Why, and How, Should You Replace Your Shower Head?

If the water flow from your shower head has become weaker, or if the flow doesn’t feel right, or maybe you just want to switch to a more water-saving shower head, there is no reason to panic. Replacing a shower head is a simple, do-it-yourself project that needs a few tools and just a little time.

Before getting started, you will need to know what tools the job requires. Foremost, you will need your new shower head. Next, you will need Teflon tape, an adjustable wrench, and maybe a tarp and some towels.

You won’t need to shut off your water entirely, but you will want to be sure that your shower is off. Turn all the knobs as far as you can, and that will make this job less messy and less difficult. Then, to protect your tub or the floor of your shower, lay down your tarp or the towels. This will also stop anything from falling down the drain.

To remove the old shower head, you will need to unscrew the head from the arm. Grab onto the shower head with a towel so you can stay dry, and so you can also get a better grip on it. Clear off the old threads from the arm, and if you need to clean things up, use an old toothbrush.

Once that is clear, wrap the threads two or three times with Teflon tape, and press the tape into the grooves. Make this as tight as possible so you can create the proper seal. We recommend wrapping the tape clockwise so you won’t accidentally undo it when installing the new showerhead.

With that ready, you can now install the new shower head to the arm. Most shower arms are designed the same way, so you will just need to twist it into place and use a wrench to tighten the shower head to the arm. With a tight connection, there will be no leaks dripping out.

Finally, when all of that is in place, you can remove the tarp and towels and turn on the water. At this stage, you can check if you created a tight enough seal, but if you notice leaks or drips, you will want to tighten the connection further.

There are quite a few DIY plumbing projects that you should be able to handle yourself and replacing a shower head is just one of them. For any help tackling larger projects, call Sunrise Heating and Plumbing at (616) 293-9326. We pride ourselves in providing nothing but exceptional customer service.