How to Fix a Leaky Shower Faucet

Yous don't take to supercede the whole faucet just to fix a drip.

Fourth dimension

An hour or less

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

$51–100

Introduction

Repair a shower faucet that won't shut off. Nigh single-handle, cartridge-manner faucets can exist repaired in an hour 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 caput, replace the old cartridge with an identical new one. In this article, we'll focus on fixing a cartridge-manner 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 unmarried-handle ball-style faucets, which have a dome-shaped casing nether the handle.

Nosotros won't deal with ii-handle faucets hither, which may be either a stem-blazon valve or ceramic disc valve. Learn more nigh shower faucet cartridge replacement in the post-obit steps.

Projection step-past-step (4)

Step 2

Remove the handle spiral, then the handle

screw

Loosen and remove the handle screw. Pull off the handle and set it bated. Plough off the water at the fixture shutoff valves or at your abode's main valve. Turn on a faucet to brand certain it's off. Remove the handle every bit shown in Photos 1 and 2. If the handle sticks, try heating it with a pilus dryer set on "hot". If you lot still can't get information technology off, use a special handle puller—an inexpensive tool available from plumbing parts distributors or home centers.

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Step three

Pull the cartridge

Pry up the retaining clip

Pry

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

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Step 4

You lot may need a cartridge puller

puller

If it's stuck, use a special cartridge puller. Unscrew the hex spiral 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. Virtually every faucet manufacturer has a different method of securing the cartridge to the faucet body. Look for a clip or leap and remove it (Photo 3). Cartridges are often difficult to pull out. Some manufacturers include a removal cap with new cartridges. Marshal the cap with the one-time cartridge ears and attempt to twist the cartridge loose. And so pull it out with pliers.

If you tin't budge the onetime cartridge, you lot'll need a cartridge puller. Make certain the one you buy works on your brand of faucet. Look on the handle or trim for the faucet brand or manufacturer. A knowledgeable person at a plumbing parts store may be able to place the brand and model from a photo. Review Photos 4 and five for instructions on using a cartridge puller. Make sure you twist the cartridge loose before pulling it out (Photo 4). Take the quondam cartridge with you to a plumbing parts shop or a home center to notice an exact replacement.

Install the new cartridge

Turn the hex screw past paw until it bottoms out. Snug up the hex nut by hand and tug on the cartridge puller handle. If the cartridge won't pull out, hold the puller handle steady and tighten the hex nut ii full turns. Pull the cartridge out of the faucet trunk. Buy an identical replacement cartridge, align it properly and reassemble the parts.

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Originally Published: March 18, 2022