If you find your shower faucet is not operating properly it needs replacing or repair. In the case of fixing a leak, or a difficult to use handle, both apply. Repairing today's faucets means replacing main parts like the cartridge to solve leaking, and the handle to fix poorly operating or designed handles.
Replacing the Cartridge
The cartridge is the small cylinder in the base of the faucet that controls the water flow rate and temperature. If the part scratches or is damaged in any way, leaks form because water seeps through the device and out the handle. To remove and replace this, take off the handle by unscrewing the set screw along the base of the handle with an Allen wrench and pull it off. Then remove the cartridge clip or retaining nut on top of the cartridge and pull it out of the faucet. Slide in a new one and rebuild the faucet by replacing the parts you just removed.
Fixing the Handle
A slack or drooping handle will not properly operate the cartridge. The handle is actually set on the cartridge stem, an extension of the cartridge. If it droops, either the handle's mounting hole is enlarged or broken, or the cartridge stem is worn and too thin to properly hold the handle in place. Fixing the problem involves a replacement of the cartridge if this part is the issue, or the handle if it is broken. Inspect the handle's mount hole under the handle after removing it to determine which part is causing the problem.
Spouts and Shower Heads
Removing a spout takes just two steps. Find the set screw at the base of the spout and take it out with an Allen wrench, then pull off the spout. If the spout has no set screw, turn the entire spout counterclockwise to unscrew it from the pipe and remove it. To replace, take off the plumber's tape around the threads of the pipe, replace it with new plumber's tape and screw the spout back on. Or, if the spout has a set screw, slide on a new spout, line it up properly and then screw in the set screw to tighten the part.
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