4 Reasons You Have a Loose Shower Head & Fixes!
Are you dealing with a loose shower head and cannot understand its cause? Do you wish to fix the showerhead but do not know what to do? First things first;
Your showerhead is loose because it was probably installed improperly or has weakened over time. It may also be due to mold growth or calcium and grime build-up.
Though trying to re-fit the showerhead may work in the first case, the solution for all four cases is often replacing it.
Perhaps you are not even sure if you have a loose shower, or you don’t think it’s too serious. If that’s the case, you should watch out for dreading signs like mold and grime around the showerhead, among others which I’ll explain later.
The best bit is that you don’t need an expert to fix a loose shower head. On that note, I’ll share with you a quick guide to follow to fix it.
Let’s jump straight to the cause and signs of a loose shower head and look at the fix later.
Why You Have a Loose Shower Head Plus Relevant Fixes
Generally, you have a loose shower head because of any of these reasons:
Possible Reason No. 1 – Improper Installation of the Shower Head
A shower head is a sensitive part that requires perfection during the installation. If you do it wrong, then it’ll become loose. That’s why you should hire an expert plumber if you are not familiar with the fix.
Fix
Try to disconnect the showerhead and then re-fix it properly. If that doesn’t work, you should get a new shower head and fix it. You should ensure you do it correctly this time around or call an expert.
Possible Reason No. 2 – Shower Head Has Weakened Over Time
If the showerhead has been working correctly without any leakage, the problem is not incorrect installation. It could be that it’s old and so it has weakened naturally. If that’s the case, then you need to replace it.
Fix
Consider any of these options:
Option 1 – Expansion Foam Technique
You can use expansion foam to fix a shower head that has loosened over time but is not too old.
Here’s how to go about it:
- Use pliers or a screwdriver to pull the trim ring from the wall.
- Apply masking tape around the hole once the trim detaches from the wall. That inhibits excess foam from ruining your shower.
- Squirt the expansion foam around the shower pipe.
- Wait for the expansion foam to cure and reattach the trim ring
Overall, you can get the Loctite Tite Foam Sealant. This foam squeezes in tight gaps and fills them evenly.
Option 2 – Showerhead Replacement
If the first option doesn’t work because your showerhead is too old, then it’s time to get a replacement.
Replacing a showerhead is simple, and you can do it by yourself by following the steps below:
Step 1: Lay Down a Dry Cloth
First, you need to prepare your working area by laying down a dry cloth to prevent small parts like screws from rolling down the drain and protect your tiles from damage.
Step 2: Turn Off Water Supply
Before removing the faulty showerhead, turn off your shower water supply. Alternatively, you can turn off the house water main supply.
Step 3: Remove the Faulty Showerhead
Using an Allen wrench, unscrew the showerhead. You can use a dry cloth to cover the shower handle to avoid scratching it when removing the showerhead.
Step 4: Clean the Threads
After removing the showerhead, make sure you clean the shower neck threads. That is because they may be clogged with grime or plumbers putty.
You can clean them using a toothbrush or a damp rag. However, you should not clean them using any metal tool as it can damage them.
And More
Step 5: Cover the Threads
After cleaning the neck threads, wrap them completely using Teflon tape at least 3-4 times.
If you do it less than three times, the seal won’t be sufficient, and if you wrap them more than four times) it could be too bulky, making it harder to screw the showerhead tightly.
While wrapping the threads with Teflon tape, do it clockwise to prevent unraveling.
Step 6: Attach The Shower Head
Now, it’s time to screw the new shower head. Ensure that it seats well on the neck threads. You can tighten it using the Allen wrench.
Step 7: Turn On the Water Supply
Lastly, you can turn on your shower water supply and let it run for 3-5 minutes to check for leakage.
If there is no leakage, you can enjoy your shower, but you need to remove the showerhead and thicken the Teflon tape on the threads if there is leakage.
