At some point, everyone in Phoenix will either want to or have to change a shower head. It’s a job your plumber can do for you, but it’s also one you can easily do yourself! If you’d like a shower head installed by a local, reputable plumber call us today. Or, here’s how you can do it and save a few bucks.
A recently installed showerhead
First, get the tools you need: a pair of pliers and a wrench should do it. If you’re lucky you won’t need the wrench (you’ll probably need to pick up at least one more thing – see below).
Then visit a home improvement store like Lowe’s, Home Depot, or a plumbing supplier, where you’ll find a vast array of showerheads to choose from.
Pick what suits you, making sure that you think about things like the size of your bathtub or shower and how much water you will be using. This is particularly important in places like Phoenix, where we always think in terms of conservation.
Odds are you don’t have a roll of Teflon tape around the house, so while you’re out, pick up a roll of that as well (a lot of showerheads come with a small amount of tape, but it may not be enough to cover a mistake).
Open your new showerhead and carefully take note of the parts. Some are small and easy to lose, so be careful.
Make sure the water is off, and since there’s a reasonable chance you are going to get wet, wear some clothes that you don’t mind messing up.
Take your pliers and twist the head counter-clockwise (remember the old trick: lefty loosy, righty tighty).
Take it off and put it somewhere out of the way. You don’t have to hang on to it, but it’s not a bad idea. That way if your new one has a problem you have a quick and easy back up.
Then, after carefully reading the instructions – you did, didn’t you? – you can put the new one on.
Take the tape and carefully wrap it around the exposed pipe. This will help prevent drips. You don’t need to use too much, but make sure to cover it and to slightly come over the open end of the pipe.
Make sure any gaskets (the small, round, usually black things with a hole in the middle) are pushed firmly into the shower head before you put on the new one. This includes any secondary hoses or other parts because they’ll probably have gaskets too.
Line the showerhead up and carefully screw it on. When you have put it on as far as you can by hand, use your pliers to tighten it. You should be careful not to over tighten it because that could damage your new showerhead.
Test it by turning the water on slightly. If it doesn’t leak, great! You’re done.
If it does leak, you need to take it back off, inspect your tape, and probably either use a bit more or just peel it off and start again. Don’t worry about it – the roll you bought is more than you’ll use any time soon, you have plenty. Reapply, then put the shower head back on, then tighten like before.
That’s it! You can certainly pay someone else to do it if you don’t want to, but you don’t have to.
There are plenty of things you should ask for help on though, and when you come up against a problem, whether it’s a leaky pipe, a serious obstruction or installing new plumbing, it’s always a good idea to call for advice.
When it’s time, we’re here to help! Call us and we’ll give you honest advice on what your best actions are. We serve Phoenix and the surrounding communities.
