| Washerless or ceramic cartridge shower valves are the most widely used type of shower valves available in today’s market. However, stopping leaks on this type of shower valve might be easier than you think. Our goal is that by the end of this article, you’ll feel confident enough to tackle this project on your own. |
Shut off the water supply to the shower.
Since this type of shower valve typically do not have integral screwdriver stops, it might be necessary to shut off the water at the main water valve at the front of your home.
Pry the Indicator button loose by carefully inserting a blade underneath the button. Using an Allen wrench or Phillips screwdriver, remove the handle.
Gently pull flange and unthread and remove sleeve.
Pull the cartridge. In many cases, it will have a stem extension. You should be able to pull the two pieces apart.
To determine if the cartridge is washerless or ceramic, look at the bottom of the cartridge. If it has a stainless steel plate with either a crescent shape or 2 circular cut-outs, then it’s a washerless cartridge. And unless you see damage on the cartridges, changing the springs and washer at the bottom of the cartridge well should fix your issue.
| If at the bottom of the cartridge you see 2 white disks, then you have a ceramic disk cartridge. In that case, you will have to change the cartridge itself. Find the exact match and replace the cartridge. |
