How to Replace a Showerhead in 6 Steps

Do you put up with a weak shower every day, or is your bathroom’s style stuck in the 1980s? Well, good news, because you don’t have to be stuck with that old, outdated showerhead a day longer. In this article, we’ll explain how to replace the fixture yourself.

How to Replace a Showerhead in 6 Steps

Replacing a showerhead is a relatively simple DIY plumbing project for homeowners. In a few simple steps, you can prep the area, remove the existing showerhead, connect the new showerhead, and test the shower. 

What you’ll need:

In addition to the new showerhead with standard ½ inch threading, make sure you have these supplies handy, or pick them up at your local home improvement store. 

  • Thread seal tape (sometimes called Teflon tape)
  • Adjustable wrench
  • Rag or toothbrush
  • Towels
  • Tarp (to protect flooring)

Steps to replacing a showerhead

  1. Prep the area. Lay your tarp or towels down on the floor to catch any spraying water. Also, cover the shower drain with a towel to prevent any solid objects from falling through.
  1. Turn off the water. When starting any plumbing project, it’s a good idea to shut off the water – either at the valve closest to the outlet you’re working on or at the main shutoff valve to the house. Also, make sure the shower knobs are closed all the way.
  1. Unscrew the old showerhead. Use your adjustable wrench and loosen the nut (turning counter-clockwise) that holds the showerhead to the shower arm pipe. Pro tip: wrap a towel over both the arm and showerhead to block any water that may still be in the showerhead.
  1. Clean and tape the shower arm thread. Once the old showerhead is disconnected, clean the shower arm threading with a rag or toothbrush. Then, wrap the thread seal tape around the shower arm thread. Press the tape into the groves and wrap the tape tightly, going clockwise about two or three times around the pipe. Cut the end of the tape and press down.
  1. Install a new showerhead. Take your new showerhead and place it on the shower arm. Hand-tighten the nut, making sure the thread is properly lined up and the tape stays in place while the nut turns. Use your wrench to tighten the showerhead, but don’t over-tighten or force it.
  1. Test the new showerhead. Remove your tarp and towels, turn the water supply back on, and turn on the shower to test out the new showerhead. Look for drips or leaks, and make sure the water pressure is appropriate. If something is off, you may need to tighten the showerhead or remove it to reapply thread tape.

Bathroom plumbing in the Schererville, IN, area 

If you run into any issues replacing the showerhead or prefer a professional handle the job, don’t hesitate to call Reichelt Plumbing. Our experienced team will make sure your shower looks great and operates to perfection. Schedule an appointment today at (219) 322-4906.

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