Short answer
If your shower head is leaking at the pipe, turn the shower off and unscrew it. Put a cloth around the nut so the wrench does not scratch it. Clean the threads and wrap new thread tape clockwise 3 or 4 times. Screw it back by hand and give it a snug turn. If it drips from the nozzles with the handle off, the valve cartridge in the wall is worn.
How to stop a leaking shower head
1Drips nonstop, or sprays at the pipe?
Look where the water comes out. At the connection: fix it now with tape. From the nozzles with the handle off: it is the valve.
Read all the steps
- Drips nonstop, or sprays at the pipe?. Look where the water comes out. At the connection: fix it now with tape. From the nozzles with the handle off: it is the valve.
- Water off, then unscrew the head. Close the shower handle. Wrap a cloth around the nut and turn it counterclockwise with a wrench while you hold the head.
- Wrap thread tape clockwise. Clean off the old tape. Wrap new tape 3 or 4 times, in the same direction the head screws on.
- Screw it back by hand, then a snug turn. Thread it on straight by hand, then a small turn with the wrench and cloth. Too tight can crack the nut.
- Test it. Run the shower for a minute. The connection should stay dry. If it still drips with the handle off, it is the cartridge.
- Still not fixed? Call a plumber Especially if: it drips from the head with the handle fully off (worn cartridge or valve).
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If it drips with the handle off
A little water can drip for a few minutes after a shower. A drip that never stops comes from a worn cartridge or washer in the valve behind the handle. Replacing it means shutting off the water, taking the handle off and matching the exact brand and model. It is a careful DIY job; on an old or stuck valve, a plumber is faster.
Water ending up on the bathroom floor
- Keep the curtain inside the tub, or check the rubber strip at the bottom of a glass door.
- Look for gaps in the caulk where the tub or shower floor meets the wall.
- Stains on the ceiling below or on the wall behind the shower mean a leak inside the wall: call a plumber.
When to call a plumber
- It drips from the head with the handle fully off (worn cartridge or valve).
- Stains on the ceiling below or on the other side of the shower wall.
- The shower arm is loose or leaks inside the wall.
- Low pressure or no hot water in this shower only.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my shower head dripping when it is off?
Usually a worn cartridge or washer in the valve behind the handle. Water left in the head can drip for a few minutes after a shower; a drip that never stops is the valve.
Which way do I wrap thread tape on a shower arm?
Clockwise as you look at the end of the pipe, the same way the head screws on, 3 or 4 turns.
Can I remove a shower head without a wrench?
Many come off by hand. If it is stuck, use a wrench with a cloth around the nut so you do not scratch the finish.
How much water does a dripping shower head waste?
The EPA says a shower head leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons a year.
Do I need a plumber to replace a shower cartridge?
Not always. You need to shut off the water, match the exact cartridge and avoid stripping the old one. If the valve is old or stuck, a plumber is faster and safer.
Sources
Checked October 24, 2026. Requirements and recommendations change: confirm them on the source site.