Difficulty
Beginner
Duration
Under 2 hours
New shower heads can help lessen the amount of water you use and save money on your water bill. Learning how to change a shower head is a simple task that only takes a few minutes. This guide explains the steps to installing three different kinds of shower heads: fixed-mount, hand-held and fixed-mount and hand-held combination models, also known as a dual shower head.
Tip: Before following these instructions on how to replace a shower head, choose a new one that fits your needs. Popular options include rain shower heads, wall mount shower heads, ceiling shower heads and multi-spray pattern varieties.
Gather Tools and Materials
- Before changing your shower head, turn off its water valve or shut off your home's main water supply. This will save you time and frustration while working on your shower head.
- Clean up any buildup or residue around the shower using a mild cleaner and cloth.
- Protect your bathtub or shower floor from dings or scratches with a drop cloth. Be sure to cover the drain to prevent anything from falling into it.
- Gather the necessary tools and parts for the job: adjustable wrench, pliers, new shower head and accompanying parts and thread seal tape.
- Some shower heads will have flat spots on the connection for use with a wrench, others have grooves to help grip by hand or with pliers.
Removing Old Shower Head
- The first step to replacing a shower head is removing the old one.
- Try turning the shower head by hand counterclockwise to remove it. If you can remove it by hand, proceed to the next step. If not, keep reading for instructions on removing a shower head.
- Wrap the jaws of the pliers with electrical tape or place a towel around the shower arm to protect the finish.
- Grip the shower arm with the pliers. Take care to avoid loosening the shower arm from it's threads inside the wall.
- Use an adjustable wrench to loosen and unscrew the old shower head.
- Clean off any rust or mineral deposits, old tape or leftover sealant on the shower arm threads.
How To Install a Fixed Shower Head
- Wrap thread seal tape in a clockwise direction two or three times around the threads of the shower arm.
- Press the tape into the threads.
- Screw the fixed shower head replacement onto the shower arm in a clockwise direction and tighten.
- Turn on the water and check for leaks.
- If leaks occur, carefully apply more pressure with pliers or an adjustable wrench. Be careful not to over-tighten. These fixtures are usually designed to work with hand tightening and a tool should only be used if you're having trouble gripping by hand.
How To Install a Hand-Held Shower Head
- Screw the hand-held shower mount onto the shower arm and tighten by hand.
- Connect the flexible shower hose to the mount and to the hand-held shower. Hand tighten the connections.
- Place the hand-held shower head in the mount.
- Turn on the water and check for leaks.
- If leaks occur, carefully apply more pressure with pliers or an adjustable wrench. Be careful not to over-tighten. These fixtures are usually designed to work with hand tightening and a tool should only be used if you're having trouble gripping by hand.
How To Install a Combo Fixed-Mount and Hand-Held Shower Head
- Attach the diverter that routes water to the shower head to the shower arm and hand-tighten.
- Screw the fixed-mount shower head onto the end of the diverter in a clockwise direction and hand-tighten.
- Attach the hand-held unit mount to the shower per the manufacturer’s directions.
- Connect the flexible shower hose to the diverter and to the hand-held shower. Hand-tighten the connections.
- Place the hand-held shower in the mount.
- Turn on the water and divert water from the fixed to the hand-held unit and check for leaks.
- If leaks occur, carefully apply more pressure with pliers or an adjustable wrench. Be careful not to over-tighten. These fixtures are usually designed to work with hand tightening and a tool should only be used if you're having trouble gripping by hand.
Knowing how to change your shower head is a simple way to improve water pressure, fix a leak or upgrade your bathroom. Ready to start your project? If you need help identifying a shower head, find products fast with image search in The Home Depot Mobile App. Snap a picture of an item you like and we'll show you similar products.