How To Replace A Shower Head

Is your shower dripping when it is turned off? If it is, you are losing water, which means you are losing money because you have higher water bills. Maybe it is time to install a new shower head. There are many jobs in the bathroom that will require a plumber, but this is one that you can easily do yourself. Just follow these simple steps.

Remove The Old Shower Head

You don't have to worry about shutting off the main water supply to the house for this project. Simply make sure that the bathtub tabs are shut off and that the shower is not turned on. Otherwise, you are going to end up pretty wet because the water is going to spray out at you. Taking off the shower head is easy. Turn it to the left to loosen and remove it. If it is difficult to turn, you can use a wrench for extra leverage. Once the shower head has been removed, be sure to clean any dirt on the threading before installing the new shower head.

Change The Washers

One of the biggest causes of leaks in shower heads and taps is worn washers. It is always a good idea to replace the washers at the same time you install a new shower head. That way, you can be sure that there aren't going to be any leaks.

Prepare The New Shower Head

Before you can attach the new shower head, you have to prepare it. For example, if the threaded end is smaller than the pipe it will be screwed into, you need to make it fit. This is easily done by applying Teflon tape to the threads. You may have to use a bit of trial and error here, as one layer of tape may not be enough. Always put the tape on in a clockwise motion. You will be turning the shower head in a clockwise motion to install it, and if the tape is counter-clockwise, it will end up coming off as you install the new shower head.

Install The New Shower Head

Installing the new shower head is easy. Simply remove it from the package, place the threaded end into the pipe and turn the shower head. As previously mentioned, you will need to turn the head in a clockwise direction. Once it is in place, give it a quarter turn to tighten it. Now, turn on the water and check to make sure that there are not any leaks coming from the new shower head. If there are, you may need to tighten it even more with a wrench. 

For professional advice, contact a business such as A and C Plumbing.