Showerhead is still leaking after replacing it. Help!!?

Question

I am trying to fix my grandma's shower. The showerhead itself is leaking a varying small to larger amount of water through the tiny holes in the top. I took out the entire faucet and replaced the handles, showerhead, and put new plumbing fixtures in. The showerhead is STILL leaking water out of it. It has all new washers, new teflon tape, new everything but is still leaking out of the spray holes. I have tried to adjust the water pressure under the house from the main water supply but even that is not helping. Lots of details will get you BEST ANSWER and my undying respect.

Answer 1

I think it's more than the shower head and the handles. I think there is a problem with the faucet itself. You may need a plumber to tackle this one for you.

Answer 2

You are somewhat unclear to what you have actually done, so let me start from the beginning. Does it leak from the shower head all the time (with faucets turned off) or is it running from the shower head when you are running water to fill the tub? Is it a single handle type faucet ? To turn the shower on do you turn a knob OR pull a bottom on the tub spout? Or is it only a shower with no tub spout and water is dripping from shower head all the time (That is what I am guessing)

If it is a shower only obviously even if you turn the handles off water is still getting by the seat/washer point. You can easily replace the flat washers and "O" rings on a traditional faucet stem (cheapest way) or buy complete new stems. If the O-ring are faulty water usually Leaks around the handles themselves. If the flat washers are bad water passes even when shut off. If you have replaced the flat washers and water is still passing you MAY be able to replace the seats. You will need a special tool known as a faucet seat wrench. It is an "L" shaped piece of metal with various sized (Usually square) ends. The faucet seat usually has a square in the center of it that you insert the wrench into then unscrew the seat. Depending on the age of the fixture sometimes these can be a "Real Pain in the Rear" to get out. Other times they screw right out. Seat wrenches and the seats themselves (depending on the brand) are usually readily available and reasonably priced at any Home Depot type store.

Please fell free to contact me direct to explain to me what exactly is going on and I am 99.9% sure I can talk you through any situation. There are too many variables to explain them all without knowing what exactly you have and what it is doing.

RustyNut63 AT sbc.global.net

Answer 3

Ok! think about this. If you took the shower water control (faucet) clear out, and turned the water on. The water would come out of the pipe, not the shower head. So when you install a faucet, you are diverting the water from the faucet to the shower head. There is nothing wrong with the shower head. It just lets water run out of it. There is nothing wrong with the pipe running to the shower head or the pipes bringing water to the faucets. If the water pressure was too high, other things would be leaking, so that is not the problem. The only thing left is the faucet, ( I know you worked on it, but it wasn't fixed). You didn't say it is a tub shower combo. If it is, the diverter is not closing off all the way. Replace the spout with the diverter in it. If in fact it is just a shower. The only thing left to do is replace the faucet fixture, all of it. You could replace the washers again. Be very careful to seat them correctly, but for my money I would replace the faucet.

Answer 4

The shower head is not the problem. It will not leak if there is no water getting to it. The problem is in the faucet, sometimes with old fixtures, changing the washers will not fix the problem. The seat, where the rubber washer "seats", is worn. You'll probably have to replace the whole faucet.

Answer 5

Water eats through everything in time even brass and stainless, there's a tool similar to an allen wrench at the hardware stores. Then turn off the water again take off the handles and take off the valves in the bottom where the rubber ring sits is the seat, your wrench will fit into the hole and remove seats ,might as well do both, now its back to the hardware store to find the right seat with the right thread pattern and size they are all different.

Put those new ones in and change the rubber rings again on the valve. That should do it

Answer 6

Does the leaking stop after a minute or so? It is normal for the residual water left in the showers supply pipe to leak out, but it should stop. Did you replace the faucets? (You said you ''took them out'' so I am not sure.) If you HAVE replaced everything the answer is you bought a defective faucet set. This happens and you can wrack your brains trying to think of another reason. If you bought the faucet set at home depot or somewhere similar, they offer mass produced, cheaper versions of what you should have purchased at a plumbing supply house. Anyway, take the faucet set back and get another, the chances of getting two bad ones in a row is remote! Good luck!

Answer 7

It sounds like it's not the showerhead but the shutoff valve. If water is still coming out when you shut the fixture off then it's not completely shutting off the water. You need to shut off the water going to the shower then open up the handle you use to turn the shower on. You may be able to replace some washers depending on the brand of fixture.

Answer 8

Dave is right, kenneth has never worked on plumbing. From what I gather, your shower head keeps dripping after you shut it off. That's the seals/seats. The metal hardware inside the wall almost never needs to be replaced. That's why they use rubber washers/o-rings that can be accessed with everything in place. Take the handles off and replace both the seats (brass pieces) and rubber washers. I guarantee that will stop a leaky faucet that drips when you turn the handle all the way off.

Answer 9

Your faucet probably needs re-seating.of the wall fitting. Over time. the face of the fitting gets worn by minute particles or chemicals in the water, and leaves tiny grooves or hollows. When the washer is tightened against it, it does not make a complete seal. You can either buy a special tool that willcut the face to make a smooth finish, or you can buy new 'seats' that are fitted against the old face. Go to a hardware or plumber's store, and ask them for either one. Make sure you treat both faucets.

Answer 10

I think the 2 guys are right,and that the seat has failed,but the next thing is, do you have full access to the entire faucet assembly;ie no tile,no cement,no fiberglass, if you have any of these in your way you'll have to attain wall access via demolishing therapy,which do you have the time for,it will take at least 3 days from start to finish. That will include the materials to fix the faucet,to the refinishing the shower area.,or through the wall opposite the side of shower faucet.,which come to think of it,is fun with drywall. all things to think on.