Research essay

How to prevent leaking at shower head’s joints

Leaky shower heads are noisy, wasteful and generally unappealing. Did you know about the causes of these problems? This information is my initial research from internet web sites, expertnesses and mechanical seals factories which tells you about the ways to prevent and how to repair shower head’s leaking at joints and shower hose’s connection areas.

By the present, there is a need for prevent a shower head’s leaking at joints by using gaskets or rubber washers that sometimes called o-rings which is a thin, small, black, donut-shaped piece made of rubber, fiber or plastic material for shower product. It is designed to be seated in a groove and compressed during assembly used to create a seal between two or more parts. O-rings are one of the most common seals used in design because they are inexpensive and easy to make, reliable, and have simple mounting requirements.This material can tear when too much force is used and the supply pipe has a sharp edge. Most hand held showerhead sets require a gasket to be used in both ends of the hose fitting. They are always included with hand held shower head sets when they need to be. Sometimes they are built in to the connection end of the handheld shower head. Without a gasket, the hand held shower hose will almost certainly leak. If fixed shower head did not come with a gasket, use Teflon tape. Teflon is a name for a material that made into lots of things, including a thin tape, which is used to help seal plumbing connections.Its characteristics are superior dielectric strength; excellent tear and abrasion resistant. The reason about its color always white because for the purpose of decorate that can get along with every colors of shower set of yours.

A moveable external swivel at shower hose’s nozzle is made for replace the new assortment of rubber washer easily when it broken or deteriorate.So ,if the leaky shower head is the case for you, don't let it cause you to run out and buy a new one.This instructions below can help you to repair your leaky shower head understand easily.These are over all plumbling’s equipment that you will need for repair the leaking shower head at connection areas. An adjustable wrenches or plumber’s wrench for remove the shower head that attached with bathroom’s wall or shower’s water control valve.A role of tape for protect the chrome and another coating surfaces from the pipe wrench’s scratch which you use to unscrew the shower head from shower arm mount. An assortment of rubber washer and a pipe sealer or teflon tape for perfect seal.

There are three steps for this project. First step, Wrap some tape around the pipe for protect the chrome or another coating surface from the pipe wrench, which you will use to unscrew the showerhead in a counter-clockwise direction. Then, unscrew the showerhead from the pipe coming out of the wall. This can be done by hand but sometimes requires a plumber’s crescent wrench or large pliers. The head may be held on with a screw, which you'll have to remove. Second step, Look at the shower hose or inside the showerhead where it screws into the pipe. There should be a small assortment gasket made of plastic or a rubber o-ring.If it looks even a little damaged or brittle, you will need to replace it.An inexpensive assortment of o-rings will normally contain the size you need and a simple comparison will find the correct o-ring.Push the new o-ring in to the showerhead’s connection area simply.Next, wrap the tape pipe sealer around the threads in clockwise direction. The clockwise direction will ensure a perfect seal. If you wrap the tape on counter-clockwise it will bunch up when you screw on your shower head causing a leak. Refit the shower head, screwing clockwise by hand and gently tightening again by using the wrench. The cause of over tighten could damage the joint or connection area of fixings. Last step is test the shower head, turn the water on and off. Wait several minutes to check for drips or leaks Make sure the showerhead is no longer dripping and you can once again enjoy a refreshing shower.

The advantages of knowledge about preventing the leaking at joint are you can repair the leaky shower head by yourself easily and correctly and reduce the wasteful of water quantity that bring the high cost of living unnecessarily and concerned about global warming in nowadays. For someone, this problem looks like a little problem but if everyone ignores these little problems, it will become a big problem that damages our world. Please save the world by concerned and manage these little problems in your bathroom for our world.

How to repair a leaking shower head

Step 1:
You will need…
· A role of tape

· A pipe sealer or teflon

· An assortment of rubber washers,“O rings”

· And a Pipe wrench

Step 2:
Remove the shower head
Wrap some tape around the pipe. This will protect the chrome coating from the pipe wrench, which you will use to unscrew the showerhead in a counter-clockwise direction.

