[SOLVED] Hansgrohe Shower Head Disassembly Solved

replying to HeelsFan, Maxnimal wrote: I had the same problem with this shower head. It is a leak around the rim of the head and not related to calcium buildup. To disassemble you do not need to unscrew the center cap with the 3 jets and 3 small holes. You need to take off the very center small cap that says "AIR" on it. I used a sharp knife blade to pry it off. This cap covers a bolt that once removed will allow the head to come apart. The problem was a central clear seal that had a bent edge. Reseat the seal, put the head back together and that should take care of the problem. Hope this helps the next person trying to resolve this common problem.

replying to John Keiser, JBS wrote: Hi John. Did you ever disassemble the Hansgrohe shower head? I have Croma model and would also like to take apart and change o ring. Krgds JBS, Oslo Norway.

replying to John Keiser, sergio wrote: John. Not sure if you solved it already but I have the same shower head and exactly the same problem. I was about to open it with brute force when I read thia thread and decided not to. Instead, I unscrewed the head, cleaned the little filter (was really dirty) and then proceeded to wash the head with just soap and water (using a toothbrush). The calcium does not come out easy but with some force it will go in 5 min. Assembled everything back and the problem was solves. High Pressure and no side leaking. Hope This helps

I would try the CLR again - perhaps several days of soaking & rinsing ? There's a Fixya link below ..

If it is iron deposits causing a blockage - Iron-Out or Iron-X are two products for removing iron deposits eg in water softeners .. Sometimes these devices are not meant to be taken apart ever - so damaging it - by trial & error might be worse than spending some more time & effort soaking it .. ? Good luck. John T.

I just googled your question:

Youtube can be a primary source for not getting homeowner into trouble.

Good smoke btw... soak in a veg oil to soften the gaskets.

Yes, been there, done that. Hansgrohe only tells you how to soak to clean the jets. [In German, as well as English.] My jets are not clogged. Water is properly emitted from each jet. The issue is that excess water flows around the rim of the movable plate which holds the jets.

Please explain how soaking will seal the leaking joints. No matter how long you soak, if the head is designed to deliver say 3 gpm through the jets and you have piping to supply it with 6 gpm, any openings will leak.

If the gaskets are shot or seams split, nothing is going to stop the leak other than sealing it.

I imagine you've thought about the opposite approach. Set the shower head to whatever setting you like. Seal it in place with whatever epoxy or glue you think will hold.

Like someone said, many of these things, even expensive ones, are not made to be taken apart and repaired. One indication would be if spare parts are available for the shower head. If not, it's a fair bet it's not meant to be serviceable. And from the description of the problem, it sounds like even if you can get it apart, it's going to need a new seal. If you can't find that online, taking it apart probably isn't going to solve the leaking. I've had a few of these over the years and haven't had one that comes apart to service. They last 5 or ten years, then it's time for another. Not sure how much better the more expensive ones are.

One problem with these in general is it's hard to figure out how good they are before it's too late. You can read reviews on Amazon, but there are so many brands and models, it's a big mess. And looking at them at HD doesn't do much, how they look and how well they work are two different things.

Oh, I agree completely. Amazon's price for a replacement is $149! I will, of course, just replace with a generic for a fraction of that price. Mostly interested in the tinkering aspect.

trader_4 wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

I remodeled a bathroom, and the plumber raved about Hansgrohe, and that's all he wanted to install. They are expen$ive. When all was said and done, yes, they looked nice, but I don't think they work any better or will last any longer than a Delta or Price Pfister. When they fail, you don't fix them, you replace them.

I don't care for the shower valve, because there's only one volume setting, which is full on. You can't adjust it for less volume. I didn't know that until it was installed and I first used it. It's a big water waster that cost around $400. The handle on it moves across a 180 degree arc (any position is full volume), but the first 140 degrees of arc is cold to slightly warm. The next 40 degrees of arc is warm to all hot. Ouch.

I'd leave it alone, or just get a run of the mill replacement. As you probably know, there are many that work fine at much less cost...$25 to $60 or so, depending on how many sprays you want. In the end, I end up using one spray anyway.

For the cost of an email you can ask if they service them. You never know how they may respond, even out of warranty.

If that does not work, one of the plumbing supply houses here has a bath showroom and you can try out various heads and hand helds on display. We ended up with Delta.

This shower head was recommended here a couple years ago so I tried one. It's the best shower head I've ever used AND it's under $10:

Hansgrohe is the anti-Delta: they are not neither friendly nor helpful. Unless you are the original purchaser WITH THE ORIGINAL PROOF OF PURCHASE, you are SOL.

Good to know if I'm ever in the market for that type of product.

Very interesting. With an "expert setup" it's $87 more, but the next line says he's a handyman. I don't think a handyman is an expert.

Either a master? plumber or an Sh.D. would be an expert (Doctor of Shower Heads)

I've seen that sort of valve, used 'em, and I thought I was missing something, that it must be a good design. I guess not.

PC 11 is white and sticks to wet things. Even when they're wet, but I'd let it dry.

John Keiser posted for all of us...

John, the image you quote shows exactly what you posted. The OP should abandon this POS and get a Kohler, AS or similar.