How to Fix a Leaky Shower Faucet

Yous don't take to replace the whole faucet only to fix a baste.

Fourth dimension

An hour or less

Complexity

Beginner

Price

$51–100

Introduction

Repair a shower faucet that won't shut off. Most single-handle, cartridge-manner faucets tin can be repaired in an 60 minutes or less with basic tools.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Cartridge
  • Plumber's grease

Identifying a cartridge-style faucet

Cartridge

Cartridge family handyman

Shower valve cartridge replacement

To fix a leaking shower head, supervene upon the old cartridge with an identical new one. In this article, we'll focus on fixing a cartridge-style faucet with a shower valve cartridge replacement. Cartridge valves have a single handle and operate when the cartridge slides in and out. Don't misfile them with single-handle ball-style faucets, which have a dome-shaped casing under the handle.

We won't deal with 2-handle faucets here, which may exist either a stem-type valve or ceramic disc valve. Acquire more about shower faucet cartridge replacement in the following steps.

Project stride-past-step (iv)

Step ii

Remove the handle screw, then the handle

screw

Loosen and remove the handle spiral. Pull off the handle and set information technology bated. Plough off the water at the fixture shutoff valves or at your habitation's chief valve. Turn on a faucet to make sure it'south off. Remove the handle as shown in Photos ane and 2. If the handle sticks, try heating it with a pilus dryer set on "hot". If you lot still can't get it off, apply a special handle puller—an inexpensive tool available from plumbing parts distributors or abode centers.

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Step 3

Pull the cartridge

Pry upwardly the retaining clip

Pry

Pull off the stop tube. Pry up the cartridge retaining prune with a small screwdriver or awl. Remove the handle washer and and then twist the cartridge stalk loose and pull it out with pliers.

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Step 4

Y'all may need a cartridge puller

puller

If it's stuck, use a special cartridge puller. Unscrew the hex screw and hex nut until threads are visible. Slide the puller over the cartridge stem, aligning the tool ears with the cartridge notches, and twist to loosen. Near every faucet manufacturer has a different method of securing the cartridge to the faucet body. Look for a clip or bound and remove it (Photograph 3). Cartridges are often difficult to pull out. Some manufacturers include a removal cap with new cartridges. Align the cap with the old cartridge ears and endeavour to twist the cartridge loose. And then pull it out with pliers.

If yous tin can't budge the old cartridge, yous'll need a cartridge puller. Make sure the 1 you buy works on your brand of faucet. Await on the handle or trim for the faucet brand or manufacturer. A knowledgeable person at a plumbing parts store may exist able to identify the brand and model from a photo. Review Photos iv and 5 for instructions on using a cartridge puller. Make sure you lot twist the cartridge loose before pulling it out (Photograph 4). Take the erstwhile cartridge with you to a plumbing parts shop or a domicile eye to find an exact replacement.

Install the new cartridge

Plough the hex spiral past hand until information technology bottoms out. Snug up the hex nut past hand and tug on the cartridge puller handle. If the cartridge won't pull out, agree the puller handle steady and tighten the hex nut two full turns. Pull the cartridge out of the faucet body. Buy an identical replacement cartridge, align it properly and reassemble the parts.

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Originally Published: March eighteen, 2022