A leaking rain showerhead is extremely annoying, and they waste a large quantity of water which can increase your water utility bill. The rain shower head is positioned directly over your head to allow the water to run on you rather than spray you.
Therefore, if the shower head leaking is due to a crack, old or rusty apart, it’s a blessing in disguise that forces you to purchase a newer, fancier model to replace those damaged parts. However, if the shower head appears to be in good condition but still leaking, you don’t have to get worried. It could be minor damage that needs fixing. Rain showerheads are simple home appliances that can be easily fixed, so you don’t necessarily need to call a plumber.
However, to fix the damage, you must first understand the situations and things that could result or cause the leak. This article tries to look into the cause of your rain shower head leak and how to solve this frustrating problem.
Possible reasons for a rain shower head leak are when the showerhead holes get clogged by lime and other mineral deposits or when the O ring in the showerhead has worn out. Over time, rain shower holes become clogged, or the rubber washer may wear out, and these factors may be responsible for the leakage.
4 reasons why rain shower head can leak/drip:
Clogging the rain shower head
One of the most common reasons for a rain shower head leaks is a clogged hole. While a regular shower head is designed to spray down at a specific angle from the wall, a rain shower is positioned directly above its user’s head so that the water runs on the user rather than spray the user.
Therefore, because of this concentrated effort and the lime deposits and other minerals found in most water, the tiny holes in the rain shower head often get overwhelmed with the lime and mineral deposits in the water.
Over time, these deposits block the holes and hinder the free passage of water. The leakage could result from a clogged showerhead if the showerhead drips after you turn off the water but eventually stops. This means the rain shower head is holding water and unable to drain quickly, which may also lead to weaker flow from the showerhead.
Worn rubber washers in the rain shower faucet
A leaking rain shower head can also be caused by a worn rubber washer called an “O ring.” A worn-out rubber washer may crack and allow water to pass out where it usually wouldn’t. If the rain shower head is older, it is a good time to replace it. Over time, even the best rubber washer will deteriorate.
The Diverter Valve
The diverter valve is a knob that switches water to and from the bathtub faucet to the showerhead. Over time, the diverter valves may begin to develop sediments and mineral build-up, which may affect how they function.
Once the diverter valve is faulty, the water is diverted to the tub will start leaking through the showerhead. If the faulty diverter valve is the reason for the rain shower head leak, then it’s important to take the valve assembly apart to clean it.
The combination of many features in the shower
Leaks in the rain shower head are not limited to the issues with the showerhead alone. Sometimes, leaking showerheads are a combination of other features in the shower. For example, the cartridge valve in the water faucets could be damaged, hindering the swift swings from cold to hot and leaking water. Until the cartridge valve is completely changed or washed, the water may continue to leak.
How to prevent a rain showerhead from leaking?
Over time, rain shower heads can accumulate mineral deposits that may clog the holes. The mineral component come from the water supply, and they often weaken the effectiveness of the elements in the water faucet, which eventually leads to water leakage.
Most times, water leakages from the rain shower are not the user’s fault but are caused by the mineral deposits and the wear-out nature of elements. However, there are still some minor steps the users can take to prevent rainshower water leakage or extend the life span of the water head.
- Set a time out quarterly or twice a year to take apart the valve assembly and thoroughly clean it.
- Ensure to use a water filter at the central control unit to reduce the particles or mineral components entering the water valve and water head.
- Set out time to change some of the elements in the water head even before they get damaged.
- Contact a plumber to carry out an annual checkup on the faucet, showerhead, and valve body assemblies.
How to seal a rain shower head?
The most effective way to seal a rain shower head is to stop the flow of water into the house, take down the rain shower head, and then use a professional strong adhesive tape PTFE also known as “Teflon tape,” to seal the showerhead.
Why does the rain shower head drips after use?
If you have observed that your rain shower is dripping water after use or when not in use, the issue may be caused by several factors, including the air pressure and water surface tension within the showerhead.
Usually, a rain shower head contains some water on a flat surface and air on top of the water. So, the water is pushed through the water head by the gravity of the air above the water. When you close the valve or the water is not running, the pressure against the air pocket is relieved and leaves some water in the showerhead.
The outer gravity will hen hold the water inside. Therefore, releasing the surface tension will release the water from the showerhead, also known as the “showerhead drip after use.” To fix this frustrating issue, you can tip the showerhead after use to drain the water or run your hand over the nozzles to break the air pressure.
A little tilt or tap on the showerhead will break the water’s surface tension and allow airflow between the external room and the rainwater head.
Conclusion
A leaking rain shower head can be frustrating; that’s why you must be equipped with the right set of information on what could be the cause and how to resolve this problem. Although not all rain shower heads have similar faucets, showerheads, and valve body assemblies’ connections, they work similarly but vary in how they connect.
They also share the similar issue of leaking, and the causes of the leaks are often similar. In most cases, replacing or cleaning the damaged part of the shower system should fix the problem. When in doubt, look through the manufacturers’ manuals (often found on their websites) or consult the services of a professional.
