Once you turn off the faucet, your shower should stop running water. However, if your shower won’t stop running or dripping after turning the faucet off, a pesky plumbing issue has occurred.
This is a common bathroom problem and can happen due to several reasons.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the reasons and possible solutions for a shower that won’t stop running. Read on.
Why Shower Won’t Stop Running?
As stated above, a leaky shower is an annoying plumbing issue that requires an immediate fix.
Unless fixed promptly, it will start making a dent in your pocket by increasing the bills.
To solve the issue, the first step is to figure out the reasons why the shower won’t stop running. Some of the possible reasons include the following:
1. Loose Shower Faucet
This is a common reason why a shower won’t turn off completely and stop running.
Normally, a shower faucet can become loose over time due to excessive use or wear and tear.
When this happens, it is either the faucet screw is loose or broken or the faucet is slipping off.
Either way, the faucet will no longer provide a tight seal when turned off.
Hence, water will either drip or run from the showerhead depending on how loose the faucet is.
You can easily fix your loose shower faucet with the following steps:
Solution
Turn off the water supply completely. Open the faucet to drain it. Cover the shower drain to prevent screws, nuts, or other tiny parts from escaping.
Open the cover plate using a flat-blade screwdriver to fully access the faucet screw.
Check to see if the screw is loose or broken. If loose, tighten it gently with a screwdriver. You will need to replace a broken screw.
If you notice that the faucet is slipping off, you may need to replace the entire unit in some occasions, especially when the unit is too old.
This solution applies only to shower faucets with a similar setup as tub faucets.
2. Clogged Faucet
Sometimes, the shower may be leaking due to a clogged faucet. Debris, rust, minerals, sediment, and so on can clog up the faucet, causing it to leak. The clog can even damage the faucet.
If you think your shower faucet is clogged, you can try to clear the clog with the following steps:
Solution
Turn off the water supply completely and open up the faucet to drain it.
If your faucet handle has a setscrew design, the screw is usually covered with a small plate.
Remove this plate using a flathead screwdriver and loosen the screw. Once you have loosened the screw, lift the faucet handle to remove it.
If your faucet handle has a hub design. Loosen the handle by turning it in a counter-clockwise direction. It may feel so hard if you’re loosening it for the first time but a wrench can give you better control.
If you’re using a wrench, wrap the handle with a piece of cloth to prevent marks on the handle.
Once you have opened the faucet, gently take out the parts and clean them properly, removing any clogging material. Reassemble the faucet and it should work fine.
3. Defective Washer
A defective or damaged washer is another common reason for a shower that won’t stop running water.
The washer is a small, rubber disc that is located under the shower handle.
It provides a watertight seal to prevent water from dripping out when the shower is turned off.
However, over time the washer can become brittle and cracked due to excessive use or age.
When this happens, it will no longer provide a watertight seal, causing water to drip or leak from the showerhead.
You can solve this problem by replacing the defective washer with a new one:
Solution
Turn off the water supply completely and open up the shower faucet to drain it.
Locate the washer under the shower handle. In most cases, it is held in place by a screw or retainer.
Remove the screw or retainer and take out the defective washer.
Replace it with a new one that has the same size and thickness.
Make sure to put the screw or retainer back in place to secure the new washer. Turn on the water supply and test the shower faucet. It should work fine now.
4. Faulty Valve Seat
The valve seat is a small, round piece of metal that is located under the washer.
It provides a surface for the washer to seal against and prevents water from dripping out when the shower is turned off.
However, over time the valve seat can become worn down, corroded, or even cracked.
When this happens, it will no longer provide a flat surface for the washer to seal against, causing water to drip or leak from the showerhead.
You can solve this problem by replacing the faulty valve seat with a new one:
Solution
- Turn off the water to your shower.
- Remove the showerhead by unscrewing it from the shower arm.
- Use a plumbing wrench to remove the valve seat from the shower valve.
- Install a new valve seat and reattach the showerhead.
- Turn on the water and check for leaks.
5. Damaged Shower Cartridge
This is another common reason why your shower won’t stop running after turning off the faucet.
Generally, a shower cartridge provides a tight seal and regulates the water flow from the main supply. However, a damaged cartridge won’t be able to stop water from flowing to the showerhead, leading to a leaking showerhead.
