If you’ve been thinking about replacing your old shower head with a new model, or maybe even adding a hand shower, you’ll be happy to know it’s a relatively simple process. You don’t need special plumbing skills, and will likely have it accomplished faster than it took you to get through the checkout line! Best of all, this easy and quick process will give your shower a fresh look in addition to the enjoyment you’ll experience from your new shower. Let’s get started.
Supply List
- Hand shower with bracket cover, wall mount and gasket
- Adjustable wrench
- Thread seal tape
- Drill and ¼” bit
- Rubber mallet
- Screwdriver
- Screws and anchors
- Leveling tool
- Pencil
- Shower arm diverter (if installing a hand shower onto the shower arm)
Replace Your Shower Head
To replace the shower head, you don’t even have to shut off the water supply. Just remove the old shower head by turning it counterclockwise. If you can’t do it by hand, use an adjustable wrench. Make sure the shower arm doesn’t turn inside the wall.
Clean off any existing thread seal tape or sealing compound from the threads. Wrap new thread seal tape around the threads of the shower arm and install the new shower head by screwing it on clockwise until it’s tight. In just a few simple steps, you’ve installed a new shower head with just a few simple tools. If you would also like to install a hand shower, instructions are below.
Install a Hand Shower
Adding an optional hand shower is another easy installation that will add versatility to your bathroom. A hand shower is especially, well, handy for bathing kids and pets. Hand showers come in several types of mounts: they can be mounted on a sliding wall bar, directly to the shower arm or to the wall itself. Some hand showers are stand-alone, and others are used in addition to a traditional shower head.
To install a wall-mounted hand shower, select a spot to install the hand shower, taking the height of who will be using it into consideration. Remove the bracket cover from the wall mount and mark the location for the screw holes. Drill ¼” holes into the tile and insert an anchor, gently tapping it with a rubber mallet until it’s flush with the surface. Attach the wall bracket with screws, and slide the bracket cover over it.
Next, remove the shower head from the shower arm. Wrap new thread seal tape around the threads and screw a shower arm diverter onto the end of the shower arm.
After inserting the gasket that comes with the hand shower, screw the hose connection onto the right angle connection of the shower arm diverter until it’s snug. Reinstall the shower head on the bottom end of the diverter.
At this point, you’ll have the hand shower hose connection installed on the right side of the shower arm diverter, and the shower head installed on the bottom. This is also the correct positioning if you’re installing a hand shower that will be on a slide bar. Place the hand shower into the bracket cover like a holster until you’re ready to use it.
By letting you direct water where you want it, adding a hand shower is an easy way to add style and functionality to your bathroom. Installing a new shower head and hand shower will be an easy project for even unexperienced do-it-yourselfers. For further help, a video is available.
Content from Delta
