One of the most annoying things that can happen in the shower is the shower head keeps falling out of the holder once in a while.
This can happen randomly when you are using the shower as well. This means you can also be at risk of being injured.
To help you out with it, I am going to discuss the whole thing here. I will go through why this happens and how you can fix the issue. Without wasting further time, let’s get going with it right away.
Why Does Your Shower Head Keeps Falling Out Of The Holder?
Well, there are some obvious reasons for your shower head to keep falling off out of the holder. Here, I will go through them one by one, and all you have to do is, check for the one that is similar to yours.
Let’s get it going.
- Showerhead Too Heavy For The Holder
This can happen a lot of the time when you have a replacement shower head in your holder. In that case, the holder may not have the capability to carry the weight of your shower head.
Usually, this doesn’t happen when you get the showerhead along with the holder itself. Because in that scenario, the whole thing is pretty much balanced.
But for a replacement shower head, you might have gotten something that’s heavy and beyond the weight capacity of your showerhead holder.
In that case, the showerhead may keep falling out of the holder no matter how many times you install it.
- The Shower Head Is Getting Loose
With time, it’s only natural that your shower head will get loose. This can happen to almost any showerhead.
Especially if you move your shower head a lot to change its direction or you remove it far too much, there is a chance to loosen it up quite a bit.
Some showerhead also comes with a screw or nut feature on the back. When the screw gets loose, the showerhead also becomes loose and keeps falling out of the holder.
In that case, you tend to have a shower head holder loose in the back rather than the showerhead itself being the issue.
- The Shower Head Is Worn Out
There is a chance that your shower head has worn out right around the area where it meets the shower head holder.
When the joint of the showerhead wears out or gets damaged somehow, you may end up with a shower head that keeps falling off.
It’s very easy to find out as you can see the damages on the showerhead appearing.
Typically, these are the common reasons that lead to having a problem with your shower head when it keeps falling off the holder.
- Loose Screws
The screws that attach the shower holder to the wall may have become loose over time. This prevents the holder from staying firmly mounted and makes it easy for the weight of the shower head to pull it down.
- Improper Installation
Sometimes shower heads fall simply because the holder was not installed correctly to begin with. If it’s tilted too far forwards/backwards, not screwed in tightly enough, or not reinforced properly, the installation itself can be the culprit.
- Mineral Build-Up
Mineral deposits from hard water can cause scale to build up on shower heads and holders. This can create friction and prevent the shower head from sitting correctly in the holder. The heavier scale accumulation makes it easier for the weight of the shower head to pull itself free.
- Cheap Quality Materials
Low-quality shower holders made from substandard materials will often fail to keep shower heads upright for very long. Plastic pieces can crack, screws can strip, and springs can break under the constant strain of supporting a shower head. Investing in better quality hardware can prevent premature failure.
Check up on your one to see which problem best suits your situation. Based on that, you can try out the solutions that I will be discussing in a bit.
Solutions For Shower Head Falling Out Of The Holder
Luckily, there are several solutions that you can try out to fix this problem from happening. Sometimes, you will need to have replacement parts, and sometimes you can just get some tools and repair the thing.
Here’s what you do when the shower head doesn’t stay straight.
- Fixing A Shower Head That’s Too Heavy For The Holder
Well, unfortunately, there isn’t much that you can do when you have a shower head that’s just too heavy for your holder. In that case, the only fix that you can try out is to replace the showerhead with a lighter option.
You can either replace the showerhead yourself, or you can take professional help to get the job done.
But make sure to get a lightweight shower head that doesn’t exceed your shower holder’s weight capacity. Or you can just replace the shower holder as well if you want.
- Loose Shower Head
When you are dealing with a loose shower head, there are several things to try out.
Now, the solution depends on whether it’s a loose showerhead or the shower head holder is loose.
If it’s the loose showerhead, then there are some DIY methods for fixing it.
The first one is to use duct tape. You simply wrap the showerhead with your shower head holder using duct tape. It doesn’t look pretty, but it sure gets the job done.
Another similar solution you can try out is using elastic bands to tie the showerhead with the holder.
