# Shower head leaking or dripping: how to stop it

Updated: 2026-10-24 · https://pros411.com/en/guides/plumbers/shower-head-leaking-or-dripping

## 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

![Cartoon shower head dripping nonstop, with a wrench on the way](https://pros411.com/img/guias/shower-head-leaking-or-dripping.webp)

1. **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.
2. **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.
3. **Wrap thread tape clockwise.** Clean off the old tape. Wrap new tape 3 or 4 times, in the same direction the head screws on.
4. **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.
5. **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.

## 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.

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## 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

- [EPA WaterSense: Fix a Leak Week](https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week)