A shower cartridge can wear out naturally, especially if you’ve been using the shower over time.
So, if you’ve not replaced your faucet or cartridge for a while, it’s likely that the cartridge is faulty.
Solution
The only solution to a damaged shower cartridge is to replace the damaged cartridge.
To access a damaged cartridge, you first need to remove the faucet handle using the steps above.
Once you’ve accessed the cartridge, remove it, and check if it’s damaged. If the cartridge is damaged, replace it with a new and genuine one of the same model. Then reassemble your faucet handle.
6. Faulty Faucet
If you recently replaced your cartridge and are still experiencing a leaking shower, the problem is likely from another part of the faucet.
The faucet contains many parts that work together to enable the shower to function properly.
These parts include the gaskets, stem, valves, O-rings, and so on. If any of these parts are damaged, the shower will drip water even after turning it off.
Solution
To stop the shower from dripping water due to a faulty faucet, simply replace the faulty faucet with a new and genuine one.
If possible, replace only the faulty parts, otherwise, replace the entire unit with a similar one.
You can easily find replacement parts online or in hardware stores near you. Be sure to get a replacement that’s genuine and of the same model as your current faucet.
7. Faulty Shower Diverter Valve
The last possible reason on our list why your shower won’t stop running is a faulty shower diverter valve.
This valve controls the flow of water into different outlets like showerheads and bathtubs. If the shower diverter valve becomes faulty, water may run from the shower continuously.
A faulty diverter valve is usually the result of mineral deposits, dirt, and debris. Over time, these substances build up and damage the diverter valve, causing it to malfunction.
Solution
To fix a faulty diverter valve, you can either replace the entire valve or clean it thoroughly if it’s not too damaged.
The shower diverter valve is located behind the cartridge. Take the faucet handle apart following the steps above.
After taking the faucet handle apart, locate the valve and check if it’s faulty or has loose nuts.
Tighten the nuts to see if it solves the issue, otherwise, replace the valve with a new but similar one. Once you’re done, reassemble the unit and check if the shower works perfectly.
These are the major reasons why your shower won’t stop running and their possible solution.
Sometimes, you may discover that your bathtub and shower are running at the same time. This occurrence is abnormal and the next section will guide you on how to address the issue.
Why Does My Tub and Shower Run at the Same Time?
Your tub and shower are two separate outlets and shouldn’t run at the same time. That is, when you turn on your shower, your tub shouldn’t run and vice versa.
However, when your tub and shower run at the same time, it’s a sign of a bad diverter valve.
As stated above, a shower diverter valve controls how water flows into your showerhead and bathtub.
The valve is designed in a way to allow only the showerhead or bathtub to work at a time. When both work at the same time, that means something is wrong with the valve. The valve is either clogged or damaged.
If your tub and shower run at the same time, follow these steps to fix the issue:
- Turn off the main water supply to your bathroom
- Turn on the tub or shower to drain it completely and reset the overall pressure
- Using suitable tools, remove the faceplate, faucet handle, and cartridge. You should find the diverter valve behind the cartridge.
- Using suitable tools, loosen all the nuts, screws, and bolts on the diverter valve to open it.
- Once opened, carefully check the diverter valve for clogs or damage. If you find out that the valve is clogged, remove the clogs using a soft brush. You can also blow air into the valve to remove clogs. If the diverter valve is damaged, replace it with a new and genuine one. Make sure that the replacement is the same model as the damaged one.
- After cleaning the valve or replacing it with a new one, reassemble the unit and tighten it properly. Your shower and tub should work fine now.
- Turn on the main water supply to your bathroom and turn on the shower to confirm that your tub isn’t running at the same time.
Conclusion
Knowing why your shower won’t stop running after turning it off is the first step to finding the right solution.
The guide above highlights the major reasons why your shower keeps running and how to address each of them.
Fixing your leaking shower as soon as possible is necessary and will save you from unnecessary water bills.
Though these solutions are simple and easy to apply, they require a level of plumbing skill. If you know that you can’t handle the solutions, or you’ve tried those solutions but still have a leaking shower, call on an expert plumber to detect and fix the problem for you.
We hope you find this guide helpful. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Thank you for reading!