How to Fix a Leaking Shower Hose in Two Minutes, by Silver Cymbal on YouTube. 3 min 16 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 16 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Run the shower and watch the hose joints at the shower head and the mixer tap. Note exactly where the water drips from so you fix the right end.
Turn off the shower and dry the hose and connectors with a towel. A dry joint makes it easier to spot the source of the leak.
Unscrew the leaking connector by hand. If it is tight, grip it gently with an adjustable spanner, taking care not to crush the hose nut.
Look inside the nut for the rubber washer. A flattened, cracked or missing washer is the usual cause of a drip at the joint.
Swap in a new washer of the same size, or flip a worn one over as a quick fix. Press it flat into the recess inside the nut.
Screw the connector back on by hand until it is snug. Do not overtighten, as this can split the washer and start a new leak.
Turn the shower back on and check the joint. If it still drips, remove the hose and check for grit or a damaged thread.
If the hose itself is split or the inner tube is cracked, replace the whole hose. Unscrew both ends and fit the new one with fresh washers.
Tips and common mistakes
Always fit a new washer when you refit a hose, since old ones harden and stop sealing.
Wrap a cloth around the nut before using a spanner so you do not scratch the chrome.
If water runs along the hose rather than from a joint, the inner tube has failed and the hose needs replacing.
Questions
Can I fix a leaking shower hose without a new washer?
Sometimes. Flipping a worn washer over or cleaning grit off it can stop a small drip for a while, but fit a new one soon.
How do I know if the hose or the shower head is leaking?
Dry everything, then run the shower and watch where the first drop forms. A drip at the nut points to the hose joint, while spray from the head points to the head.
Do I need to turn off the water supply?
Not for a hand-tightened hose on a mixer, since the shower valve holds the water back. Turn off the supply if the valve drips when the shower is off.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
