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Project Difficulty:
Easy
Estimated
Project Time: 30 minutes
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| Tools and Materials: |
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Adjustable wrench
Adjustable pliers
Duct tape, as needed
Pipe wrench, as needed
Hand-held shower unit
New shower arm, as needed
Pipe joint compound or Teflon tape, as needed
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Hand-held showers are growing in popularity today; with one, a homeowner can turn an ordinary shower area into a spa-like environment. There are many types and designs from which to select. The various nozzle units that are available today can be adjusted, turned, and swiveled to pulsate, spray, and mist water in almost whatever direction you need.
The simplest way to install a hand-held shower is to replace the existing fixed shower head, as explained below. Most of these hand-held units come with a holding bracket that mounts to the existing shower arm. This placement, however, may be too high for shorter people or for persons who need to sit down while they are in the shower. If you're installing the shower head for someone with special needs, you may need to purchase additional brackets to mount the unit in a more convenient location. Another way of installing a hand-held shower is to replace the existing tub spout with one containing a special diverter. This method puts the hand-held shower low enough to be usable while sitting in the tub or tub seat.
Replacing an Existing Shower Head with a Hand-Held Unit
Before starting any work, be sure to turn off the water supply to the shower at the shutoff valve or the main valve.
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1.
Remove the Existing Shower Head
Using an adjustable wrench or adjustable pliers, grab the back of the shower head (the retainer) and, using mild pressure, loosen the shower head by turning the wrench counterclockwise (Fig. 1). Most shower heads have a flat surface just for this purpose. If the shower arm starts to move, stop. You don't want to put a kink in the arm because then you'll have to replace it also.
If using mild pressure isn't enough to make the shower head budge, try the following. To avoid scratching the finish of the shower arm, first wrap duct tape around it. Then, using adjustable pliers or a pipe wrench to restrain the arm, try to turn the shower head using another adjustable pliers or wrench. If it still won't budge or the arm has buckled, you will have to remove the arm and the head together and replace them as a single unit.
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2.
Attach the Hand-Held Shower Head
Set the O-ring that comes with your new shower head unit in place. Screw the new shower head unit onto the shower arm, tightening by hand until it is snug. Use adjustable pliers to give it another half-turn to fasten it securely to the shower arm (Fig. 2).
Turn on the water and check for leaks. If there is a leak, use an adjustable wrench to tighten the joint a little at a time until the leaking stops. If you need to replace the shower arm as well, apply joint compound or Teflon tape to the threaded end, wrap the arm with duct tape to prevent scratching it, and use an adjustable wrench to screw it into the wall tee. You're ready to enjoy your spa-like shower!
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