Repair your leaking one-hand shower fitting

 

A single-handle shower mixer has one handle for hot and cold water, rather than the usual two. These taps are usually found in modernised, remodelled or new bathrooms. Repairing a single-handle faucet is not much different from repairing a faucet with two handles. Usually, a leaking tap is due to a worn O-ring, a small rubber ring that ensures that the seal between the shower cartridge and the pipes is tight. Remember that this is a challenging task for someone who is not familiar with this work.

Remove the fitting

Turn off the water. If you cannot do this from the shower, you will need to locate the tap on the main pipes of your house. Then close the shower drain so that no parts fall down. Most taps have a plastic or metal cover plate that needs to be removed. Break it off with a knife or screwdriver to expose a small screw. Remove this screw and carefully set the parts aside. You may also need to remove the bezel around your light. Simply detach this part from the wall. If it is held in place by sealant, carefully remove it.

Remove the cartridge

The cartridge is the metal part that protrudes from the exposed fitting. On a single-lever shower fitting, you will probably see the shut-offs for hot and cold water on either side of this cartridge. These are small screws that can be tightened with a flathead screwdriver. There is a nut or pin that holds the cartridge firmly in place. Remove these with pliers by turning the nut or popping the pin off. Carefully set these aside as well. Slowly pull the cartridge out of the wall with the pliers. It should come out easily, but go slowly to avoid damage.

There are other types of single-lever taps, such as Delta, which have a different type of valve. They use an orifice ball that moves over two spring-loaded washers. To repair these taps, you can buy a kit that replaces all the internal parts. Be careful after removing the handle. If you unscrew the large cap underneath, it will usually fall apart in your hands. You may need to use needle nose pliers to remove the two washers and springs on the back of the tap. Replace all the parts that were included in the kit. Remember to lightly grease the parts with tap grease and put them back together.

Replace the O-ring

If you have removed the cartridge, you may see that it is mouldy or damaged, and take this opportunity to clean it under running water. If it is irreparably damaged, you should replace it completely. Otherwise, simply remove the small rubber O-ring. You can check this O-ring in your hardware store for a suitable replacement. If you replace the worn O-ring with a new one, most leaks from the single-lever shower fitting should be solved.

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