How to Fix a Leaking Shower Head
A brief drip after the taps close is only the shower head shedding the water it holds. Working out how to fix a leaking shower head means first telling that apart from the drip that never stops.
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The endless drip has its source in the mixer built into the wall, where a tired washer or cartridge lets water creep past. That side of the job belongs to a licensed plumber.
We fix showers across Deception Bay, from fibro cottages near the water to the brick homes on the newer estates.
Is a Dripping Shower Head Normal
Normal is a short drain-off: the head and arm hold a little water, and it empties by itself soon after the shower shuts off. A drip that goes on with the water firmly off is different, and it signals a worn seal inside the mixer.
Time tells the two apart. The drain-off stops soon; a failing seal drips for hours.
Head, Joint or Mixer Behind the Wall
A shower drip has three possible sources: the threaded join between arm and head, the mixer behind the tiles, and on a bath-shower set-up, the spout and its diverter. Each one announces itself differently.
The arm join
Seepage there while the shower is running means the connection has worked loose or its sealing ring has failed.
The mixer
A drip from the head with the taps closed traces back to the wall unit, where a washer or cartridge has worn thin.
The spout and diverter
Water arriving at the head while the bath tap is open, or at the spout mid-shower, points to a diverter past its best or a spout with restricted flow rather than the head itself.
Scale
Mineral crust can block the spray holes and send water escaping through other gaps in the head.
The cartridge governs flow and the hot-cold blend. When it wears, expect a drip, a stiff handle or water at the wrong temperature.
The Shower Head Swap the Law Allows
Yes, you can fit your own shower head. The QBCC lists the swap as unregulated work in Queensland, open to any householder with the understanding and skill to do it.
No licence, no approval and no report are needed. Neither the QBCC nor the local government signs off on it beforehand, and nobody lodges paperwork afterwards.
Quality still counts. Licence or not, the finished job has to reach the minimum standards set by the legislation and the codes.
The boundary sits at the wall. The QBCC's unregulated list names the head alone, so a cartridge or valve inside the mixer is licensed work.
Any replacement head sold in or into Australia carries registration under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme. Its star rating and water-use figures appear wherever the head is advertised, online included.
Worn Seats and Bodies Behind the Wall
The tell-tale sign is a drip that outlasts a fresh washer or cartridge. The washer closes against a seat, and the cartridge closes inside the mixer body, so a seat or body worn out of shape defeats any new part.
A licensed plumber diagnoses the mixer and quotes the repair. Work on a fitting inside it is minor work: a QBCC licensee handles it with no permit and no Form 4.
The price hinges on where the fault sits, the part involved and how the mixer is reached behind the wall. You see a fixed quote before any work starts.
When to Call a Plumber
Ring us once the drip continues with the taps off, or once a new part has failed to cure it. Mixer faults do not heal, and the wall cavity is no place for trial and error.
Our shower repairs page covers mixers, diverters, arms and temperature faults. The post-2001 homes near Moreton Downs State School on Parsons Boulevard and the older fibro places by the Zammit Street grounds carry different mixers, but the licence rule is the same for both.
Shower Drip Questions From Deception Bay
Call (07) 3524 7137Do I need approval to change my own shower head?
No, the swap is unregulated work, so neither the QBCC nor the local government approves it, and nothing gets reported. The finished job still has to reach the minimum standards the law and the codes set.
Why is my Deception Bay shower still dripping after a new cartridge?
A seat worn out of shape, or a mixer body gone rough inside, can defeat a fresh part. Washers close against a seat and cartridges close inside the body, so damage there keeps the drip alive. A licensed plumber diagnoses the mixer, and the repair counts as minor work for a QBCC licensee.
Why does water leak where the shower head joins the arm?
Seepage at that join, seen only with the water running, usually means the connection has worked loose or its sealing ring has failed. Fitting a replacement head is the unregulated job, and the result still has to meet the standards that apply.
Who fixes a dripping shower head in a Deception Bay rental?
The tenant reports the problem to the property manager or owner as soon as possible. Queensland tenancy law then requires the owner or manager to keep the place in good repair for the whole tenancy. On a Queensland rental, changing a shower head ranks among the few very minor jobs no licensee is needed for.
Call Us About the DripWe'll call you back.
Book on (07) 3524 7137 for plumbing anywhere in Deception Bay. We're available 24/7, there's no extra charge for nights, weekends or public holidays, and every job comes with $0 call-out fees.
To claim your $0 call-out fee, call (07) 3524 7137 today.