When you have a dripping shower faucet in the bathtub you want it stopped pronto. A shower faucet dripping incessantly is an annoyance and wastes water. Fixing a faucet that won’t turn off is a relatively easy repair. You can learn how to repair a dripping shower faucet with our tutorial.
Many showers and baths use a cartridge-style faucet and have a single handle. That’s the type of faucet we’ll discuss here.
Assemble Your Plumber’s Tools
To repair a dripping cartridge-style faucet you’ll replace the old cartridge. You’ll need the following tools and supplies:
- an adjustable wrench
- a 4-in-1 screwdriver
- a pocketknife or cartridge puller
- a replacement cartridge
- plumber’s grease
- rags
Steps to Fix a Dripping Shower Faucet
Before you begin, make sure the faucet is not a ball faucet. A ball-type fixture has a rounded casing under the handle.
Set the Stage
- Find the shutoff valve for the shower. Turn it off.
- If you can’t find the fixture valve, turn off the water to the whole house.
- Test that the water’s off by turning the faucet.
- Cover the drain with a rag or towel.
- Set out another towel to hold the parts from the disassembled faucet. Place the items on the spare towel in the order in which you remove them.
Remove the Handle
- With your pocketknife pry off the handle cap to reveal the handle screw.
- Loosen the screw and pull off the handle.
- If the handle is difficult to remove, give it a shot of hot air from a hair dryer. If the handle is stubbornly attached, use a handle puller. You can get this tool from a hardware store.
Remove the Cartridge
- Pull off the stop tube.
- Look for a clip or spring. Remove it by prying it loose with a screwdriver.
- Slip off the washer on the handle.
- Turn or twist the cartridge stem and use pliers to pull it off.
If the cartridge won’t come off, you’ll need to buy a cartridge puller. At the hardware store, ask for a puller made for your brand of faucet.
Replace the Cartridge
- Take the old cartridge to the hardware store and buy an exact match.
- Working in reverse order from how you removed the old cartridge, install the new one.
We’re Here to Help
Turn the water back on and enjoy your new drip-free shower faucet. Minor repairs such as this are easy for those who are handy around the house. If home repairs are not in your job description, give us a call. Meticulous Plumbing is happy to make small or big repairs. Contact us for a free estimate.
