Home Repair

How to Fix a Dripping Showerhead

By Hods Published · Updated

A showerhead that drips after the water is turned off wastes water and creates mineral deposits in the tub. The fix is usually simple: either the showerhead connection needs resealing or the shower valve needs new internals.

How to Fix a Dripping Showerhead

Drip from the Showerhead Face

If water drips from the showerhead nozzles after shutting off the valve, residual water in the showerhead is draining by gravity. This is normal and stops within a minute or two. If it continues beyond that, the problem is in the valve, not the head.

Leak at the Showerhead Connection

Water seeping from where the showerhead screws onto the shower arm (the pipe coming out of the wall):

  1. Unscrew the showerhead by hand or with pliers wrapped in a cloth to prevent scratching
  2. Clean old Teflon tape and debris from the shower arm threads
  3. Wrap new Teflon tape clockwise around the threads (3 to 5 wraps)
  4. Screw the showerhead back on hand-tight, then a quarter turn with pliers
  5. Turn on the water and check for leaks

This is the most common showerhead leak and the simplest fix.

Constant Drip from the Showerhead (Valve Problem)

If the shower continues to drip steadily after the valve is fully closed, the issue is inside the shower valve behind the wall. The repair depends on your valve type:

Single-Handle Valve (Cartridge)

  1. Turn off the water supply to the shower (individual shut-offs or the main valve)
  2. Remove the handle — there is usually a screw under a decorative cap
  3. Remove the escutcheon plate (the decorative plate against the wall)
  4. Pull the cartridge using a cartridge puller tool or pliers (Moen cartridges especially may require a puller, available for about $10)
  5. Replace with an identical cartridge — take the old one to the store for matching
  6. Reassemble and test

Two-Handle Valve (Compression or Ceramic Disc)

  1. Turn off the water supply
  2. Remove the leaking handle (hot or cold — test by feel to determine which side drips)
  3. Remove the packing nut and pull out the stem
  4. Replace the seat washer at the bottom of the stem (compression type) or the ceramic disc cartridge
  5. Reassemble and test

This repair is identical in principle to fixing a leaky faucet — the parts just sit behind the wall instead of under a sink.

Upgrading the Showerhead

While you have the showerhead off for repair, consider upgrading:

  • Low-flow showerhead: Uses 2.0 GPM or less (standard is 2.5 GPM). Saves water and energy without noticeably reducing pressure.
  • Handheld showerhead: Detaches from a mount for rinsing, cleaning the tub, and bathing pets.
  • Rain showerhead: Large-diameter head for a gentle, wide spray pattern.

A new showerhead costs $15 to $60 and installs in minutes with just Teflon tape and hand-tightening.

Preventing Mineral Buildup

Hard water deposits clog showerhead nozzles and reduce flow:

  1. Remove the showerhead every 6 to 12 months
  2. Soak it in white vinegar overnight
  3. Scrub the nozzles with an old toothbrush
  4. Rinse and reinstall

For showerheads you do not want to remove, fill a plastic bag with vinegar, tie it over the showerhead so the nozzles are submerged, and leave overnight.

Clean showerhead nozzles improve water pressure and spray pattern, reducing the temptation to replace a perfectly good showerhead that just needs descaling.