If your shower faucet begins to leak you’ll need to first determine whether it has a washer or not. If it’s a washer type here’s how to repair your leaking shower faucet in no time at all.
1. Start by turning off the water. There may be a shut off in the bathroom. If not you will have to shut off the main water to the house.
2. Take the faucet apart. Do this by first removing the handle, packing nut, and escutcheon. You may have to dig for the packing nut which can often be buried deep so have your socket wrench handy.
3. If your faucets have a seat that is renewable you should be able to smooth it with a seat dressing tool and you will need your seat wrench.
Follow these steps for repairing your washer style faucet:
1. A washer style faucet has a composition or rubber washer which closes up against a metal washer seat. When the washer gets worn or becomes hard with age the faucet will begin to leak.
A common quick fix is to tighten the faucet more which does stop the leaking temporarily. The trouble is it actually causes more damage to the faucet.
2. Turn off the water. If there is a shut of fin the bathroom use it, if not you will have to turn off your main water.
3. Take the faucet apart. Start by taking off the handle. Underneath the cap you will find a Phillip head screw which needs to be unscrewed.
4. Be careful with any plastic parts as they can be easily broken.
5. Use caution when you go to lift off the handle.
6. Next you will need to unscrew the packing nut which you will find beneath the handle.
7. Rotate clockwise to remove the stem.
Examine the stem and if the threads are in poor condition you will need to match the stem and replace.
Check the washer and see if there is any wear or breakage. If you need to replace it take the original with you to the hardware store. You might be surprised at how many options are out there.
You will find the washer seat inside the faucet body. You won’t be able to tell if it is responsible for the leak just by looking. You will actually need to examine it carefully.
Some washer seats can be unthreaded and replaced. Others aren’t replaceable and then you will need to use the seat dressing tool that you can buy.
Make sure you install the correct faucet washer type. There are several types on the market and they are not interchangeable.
Once you do the washer service you need to put some petroleum jelly on the threads to help lubricate the action of the faucet.
If your faucet is leaking at the stem and not the spigot you will want to install new packing. The new graphite packings are very good as are the nylon covered packings. Some use an O ring rather than packing.
A leaking shower faucet can be a bit of an annoyance but in not time at all you’ll have it fixed and acting just like new.