Thank you very much for this explanation, I will look into the cartridge replacement. I found a general "how to" on home depot(their videos are good for those who are completely new to something) and now feel confident I could replace it.
this post was submitted on 17 Nov 2024
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Leaking with the head off means it will leak with any head. Replacing the head will not fix this.
You will need to replace the shower valve probably.
The handle or knob you use to turn the water on is what needs to be repaired. If you remove the shower head and leave it off, you’ll just have a dripping pipe instead of a shower head. Inside that part is a rubber part that has worn out (happens after a few years).
If you’re slightly handy, unscrew the faceplate on the shower controls and see if you can figure out the brand and model of the shower. You can often buy a replacement cartridge and not have to replace all the hardware (which usually involves ripping open the wall to replace).
If it drips with the shower head off, the problem is the spigot or some part of the valve that controls water flow. The shower head doesn’t in most cases control water flow. This could be a simple fix or not, but depending on the build of your shower faucet and how readily accessible it is will highly affect this.
Your valve is fucked. It’s an easy 1-hour job for a pro. Not a DIY, in my opinion. Don’t bother changing the shower head.
Shouldn't that just be the cartridge that needs to be replaced? Very much diy friendly.
often it is, yes. but you need the right replacement parts. if they are no longer made, you gotta replace the whole thing.
also, if it's one with two valves, it has no cartridge at all and at least one of the valves is the problem.