Possible Reason No. 3 – Mold Growth
Your shower creates a suitable environment for mold growth. Unfortunately, mold growth may weaken the showerhead, making it wobbly, and that’s not the only risk.
Mold is also toxic and thus a health risk, which you should avoid.
Fix
During mold growth, the best approach is to replace the showerhead.
Possible Reason No. 4 – Calcium and Grime Build Up
Water that flows to your house comes with additives and other chemicals for purity purposes. Unfortunately, some minerals, especially calcium, may clog the showerhead and make it wobbly.
Remember, though showerheads come with a screen for filtering chemicals, they may be old, thus defective. If that’s the case, grime may accumulate and eventually make your showerhead wobble.
Fix
You can tell if calcium has built up around your showerhead if you notice whitish water coming from it. If that’s the case, you should replace it.
Check out the showerhead replacements on Amazon!
Signs and Risks of a Loose Shower Head
You can always tell if you have a loose shower head if you identify any of these signs and risks:
a) Dripping Sound and Water Leakage
If you recently installed a showerhead and keep hearing a dripping sound coming from your shower, it means that the showerhead does not fit perfectly and is thus loose.
This can be expensive as it will cause your monthly water bill to fluctuate. Hence, it’s advisable to replace the showerhead.
b) Fluctuations in Water Pressure
You can tell if your showerhead is loose if it causes changes in your water pressure when taking a shower.
So, if there is an abnormal increase in water pressure or you face a drizzling shower, this is a sign that the showerhead is loose and needs fixing.
Other Loose Showerhead Fixtures
If you have done all that and the showerhead is still loose, the fixtures that connect to it could be the ones that are loose and thus making the showerhead appear wobbly.
How To Fix Loose Shower Head Holder
If the showerhead holder is loose, it will keep moving every time you accidentally touch it when taking a shower.
Here’s how to fix a loose showerhead holder:
- Remove the trim ring
- Apply expansion foam on the hole if it’s too big
- Wait for the foam to cure before reattaching the trim ring
How To Fix A Loose Shower Head Pipe
A shower pipe can become loose over years of usage. You can fix it by removing the faucet and tightening the screws that hold the pipe in place.
How to Fix Loose Shower Head Ball Joint
Ball joints are found inside the showerhead, and they help adjust shower water direction. To fix it, you need to open the shower head and screw the ball joint back tightly to fix it.
How to Fix Loose Shower Head Arm
The arm is the pipe that extends to the wall holding the head. A loose shower arm will make the head wobble.
You can tighten the arm by first removing the head. Then, use a screwdriver to turn the arm clockwise until it’s tight.
How to Fix Loose Shower Head Flange
A shower flange covers the shower pipe, protecting it from damage. If the shower flange is loose, it will cause the arm and head to wobble. You need to fix this by tightening the shower pipe.
How to Fix Loose Shower Head Swivel
A swivel is the showerhead part that prevents water from flowing out when not using the shower.
Fixing a showerhead swivel is easy. First, you need to remove the swivel from the showerhead, find an O-ring shape, and screw it tightly into position.
People Also Ask
1. Why Is My Shower Head Loose?
Your showerhead might be loose because it has weakened over time or because it was incorrectly fitted. It could also be due to grime and calcium build-up or mold invasion.
2. Are Shower Heads Universal?
Most showerheads are universal. They allow you to fit them on any shower arm. Note, however, that showerheads are most likely to fit onto other fixtures of the same brand.
But when it comes to other brands, you should check the design to ensure they are compatible with your shower arm.
3. What Is the Lifespan of a Shower Head?
A shower head should last you 6-8 months at most. That means that you should change a showerhead once or twice a year. If you don’t, mold may grow over time due to the shower’s humid conditions, posing health concerns to you and everyone who uses the shower.
Closing Remarks!
Generally, it’s easy to fix a loose shower head once you identify the cause. It, however, starts with identifying the signs, which I’ve shared above. Once you do, you can go ahead and fix or replace your shower head as an expert would do. The above guide should help you do it.
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