Project Guide
How to Change a Shower Head
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.
Tools
- Adjustable Wrenches
- All Trades Slip Joint Pliers
Materials
- Dual Shower Heads
- Electrical Tape
- Fixed Shower Heads
- Handheld Shower
- Pipe Putty & Sealant
1. Before the Installation
- 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 slip-joint pliers with electrical tape or place a towel around the shower arm to protect the finish, and then grip the shower arm with the pliers.
- 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.
- 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.
2. How to Install a Fixed Shower Head
- 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, wrap with thread seal tape and carefully tighten with an adjustable wrench until there are no leaks.
3. 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, apply thread seal tape and carefully tighten with an adjustable wrench until there are no leaks.
4. 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, apply thread tape and carefully tighten with an adjustable wrench until there are no leaks.
Ready to find the supplies you need in your local store? Use the Home Depot app to locate products and check inventory. We’ll take you to the exact aisle and bay. 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.