Shower Repairs: Leaking Showers, Taps and Mixers
Tap Doctor Plumbing & Gas, trusted since 1985
Shower head that won’t stop dripping, a mixer that leaks or a diverter sending water to the wrong place? A licensed Tap Doctor plumber finds the fault, explains your options and agrees a firm price before any work starts.
- 1Tell us what your shower is doing
- 2Pick a day and time that suits
- 3A licensed plumber checks it and gives you a firm price
- 4Shower fixed, drip gone
- Trusted since 1985
- Licensed plumbers and gasfitters
- No call-out fee in business hours
- Firm price agreed before work starts
- 2,000+ Google reviews
- Trusted since 1985
- Licensed plumbers and gasfitters
- No call-out fee in business hours
- Phones answered 24/7
Shower problems we fix
These are the shower jobs we’re called for most. Most are fixed in one visit once the cause is found.
Dripping shower head
Water that keeps dripping after the shower is turned off almost always means the tap or mixer isn’t sealing, not a fault in the shower head.
Leaking shower mixer
Single-lever mixers wear out their cartridge. You may notice a drip, a stiff or loose lever, or water that won’t get fully hot or cold.
Worn shower taps
Separate hot and cold taps use washers and seats that wear. A tap that needs more and more force to stop dripping is a sign.
Faulty diverter
On a bath and shower combination, a worn diverter lets water come out of the bath spout and the shower at the same time.
Shower head and hose replacement
Broken heads, split hand-shower hoses and wall arms that leak at the joint.
Low pressure or temperature swings
A blocked head, a worn mixer or a problem with the hot water supply can all cause a weak or unstable shower.
Two different kinds of leaking shower
When people say their shower is leaking, they usually mean one of two things. Knowing which one helps you call the right trade.
A plumbing leak
- Drips from the shower head or spout when the shower is off
- Water around the tap handles or mixer plate
- A leak from a pipe or fitting behind the wall
- Water hammer or banging when the shower turns off
These are plumbing jobs, and they’re what we fix.
A waterproofing leak
- Damp walls or swollen skirting next to the shower only when it’s used
- Cracked or missing grout and silicone
- Water under the floor coverings outside the shower
- A failed shower base or membrane
These usually need a waterproofer or tiler. If you’re not sure, a plumber can check the taps and pipes first.
What causes shower leaks
Showers get used every day, so the parts inside the taps and mixers wear faster than most.
Worn washers and seats
Older shower taps close a rubber washer onto a brass seat. Both wear, and the shower drips.
Worn cartridges
Mixers use a cartridge that seals with ceramic discs. Hard water, grit and age stop it sealing.
Perished O-rings and seals
Leaks around the spindle or handle usually mean the rubber seals inside have worn out.
Loose or cracked fittings
The joint behind the shower arm or the mixer body can loosen or crack, letting water into the wall.
High water pressure
Pressure that’s too high wears shower parts faster and can make pipes bang.
Age
Shower tapware that has been in place for many years often has several worn parts at once.
Repair or replace your shower tapware?
Your plumber checks the tapware, explains the options and gives you a firm price for each before starting.
Usually worth repairing
- A worn washer, seat, O-ring or cartridge in good quality tapware
- A diverter with a worn seal
- A shower head or hose that just needs replacing
- A loose shower arm or fitting
Usually better to replace
- Mixers whose cartridges are no longer made
- Old taps with corroded bodies or seats that won’t hold a washer
- Tapware that keeps leaking after repairs
- When you want to swap two taps for a single mixer
What a shower repair costs
Prices depend on the job, so your plumber gives you a firm price after seeing it. These are the things that change the price.
- Type of tapwareSeparate taps, mixers and diverters all have different parts.
- Parts availabilitySome older mixers need a matching cartridge that has to be sourced.
- Access behind the wallWork that can be done from the front costs less than work that means removing tiles.
- Repair or new tapwareA new washer or cartridge costs less than a new mixer. If you replace it, the mixer you choose affects the price.
- Extra partsShower heads, hoses, wall arms and isolation valves are often worth doing at the same visit.
No call-out fee in business hours
You pay for the work you agree to. If you decide not to go ahead, there’s nothing to pay during business hours.
A firm price before we start
Your plumber looks at the job, explains the options and gives you a firm price. Nothing starts until you agree, and that’s the price you pay.
