A dripping shower or tub faucet is easy to live with, and that's the problem. The EPA's WaterSense program says a faucet dripping once a second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year. And a drip from the shower is often hot water, which you're also paying to heat.
First: is it really a leak?
A short drip after you shut the water off can be normal. Kohler's guide for its shower valves says a showerhead can drip for up to 90 seconds after the valve is turned off, from water left in the head and arm. A pressure change elsewhere in the house can cause a brief drip too.
The test: if it drips longer than that, unscrew the showerhead from the arm (use a cloth on the wrench to protect the finish). Then turn the shower on and off and watch:
- The drip stops with the head off: the water is coming from inside the showerhead. Soaking it in a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water helps clear the mineral buildup, which matters with Valley water.
- It still drips from the arm: the problem is the valve in the wall.
Where it drips tells you what's wrong
- Steady drip from the showerhead or tub spout, all day: a worn cartridge or seals inside the valve. This is the most common one.
- Water around the handle when the shower is on: worn O-rings or a cartridge seal.
- Spout drips only while the shower runs, or the diverter won't stay up: a worn diverter in the tub spout. The spout itself is usually replaced.
- Older two- or three-handle faucets: worn washers and seats. The EPA notes that old, worn washers and gaskets frequently cause faucet leaks.
Why the cartridge wears out here
The cartridge is the part that opens, closes and mixes hot and cold. Hard water leaves scale on its seals and moving parts, so it wears and sticks sooner. Signs it's on the way out: a handle that's stiff, a temperature that's hard to set, or a drip that slowly gets worse.
Can you fix it yourself?
Sometimes. A cartridge swap is a common DIY job if you can identify the exact brand and model, shut off the water to the house, and get the old cartridge out. Things to know first:
- The replacement has to match exactly. The wrong cartridge can leak or won't fit.
- Old cartridges can be scaled in place and hard to pull, and forcing them can damage the valve body.
- Many shower valves have no separate shutoffs, so you'll need the main water shutoff.
- Check your warranty. Some faucet brands cover replacement parts, so call the maker before you buy one.
When to call a plumber
Call when you can't identify the valve, when the cartridge won't come out, when the drip continues after a new cartridge, or when you see signs of water inside the wall: soft drywall behind the shower, stained baseboards, or a damp ceiling below an upstairs bath. That's no longer a drip; see leak detection.
OX Plumbing repairs shower valves, tub spouts and faucets across the East Valley and answers 24/7. Our $99 service call covers the visit, the diagnosis and an upfront price.