Showers are great places to relax after a long day at work or school. They also provide a chance to get clean before heading out in the evening.
Unfortunately, showers aren’t always pleasant places to spend your time. Sometimes they leak water, causing damage to the floors and walls. If you have ever experienced a shower leak, then you know how annoying it can be.
A common problem with shower leaks is that they often go unnoticed until the damage has already occurred. The good news is that there are ways to prevent these problems from happening in the first place.
So if your shower faucet won’t turn off, this article has everything you need to fix the problem for good. Here are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your shower stays leak-free.
The Faucet Handle
One of the most common causes of leaking showers is loose handles on the faucets. When a handle loosens up over time, it allows water to seep through the fixture. This means that when you try to shut off the water flow, nothing happens.
To avoid this problem, tighten all the screws holding the faucet’s handle down. You can do this by using a screwdriver to remove the cover plate on the faucet. When you have done this, you should be able to see the screw, which will need to be tightened.
To see if the method has worked, you will need to turn the faucet handle and determine whether the water is working correctly. If the faucet still won’t turn off, you may need to tighten the handle more or try an alternative method.
The Cartridge
The cartridge can be found inside the shower faucet, where it’s one of four valves used to control the flow and temperature of the water. If you notice any signs of leakage around the cartridge, then you should replace it immediately.
Replacing a cartridge is a lot more complicated than tightening the handle screws. To make matters worse, you will also need to remove the entire shower head assembly.
Just follow these instructions, and you should be able to complete the job without too much trouble:
- Turn off the water.
- Check to see if the water is off by turning on the hot and cold taps. This will also determine if the pressure is normal.
- Before replacing the cartridge, we recommend putting a plug in the drain. This will ensure that no screws get lost in the pipes.
- When you remove the shower handles, you should be able to see a screw. Unscrew it and remove the handle completely.
- Locate the cartridge and unscrew it. It is important to remember how the cartridge was lined up, as you will need to put it back the same way.
- You will also need to remove the cartridge clip and set it aside until later.
- Remove the cartridge using vice grips and set it aside. If the cartridge proves difficult to remove, then you may need to seek the help of a professional plumber.
- Take the new cartridge and apply grease or lube. This will make it easier to install the new cartridge in the faucet.
- Install the new cartridge while making sure it lines up with the previous placement. Replace the handles and return the shower to how it was.
- Turn on the water and see if the shower faucet is working.
It is important to remember that not all cartridges are the same. Some brands work better than others. Therefore, before purchasing a replacement cartridge, check online reviews to find out what other customers think about the brand.
A compression faucet uses a spring-loaded mechanism to open and close the valve. This type of faucet works well for small bathrooms because they don’t require a large amount of space. However, they aren’t recommended for larger spaces.
The Assembly Pieces
If your shower faucet doesn’t seem to be functioning properly, then you may need to replace the assembly pieces. These are located inside the faucet and help to produce hot and cold water.
Replacing these pieces can be hard, but these simple steps should make the process easier:
- Turn off the water and check to see if the water is still running.
- Unscrew the handle and remove it from the wall. You should be able to see two screws holding the handle in place. Remove them and take the handle apart.
- Locate the beauty ring and remove it from the installation. The beauty ring is usually held in place by a single screw.
- Locate the escutcheon plate and remove it from the wall. This is a metal fixture that covers the base of the faucet.
- Loosen the hot and cold shower valves with a wrench. There should be two valves on either side of the shower faucet.
- Take the new valve and secure it into position before tightening.
- Replace the various fixtures and put the shower back together.
The Ball Shower Faucet
In some cases, your shower may feature a ball faucet and a single handle. If this is the case, then you may need to repair the faucet to stop the flow of water. To do so, follow these steps:
- Turn off both the hot and cold water supplies.
- Check to see if there is any leaking around the area where the faucet meets the wall.
- When the water has been turned off, remove the faucet to release pressure. This will help to reduce mess and other problems while completing the job.
- Remove the handle and set it aside.
- Take off the handle cap and set it aside. Be careful when doing this, as you could cause damage to the gear and other fixtures.
- When this has been done, you should be able to remove the ball shower faucet. It is important to remember the placement of the faucet, as you will need to put it back in the same place.
- In the faucet, replace the seats and tighten the nuts. Make sure that the threads have been tightened correctly.
- Reinstall the handle and turn on the water supply. You should now be able to use your shower again.
Conclusion
These tips should help you to fix issues with your bathroom’s shower faucets. In most cases, fixing the problem yourself is easy enough.
However, if you are having trouble finding the right parts or tools, then you might want to consider hiring a professional plumber. They will know what tools to use in repairing showers and how to get the job completed quickly and efficiently.