What to do right now
A dripping shower isn’t usually an emergency, but water running into a wall cavity needs attention quickly.
Do this
- Turn the shower taps off gently. Don’t force them tighter.
- If the shower won’t stop running, turn the water off at the mains. The stop valve is usually next to your water meter, near the front boundary.
- If there’s water coming out of the wall, the ceiling below or the floor, turn off the mains and call us.
- Note the brand on the tapware if you can see it.
Avoid this
- Don’t ignore damp walls or swollen skirting next to a shower. Water inside walls causes damage you can’t see.
- Don’t pull a mixer apart without isolating the water first.
Shower that won’t turn off, or water coming through a ceiling? Call 1300-655-827, 24/7.
Signs you need a plumber for your shower
Call us if you notice any of these.
The shower drips when it’s off
The tap or mixer isn’t sealing.
The handle or lever is stiff, loose or spins
Worn internal parts.
Water comes out of the bath spout and shower together
A worn diverter.
You can’t get the temperature right
A worn mixer cartridge or a hot water supply problem.
Pipes bang when the shower turns off
Water hammer or high pressure.
A damp wall behind the shower taps
A possible pipe or fitting leak. See leak detection.
Why call Tap Doctor
Showers, taps and basins are among the jobs our customers mention most. Here’s what you can expect when you book.
A firm price before any work starts
Your plumber explains what’s needed and gives you a firm price. Nothing starts until you say yes.
No call-out fee in business hours
You don’t pay for us to turn up and look. If you decide not to go ahead, you owe nothing during business hours.
Licensed plumbers and gasfitters
Every job is done by a licensed plumber. Our licence numbers are listed at the bottom of every page of this website.
Guaranteed work, 5-year in-home warranty
All our work is guaranteed, with a 5-year in-home warranty. If something we fixed isn’t right, call us.
Trusted since 1985, 2,000+ Google reviews
Tap Doctor has been fixing taps, pipes and hot water systems since 1985, and our customers have left more than 2,000 Google reviews.
What customers say about our shower repairs
2,000+ Google reviews
“Jimmy … replacing cartridge of shower tap which was leaking. Fast, efficient, friendly and very professional.”
“I engaged The Tap Doctor to replace separate hot and cold shower taps with a mixer tap. … Very professional service and a reasonable price.”
“Fixed the leak i had in shower mixer tap also made some very good suggestions as I am very new to any kind of plumbing issues.”
“…a repair for a faulty/non-sealing diverter valve in a bath/shower … Reece came at 1pm and sorted the issue by about 1:30. Reasonable priced too.”
“Turn up on time gave me a couple of quotes at reasonable price, agreed to the price and he completed the job 15min later.”
“Fixed my taps and shower head without issue and in a timely manner, full communication about the costs prior to the job starting…”
Shower repair FAQs
Why does my shower keep dripping after I turn it off?
On showers with separate hot and cold taps it’s usually a worn washer or seat. On a single-lever mixer it’s usually a worn cartridge. Both are common repairs.
How much does a shower repair cost?
It depends on the type of tap or mixer, whether parts are available and how easy the valve is to get to behind the wall. Your plumber checks it and gives you a firm price before any work starts. There’s no call-out fee during business hours.
Can you replace a shower mixer without removing tiles?
Often the cartridge or trim can be replaced from the front without touching the tiles. Replacing the valve body inside the wall, or converting two taps to a mixer, may mean removing some tiles. Your plumber will tell you before starting.
Can you convert separate shower taps to a mixer?
Yes. Converting hot and cold shower taps to a single mixer is a common job. The price depends on the mixer you choose and the work needed behind the wall.
My shower is leaking through the wall or floor. Can you fix it?
If the leak is from a pipe or fitting behind the wall, yes. Water escaping through grout, tiles or a failed shower base is a waterproofing problem rather than a plumbing one. If you’re not sure which you have, see our leak detection service.
Why is my shower pressure low?
It can be a blocked shower head, a partly closed or faulty valve, a worn mixer cartridge or a problem with the hot water system. Your plumber can find the cause.
Do you guarantee shower repairs?
Yes. All our work is guaranteed, with a 5-year in-home warranty.
Need your shower fixed?
Book online in under 2 minutes, or call us any time on 1300-655-827.