Showerhead leaking at the connection?
It's usually ten minutes and a roll of tape.

The short answer

Two completely different problems get lumped together as "the shower's leaking." One is water dripping at the threaded connection, where the showerhead screws onto the arm. That's a tape-and-tighten job. Ten minutes, done. The other is the shower dripping when the valve is fully off, with water coming from inside the wall. That one you don't touch.

Tape, a wrench and a new showerhead if you need one run $5 to $40. A lot of service calls cost $100 to $150 just for the guy to show up.

First, figure out which leak you have

• Dripping where the showerhead screws onto the arm. That's the threads. Keep reading.
• Dripping when the valve is fully off. That's the valve itself. Tape won't fix it. It's a cartridge or seat problem, not a threading problem.
• Water coming from inside the wall. Don't touch it. That's a plumber's call.

What you need

• PTFE thread tape.
• An adjustable wrench with a rag on the jaws.
• A new showerhead, if yours needs replacing.
• Total: $5 to $40.

Doing it yourself

The full step-by-step is in the Fire the Guy playbook. Grab the free list below to get started.

There's basically no risk here beyond stripping a fitting if you overtighten it. Snug is the goal.

When to put the wrench down

Call a plumber if the leak is behind the wall, there's water damage at the trim, or you can't identify the cartridge family. And remember: tape won't fix a valve that drips when it's off.

Why I'm telling you this

I learned the trades hands-on and ran my own construction company in Colorado. I've watched other contractors do to homeowners exactly what this page teaches you to stop. Not knowing is where the upsell lives. Now you know.

Quick answers

How much does it cost to fix?
PTFE thread tape, an adjustable wrench and a new showerhead if needed run $5 to $40.

Will tape fix a shower that drips when it's off?
No. A valve that drips when it's off is a cartridge or seat problem, not a threading problem.

When should I call a plumber?
If the leak is behind the wall, there's water damage at the trim, or you can't identify the cartridge family.

Educational only. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and your local codes. When in doubt, call a licensed plumber. Built by a Gen Xer with AI, for Gen Xers.