Qondio
Front
Intel
IntelMart
Shares
My Qondio
Account
manders1 > Intel > How to Replace a Shower Head

qondio.com/GI8M PRINT EMAIL

How to Replace a Shower Head

By Amanda Bashore of Your Home Supply

It’s Saturday and you’ve got a list of chores to accomplish. Amidst laundry, grocery shopping and dropping the kids off at their various sports, you’ve decided to tackle bathroom remodeling. The leaky, low-pressure showerhead has just got to be replaced. If you’re ready to go the task alone, follow these simple instructions to replace your shower head without calling in a professional (or your husband) for help.

Step #1: Identify the Problems
Determine what aspects of your current shower head you dislike. Common problems that arise over time include: slow leaks, low water pressure, inconsistent water pressure, inefficient use of water and worn finishes. For “green” homes, consider how many of gallons of water are literally going down the shower drain due to poor design.

Step #2: Purchase the Right Replacement
Before you attack your shower head with a screwdriver or sledgehammer (depending on your level of frustration), be sure you have the correct replacement fixture. Shower heads come in a variety of finishes including bronze, chrome and satin nickel; match the finish to the other existing fixtures in your bathroom. If you’re energy-conscious, look for an energy-efficient, low flow showerhead design.

Step #3: Have Tools at the Ready
Nothing’s worse than potentially being stuck in your shower stall trying to yank the showerhead fixture out of the wall. If you’re unprepared, you might damage the wall tiling or the piping behind the wall as well. Since most bath designs include screw-in fixtures, you’ll most likely only need a simple screwdriver. But it’s always better to be prepared than to be sorry. Be sure to have these other tools at the ready: a basic wrench, vice grips and Teflon tape.

Step #4: Turn Off the Water Source
Unless you’re looking to get literally showered while you replace your bath design fixture, turn off the water ahead of time. After you’ve turned off the water source, turn on the shower to allow the pipes to drain—or you will get sprayed when you remove the shower head fixture.

Step #5: You’re Ready to Remove
With your wrench in hand, loosen all washers holding the existing showerhead in place. Turn the washers in a counter-clockwise direction. As you remove the old shower head, examine the “threaded” neck that connects the shower head to the water source. Remove any tape, piping or debris that may have accumulated over the years.

Step #6: Swap Shower Heads
Check the style of your new showerhead. Notice whether it includes washers that must be tightened with a wrench, or a simple design that requires tightening by hand. To prevent future leakage, wrap the “threaded” neck of the fixture in Teflon tape. Screw the fixture into place, tightening any washers.

Step #7: Turn Water On
You’re ready to test out your new showerhead. Turn the water back on and examine the new shower flow. If there is leaking, you’ll need to re-tighten. If so, turn off the water again. This time, place a cloth between the wrench and the fixture so you do not strip the finish. Turn the water on again to test the showerhead. Repeat until the leak stops.

Step #8: Show Off Your Shower
With all the hard work completed, all that’s left is cleaning up the debris that’s probably accumulated on the floor of your shower stall or tub. Be sure to scrub the floor with a tile or tub cleaner to eliminate any mildew growth.

Be proud! You’ve replaced your old, bothersome showerhead yourself without the added cost of hiring a professional or asking for help from your family members. It’s time you got to enjoy your work! To create the ultimate spa escape feeling, add a few decorative items to complement your new bath design. Scented candles or bubbles, dimmer light fixtures, heated towel racks and heated tiling flooring are perfect accessories to any bathroom.

Images


Contributed by manders1 on November 14, 2008, at 12:46 PM UTC.

Reactions

No reactions yet.

Rate This Intel

Please login or sign up to rate this intel.

Comments

Please login or sign up to add a comment.

Share

Copyright Notice

The copyright for this content entitled "How to Replace a Shower Head" has been specified by the contributor as:

All Rights Reserved

This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.

Login Here with
Any Email Address
Any Password
No account? Sign up.

Intel Contributor
This intel was contributed by manders1

Qondio Archive
May, 2012
123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031


2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May

Sign Up
Not a member yet? Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to promote, we can help. Sign up and get in on the action.

About Qondio
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.

ABOUT
SUCCESS GUIDE
FEATURES
FAQ
ADVERTISE
CONTACT
USAGE POLICY
PRIVACY POLICY


TWITTER
FACEBOOK