But if you want to keep the appearance unaffected, then you will need to replace the loose shower head.
Now, if you are dealing with a loose shower head holder, you can simply use the screw that it has and tighten it. When you see the screws, you will know how to tighten the shower head holder as it’s not that difficult to do.
- Fix Worn-Out Shower Head
If you want to stop the shower head from dropping from the holder when it is worn out, the only solution is to replace it with a new showerhead. You can’t repair a shower head that has worn out, nor can you use it for long.
It will keep falling off no matter what you do. So, the only solution you are left with in this scenario is to replace the showerhead.
As you can see, most of the time, replacing the showerhead is the solution you can go with. Except, when you have a loose shower head, you may be able to fix it somehow.
You will also need to make sure that there are screws that you can work with for tightening the showerhead.
- Tighten The Screws
The first thing to try is tightening the screws that hold the shower holder to the wall. Remove the shower head and use a screwdriver to tighten the screws firmly back into place.
Be careful not to strip the screw heads. The added tightness can help reinforce the entire piece and prevent the shower head from pulling down.
- Clean Off Mineral Deposits
Build-up from hard water can often be the culprit behind a loose shower head. Remove the shower head and use vinegar or lime scale remover to scrub away any mineral deposits stuck to the pieces.
Clean off both the holder and shower head connection. The removal of deposits will allow the pieces to fit back together snugly.
- Replace The Springs
If cleaning doesn’t do the trick, the springs inside the shower holder likely need to be replaced. Fortunately, shower holder springs are inexpensive and widely available at hardware stores.
Watch a tutorial to learn how to safely remove your existing springs and install new ones. New springs will grip the shower head firmly in place.
- Add A Set Screw
For a quick fix, you can add a small set screw near the swivel ball connection point on the shower holder. The screw will dig into the swivel ball and create enough friction to prevent the shower head from slipping down. Just take care not to overtighten.
- Use Plumber’s Tape
Wrapping plumber’s tape (also called thread seal tape) around the shower arm threads before replacing the shower head can allow for a tighter, wobble-free connection.
The tape takes up any extra space between the shower arm and connector. This prevents unwanted swiveling that can cause the head to fall.
- Switch To A Heavier Holder
If your shower head is exceptionally heavy, you may need to upgrade to a high strength metal shower holder. Stainless steel or brass holders are ideal for keeping excessively heavy shower heads upright. Make sure the new holder is designed to handle the weight of your shower head.
- Install An Overhead Support
For the most heavy duty solution, install an overhead support to prevent any downward movement. An overhead arm will firmly brace the shower head from above so it simply cannot fall down.
This may require some more extensive installation but provides a permanent solution.
- Replace The Shower Head
If your current shower head is cheaply made or inherently imbalanced in its design, getting a new shower head altogether can prevent the issue.
Seek out quality-made shower heads with evenly distributed weight. A properly balanced head will stay upright in most standard holders.
Lastly, watch this video to learn how to prevent it from falling out!
FAQs
Try tightening the screws, cleaning off mineral deposits, replacing the springs, adding set screws, using plumber’s tape, switching to a heavier holder, installing overhead support, or replacing the shower head entirely.
Yes, loose screws are a common reason shower heads fall down. Remove the shower head and use a screwdriver to tighten all screws securing the holder to the wall. Tightening the swivel ball connection may also help.
Start by cleaning the shower head and holder connection of any built up mineral deposits. Then replace old springs in the shower holder with new ones to improve grip. You can also add set screws near the swivel ball for more friction. Switching to a higher quality heavy duty shower holder can provide a permanent solution.
Frequent causes include worn out holder springs, loose wall screws, heavy/imbalanced shower heads, improper installation, mineral build-up, cheap plastic holders that crack, and basic wear and tear over time. Inspecting the connections and replacing any faulty parts can help resolve the issue.
Conclusion
All in all, when your shower head keeps falling out of the holder, it can be a pretty troublesome issue. You have to fix the problem because it can get annoying when you face it every time you take a shower.
It’s not something you can ignore for a while and fix later on. So, whenever you face an issue, check for the reasons and fix it as soon as you can.