Step 3:
Examine The ‘O Ring'Take a look inside the showerhead.
If the small O-ring appears damaged or brittle, you will need to replace it. An inexpensive assortment of O-rings will normally contain the size you need and a simple comparison will find the correct O-ring. Simply push the new O-ring in to the showerhead as far as the lip. Next, wrap the tape pipe sealer around the threads. This will ensure a perfect seal. Refit the shower head, screwing clockwise by hand and then gently tightening again using the wrench. Do not over tighten as you could damage the fixings and the pipe.

Step 4:
Test the Shower
Now you can turn the water on to make sure the showerhead is no longer dripping. This should have fixed the leak and you can once again enjoy a refreshing shower.

The link below is the film that shows you how to repair a leaking showerhead, which is often caused by a defective or damaged o-ring washer.http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-repair-a-leaking-showerheadFor the pictures, I will try to find for understand immediately.

WHAT IS TEFLON TAPE

Teflon tapes operate in demanding temperatures and chemical environments. The unique properties of teflon tapes includes the exceptional strength and durability, making it ideally suited for a variety of industries including packaging, aero-space and electronics. A series of teflon tapes are very strong and holds up well under high usage.
Teflon tape has many applications especially for use on heat-seal packaging equipment,to help seal plumbing connections. It exhibits high conformability to most surfaces and releases well after use and is chemically inert. Its characteristics are superior dielectric strength; excellent tear and abrasion resistant.

Application

-Typical applications include wrapping and splicing of wire and cables, and as a mask for wave soldering of printed circuit boards.
-The combination of low elongation, high tensile strength and excellent dielectric strength makes it an excellent insulation tape.
-Good strength, abrasion resistance and the low friction properties of teflon tapes makes it a prime choice for mechanical applications.

The right way to apply Teflon tape to a shower arm
Always apply Teflon tape clockwise onto the shower arm supply pipe.

If you wrap the tape on counter-clockwise it will bunch up when you screw on your shower head causing a leak.
Hold the roll of tape in your right hand. Unroll a piece of the tape and press it onto the shower arm supply pipe threads with your left thumb.

Pull the tape lightly with the roll in your right hand so there're no wrinkles. Keep the tension on the tape as you wrap it around

the threads clockwise.
Wrap the tape around the shower arm supply pipe four to five times

– even more if you like. Then pull the tape tight until it snaps and smooth the end around the shower arm pipe. Now you can screw on your shower head. Don't over-tighten!

Can I use pipe dope on my shower head or hand held shower?
Never use pipe dope or plumbers putty to install shower fittings like shower heads, hand held shower head sets or tub spouts. It may react with plastic components causing them to break.

WHAT IS A GASKET ( WASHER OR O RING)

A gasket is a thin piece of material used to create a seal between two parts. For shower products, the gasket can be made of rubber or fiber.
Gaskets can tear when too much force is used and the supply pipe has a sharp edge. If you have a gasket with a cut, don't use it. Replace the gasket or use Teflon tape to repair the leaky shower head instead.

Need a gasket for my shower head or hand held shower?

Most hand held showerhead sets require a gasket to be used in both ends of the hose fitting. Without a gasket, the hand held shower hose will almost certainly leak. Gaskets are always included with hand held shower head sets when they need to be. Sometimes they are built in to the connection end of the handheld shower head. If you lose your gasket, your local hardware store caries a wide range of gaskets that can be used for Hand Held Shower Head Sets.
Most fixed shower heads can be installed leak-free using only Teflon tape. A gasket in a fixed shower head makes it so you can screw the shower head on leak free – just like a light bulb. If your fixed shower head did not come with a gasket, use Teflon tape.

SHOWER HEAD AND SHOWER HOSE ASSEMBLY

RESEARCH PLAN

From my research about this topic, I divided in to these minor topics below:

-Shower head assembly
-What is a gasket?
-What is Teflon tape?
-How to repair a leaking shower head (instructions with video instructor).

If you have any questions, please post your questions on my block or send me your e-mail to daoandup@hotmail.com.