How To Troubleshoot a Leaky Showerhead | Ask This Old House, by This Old House on YouTube. 7 min 54 s.
- Video length
- 7 min 54 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Turn the shower valve to the tub setting and open the tub spout. Watch whether water still comes out of the showerhead.
Understand the valve: hot and cold water enter the sides, and water leaves through the bottom outlet toward the tub. Inside that outlet are a large and a small orifice.
With the spout open, water should flow out the large orifice and out of the spout. If the spout gate is stuck, water backs up and escapes through the small orifice to the showerhead.
Too much water pressure can also force water past the spout and up to the showerhead, even when the spout is fully open.
To test the spout, take it out of the equation. Wrap a towel around the spout and unscrew it counterclockwise from the pipe.
With the spout removed, open the valve to the tub setting and check the flow. If water now pours freely from the pipe and nothing comes from the showerhead, the spout was the problem.
If the spout is the cause, clean or replace it. Check the gate for debris or scale, or fit a new spout of the same size.
If water still reaches the showerhead with the spout off, the pressure is too high. Have a plumber check the pressure and fit a pressure-reducing valve if needed.
Screw the spout back on, turn the water on, and confirm the showerhead stays dry while the tub fills.
Tips and common mistakes
Wrap the spout with a cloth before using a wrench so you do not scratch the finish.
Do not force a stuck spout. If it will not budge, a strap wrench gives better grip with less damage.
Shut off the water supply before removing the spout if you plan to replace it.
High water pressure can damage other fixtures too, so get it checked if the showerhead still drips.
Questions
Why does water come out of the showerhead when I fill the tub?
Either the tub spout gate is stuck or blocked, or the water pressure is too high for all the water to leave through the spout. The extra water backs up and exits through the showerhead.
How do I know if it is the spout or the pressure?
Remove the tub spout and run the water. If the showerhead stays dry, the spout is the problem. If water still comes out, the pressure is too high.
Can I fix high water pressure myself?
A pressure-reducing valve is usually fitted by a plumber. Ask them to test the pressure at an outdoor hose bib first.
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.
