Shower Head Leak

[redchris1969]

Hello

We have a flat shower head. I just had a go at descaling it and then reattached it to the shower pipe. There is a decent flow from the shower head holes, but there is now quite a lot of water leaking out of one side - I'm hoping the attached picture shows this. You'll see water spurting out of the right hand side.

Is this fixable i.e can I dismantle the shower head, repair it aand then reassemble?

Apologies for the basic question. I am a DIY novice.

Thank you

 

[robinbanks]

I expect you'll find it's made of a plastic like ABS that was glued on the assembly line, and that joint has now failed (possibly a while ago and it was only the limescale that was stopping it leaking)

Personally I'd just replace it; likely you'll find one for about a tenner of equivalent quality, or more if you want e.g. a metal one that is more robust

 

[simplesteve]

Have you tried tightening it ? Hold the pipe just above the showerhead with one hand, and turn the shower head round with the other hand.
If that partly fixes it then it shows it's a screwed on head - either get a spanner on to it ( there will be two flat faces hidden but immediately behind the shower head) or take it off in the chance it needs a new o-ring/washer to seal properly.

 

[simplesteve]

Oops ! Just re-read and noticed you've already had it off !
I reckon you've put it back on, on the wrong thread.......... ?

 

[foxhole]

Either seals were dislodged or you need a new head . Had a similar problem after Cleaning a cheap shower head .The additional pressure caused by blocked jets blows the factory seal.

 

[robinbanks]

Oops ! Just re-read and noticed you've already had it off !
I reckon you've put it back on, on the wrong thread.......... ?

But OP asks about possibility of dismantling the head. They wouldn't have asked that if they'd already had it apart and reassembled the head cross threaded. The water is emerging from the edge of the large round disc, not the union between the pipe and the disc.

Also, IMHO unrelated as it's not where the water is emerging from, but one wouldn't spanner that union; it's not necessary for the pressure it has to handle and the way it seals. If a rubber seal has been lost, tightening it with a spanner will only cause more trouble

 

[simplesteve]

The water is emerging from the edge of the large round disc, not the union between the pipe and the disc.

Is it ? IMHO, and looking at the photo, the water is pouring out from behind the head, and running over it.

Also, IMHO unrelated as it's not where the water is emerging from, but one wouldn't spanner that union; it's not necessary for the pressure it has to handle and the way it seals. If a rubber seal has been lost, tightening it with a spanner will only cause more trouble

If the head has been off, and you screw that back on WITHOUT using a spanner to tighten it, then all you will do is turn the head until it is reasonably tight, then it will just rotate around the swivel joint. You get to need to grab the flats of this " nut" with something to ' nip it up'. You will never get a watertight seal without that.

 

[redchris1969]

Thank you everyone. I thought I'd post again just to clear up what I did.

I removed the shower head.
There is a screw at the top which I removed along with the washer. But no obvious way to separate the top and bottom of the head.
I did try putting a flathead in between the top/bottom, but it didn't separate them.
So I cleaned it.
Put the screw back in and the washer.
Reattached it to the shower pipe. Yes I was able to screw it on. I think it's not cross-threaded.

I've attached a diagram which shows where the water is flowing out.

I think I'll end up buying a replacement, especially if they are cheap. I might then have a go at using brute force to disassemble the old one, out of curiosity.

Thank you.

 

[simplesteve]

Good result

 

[robinbanks]

Is it ? IMHO, and looking at the photo, the water is pouring out from behind the head, and running over it.

To my eyes, no, because the water emitting from the edge has an upside down J profile; it sprays up before it falls down. If it were coming from the pipe union it wouldn't do that

You get to need to grab the flats of this " nut" with something to ' nip it up'. You will never get a watertight seal without that.

It should have a rubber washer, and hence fingers will be able to supply all the twisting force needed to nip it up enough, just like eg the shower hose on the flexible wand hand; they have rubber washers and over tightening them will result in damage that diminishes the seal. Consider, even, something like a washing machine hose; it's at mains pressure but you still only need finger strength to do it up property

I might then have a go at using brute force to disassemble the old one, out of curiosity.

I expect you'll find it's two plastic parts, glued together with the bare minimum amount of glue. There would perhaps be no harm in trying a hard plastics glue (if you ever did airfix models, that solvent glue that melts plastic together) worked into the area of the leak's joint with a brush, but you'll need to get it properly dry first; even that could be a fair amount of faff. If you could wedge the leaking part open slightly with a thin screwdriver it may help when you load it up with glue or a sealant then remove the blade and let it spring back but for what a replacement is available for I'm not sure I'd take the time (and I've got loads of products in the garage that could be used; I wouldn't have to buy anything specific)

 

[simplesteve]

I’ve never seen a washing machine hose with a swivel connector on the end of it before. Do they exist ?

 

[ree]

OP,
As posters #2 & #5 say - replace it.

 

[Nige F]

as #2 #5 #12 say, and you think, yourself replace it .