If the showerhead in your bathroom is leaking, this can really be annoying. Not only can the constant dripping sound send you around the bend, but it can also use valuable water. Increased water usage will push up your water bill and could also contribute to the droughts which have been affecting large parts of Australia. The most likely cause of a leaky showerhead is a faulty washer. Below is a guide to the steps you need to take to replace the washers, so your shower stops leaking:

Switch off the main water

Unless you want to run the risk of flooding your entire bathroom, the first thing you need to do before starting your work is to switch off the main water supply to your home. You can easily do this by locating the stopcock. The stopcock is typically located beneath the sink in your kitchen or next to the water meter. If you are unsure where the stopcock is, you should contact a professional plumbing service and ask them to carry out the work.

Remove the showerhead

Next, you will need to remove the showerhead from the rest of the shower unit. This can normally be done by unscrewing the showerhead unit while holding the connecting hose in place. When performing this action, you should be aware that any water which is inside the hose will leak out once the shower head is removed.

Open up the showerhead

Once you have removed the showerhead, you should open it up so you can check the washers inside. Depending on the design of the showerhead, you will either need to remove a screw to open up the unit or to press a clip which will release one side of the showerhead. Once the showerhead is open, you should locate the rubber washers. These will normally be located at the point where the hose enters the showerhead. You should unscrew the bolts which are holding the washers in place and remove them.

Install a new washer 

You can buy a bag of replacement washers easily, and they do not cost very much money. If you are unsure of the size of washer you need, you should invest in a bag which contains sets of different sized washers. Once you have replaced the washer, you can tighten up the bolts which hold the washer in place and close and reattach the showerhead to the hose. Your shower should now be in full working order.

For more help on leaking shower repairs, you should contact a shower repair company.