who has experience working on plumbing fixtures. The last thing you want to do is make things worse.

Consider Replacing It With a New One

Even if you get it fixed (or think you did), there’s no guarantee that it won’t happen again. If the leak stops, you might consider replacing it with a brand new one. You can save money by only getting the parts that are necessary and not buying a completely new one – but do try to fix it before simply throwing it in the trash.

Perform Regular Maintenance on Your Showerhead

In most cases, leaks from showerheads are caused by either temperature or pressure problems. And if this is your problem, there is a chance that regular maintenance can prevent future leaking showers. For example, if you have low water pressure because of sediment buildup inside your lines, you could get rid of it by having someone flush out your water lines – or maybe even doing it yourself with a garden hose.

Low water pressure

This is another issue commonly found in old homes, but people have noticed this more so in some parts of the country than others for some reason. If you believe your home’s water pressure isn’t as strong as it used to be, then you might consider having the water pressure checked. You can contact your city’s department of public works or hire a plumber to do the necessary tests.

Dirty Showerhead

If you rarely clean your shower head, then it is most likely clogged with oil residue from soap and scum buildup from hard water areas. These need regular cleaning with a vinegar solution which you can find online for different ways how to best clean them.

Know When It’s Time to Call a Plumber

If your leak is due to the showerhead is completely worn out or just straight-up defective, there isn’t much that you can do except get in touch with a plumber. In most cases, they have all of the tools and replacement parts necessary to fix your leaking showerhead – as long as it is still covered by warranty.

Poor water flow direction

Similar problem with the previous one, some older homes do not feature this type of regulation system but instead have a reservoir tank on top of the water heater where excess hot water may accumulate and effectively reduce the available pressure/flow in cold weather when people don’t use as much hot water or vice versa. This may be solved by installing a smaller holding tank.

Why Does My Showerhead Keep Leaking Water? – Conclusion

I hope you’ve found this article useful and that it’s given you some reasons as to why your showerhead may be leaking water. If not, or if the answers we’ve provided don’t match up with what you’re experiencing, please feel free to reach out for help from a plumbing professional who can diagnose the issue at hand.