One of the most important aspects of our lives is water. Water can be used for hydration, cleaning, and many other things. We will enter our showers once or twice daily to maintain good hygiene. Then, we will be able to relax as the waterfalls on our bodies.
Sometimes, however, the shower may become faulty for whatever reason. Generally speaking, the issue may be minor; all you need is a bit of manual work to return it to normal. At other times, the shower head itself may malfunction for some reason.
A plumber can help you with the shower repair and installation. However, expert homeowners may be able to fix the problem son their own. Here’s a DIY guide on how to change a shower head:
Plumbing Supplies
When it comes to fixing any appliance in your home, you will need to get into the gritty details. That is why having the right tools for the job will make things much easier. There are a couple of essential pieces of equipment for repairing a shower head. Get some pliers, a stepping stool, and a wrench.
Usually, these are the items that will get the job done. If your shower head happens to be beyond the point of repair, you will need to get a brand new replacement. If there is a need for a plumber’s tape, you may need to get a bit. That way, nothing will go faulty for a long time in the shower head.
Before Changing the Shower Head
Like any sort of repair job, there are a few steps that need to be acted upon first. In some cases, homeowners may need to shut off the water valve in the home. This is because repairs need to occur once there is no water feeding through the respective lines. Once this is off, turn your attention to the faucet.
Ensure the faucet is off is essential since water may spray all over the place during work. Sometimes, you may not need to shut off the water valve in your home. Depending on how the home is structured, you can move ahead and skip that initial step. If not, just be sure to turn it off completely before the turn off the faucet.
Unscrew the Shower Head
Your next point of focus will have to do with the current shower head. Grab your screwdriver and forcefully unscrew the head from its current position. It is here that you will have to analyze what is going on. In some cases, there will be a large presence of dirt and grime inside. Clean it up if the head itself is not too damaged.
Now, you will have to look at the extension pipe coming out of the wall. If there is more dirt or grime here, clean it up using the supplies you have. A brush or old toothbrush will work the best in this particular scenario. Use a dry cloth to then clean up the remaining presence of grime.
Replace the Shower Head
Your next point of focus will now have to do with changing the shower head itself. If the original shower head is still in good working order, you could potentially use it again. Or, if you have a new shower head, you will have to use this in its stead. Read the instruction manual, and determine how it can be placed inside properly.
Sometimes, all that is needed is a simple turn in a clockwise fashion. Once it feels secure to you, continue to turn it a bit more. It is also crucial to remember that you should not tighten it more than is needed. Doing this could lead to the head cracking at best or outright breaking at worst.
Look for Shower Head Leaks
Now that the main work has been completed, you will have to determine if the effort was worth it. Turn on the shower through your faucet, and look at how the shower head is performing. In some peculiar situations, leaks could emanate from the head once activated.
In this light, you may want to gently unscrew or screw on the shower head so that it is installed accordingly. It is minor, but it helps out a lot at this point. These small adjustments go a long way in ensuring that the shower is optimized as much as possible.
Inspect the Shower Head
Even though changing a shower head is relatively simple, other issues could be at play. Should these instructions not work as intended, you may have to call in a plumber for some additional help. These individuals will be able to assess what may have gone wrong and promptly fix the issue. Then, you will have a working shower head again with no issues!
