How to Repair All Hot Water Shower Faucets

Repairing a shower faucet may improve performance.

When a shower faucet leaks or experiences lower-than-normal water flow or irregular temperatures, it needs a new cartridge. This is the faucet part controlling water flow and temperature, and it often clogs or breaks down. Since it is a one-piece part, the best way to repair it is by replacing it completely. Get a new cartridge designed for your make and model faucet to begin. It takes a half-hour to make the repair.

Things You'll Need

• Allen wrench (hexagonal wrench)
• Channel locking pliers
• Faucet cartridge replacement kit

Instructions

1. Shut the water pipe valves on the pipes to the faucet by turning them right.

2. Take out the screw holding the single handle lever onto the faucet with an Allen wrench and pull the faucet handle off.

3. Remove the faucet's dome cap by loosening it and pulling it off. Turn it counterclockwise by hand or use channel pliers to remove it if the dome is stuck. Or, remove the bonnet if your faucet has a bonnet instead of a dome cap.

4. Turn the cartridge nut (the part beneath the dome cap) left with your hand or with pliers to remove. Take this part off, then pull the cartridge out of the faucet. Or, remove the cartridge screws located around the top of the cartridge. Faucets like Delta have a cartridge nut, while others such as American Standard use cartridge screws. Install a new cartridge in place of the old one and replace the cartridge nut. Tighten by hand.

5. Put the dome on and tighten, then replace the handle. Insert the screw in the mount hole and tighten with the Allen wrench.

References

• American Standard: Shower Faucet Parts Diagram

Resources

• Delta Faucet: Monitor 14 Shower Faucet Instructions