How to Change a Shower Head

Whether you’ve got a leaky or damaged shower, or you just fancy a design change, replacing your shower head is one of the easiest yet most satisfying jobs you can do in your bathroom. It’s a really simple job that can make a huge difference to your morning routine, so keep reading for a step-by-step beginner-friendly guide on changing a shower head.

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You may need to change your shower head if it has low pressure, uneven spray, dripping, or visible damage, but cleaning it with vinegar and an old toothbrush can sometimes fix these issues first.
There are several shower head types (fixed, rain, handheld, dual and high-pressure) designed for various flow preferences and water pressure needs.
Replacing a shower head is quick and easy; simply turn off the water, remove the old head, clean and tape the threads, then attach the new one.

When should you change your shower head?

Low water pressure: if your shower has a lower water pressure than you’d like, this could be due to it being an older model which pales in comparison to the new, higher-pressure heads. It could also be the result of damage or limescale build-up. If you can see that the lower pressure is due to dirt or limescale, try cleaning the shower head first. We’ve detailed how to do this below. If the water pressure remains the same after changing any settings and cleaning where you can, it’s probably time for an upgrade.

Wonky jet streams: a build-up of limescale and mineral deposits can block the water jets, causing your shower to spray water in all directions. Again, try cleaning the shower head first before considering a replacement.

A dripping shower head: this can be caused by a few different things, not always the shower head itself. Take a look at our guide on how to fix a dripping shower head to help identify the problem and find out how best to fix it.

Damage to the shower head: it goes without saying that if your shower head has been damaged, such as a crack that’s causing it to leak or simply cosmetic damage, it’s a good idea to replace it.

If you’re looking to replace your shower head due to poor performance, you should try cleaning it first. Here’s the best way to clean it:

Soak the shower head in white vinegar and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. You can either remove it from the wall or fill a plastic bag with the solution and tie this to the shower head, so it’s submerged.
Take it out of the vinegar and use a toothbrush or rough sponge and some baking soda to scrub any more stubborn dirt off.
Reattach the shower head to the wall and turn on your shower to blast away any more dirt.

If cleaning doesn’t solve the issue, you will need to replace the shower head.

What types of shower head are there?

There are a few different types of shower head to choose from, and they cater for all kinds of water pressures and functionalities:

Fixed shower heads are fixed to the wall or ceiling and can’t be moved. These come in all sorts of sizes and designs.

Rainfall shower heads are larger fixed shower heads that increase the coverage in the shower. These generally have a lower water pressure to give you a more relaxing and warmer shower. These can be mounted from the wall or ceiling.

Handheld shower heads are the most popular type of shower. They can be clipped into a wall mount so you can shower hands-free, and they can be taken down to use by hand, so you can focus the water onto specific areas when showering.

Dual shower heads consist of a fixed shower head and handheld shower head in one system, giving you the choice between two different shower types. This gives you the chance to enjoy a relaxing rainfall shower and a more high-pressure handheld shower.

High-pressure shower heads deliver powerful water pressure. These make it easier to rinse out shampoo and conditioner, great if you only have time to take a quick shower before work.

If you’ve cleaned your shower head and decided it still needs replacing, follow the 5 simple steps below on how to change your shower head.

Adjustable wrench
Cloth
Vinegar
Old toothbrush
PTFE tape
New shower head

Before you do anything, it’s a good idea to turn off the water supply to your bathroom. Then turn your shower on and let all the water in the system drain out. This will prevent you from getting soaked when you remove the shower head.

You don’t even necessarily need to turn off the entire water supply to your bathroom; you can just switch the shower off and make sure to close your shower door or curtain so nothing outside gets splashed.

Turn the old shower head anti-clockwise to unscrew it from the shower arm. If it’s proving difficult to remove, place a cloth around it to prevent any scratching, and use your adjustable wrench to gently loosen it.

Now that you have access to the threads on the shower arm, give them a good clean with a cloth soaked in vinegar. Wrap this around the threads and hold for a few minutes, then use an old toothbrush to scrub away any debris before you attach your new one.

Once clean, you’ll need to create a good seal around the threads on the shower arm. To do this, wrap PTFE tape clockwise around the threads four times.

Now you can screw on your new shower head. You can do this by hand, with the PTFE creating a tight seal that will stop any leaks. Using a wrench can damage the shower arm, so it’s better to be gentle here.

Once the shower head is attached, you can test the water flow and, if there are no problems, you’re done. If you do get a few drips or leaks, remove the head and apply an extra layer of PTFE tape.

If you’ve noticed that your shower head is leaking or dripping, you may need to replace it. This is a deceptively easy task, all it really takes is unscrewing the old one, applying a seal with PTFE tape, and screwing on a new one.

It’s one of the simplest upgrades you can make to your bathroom, and it yields some of the best results, making sure you can enjoy a relaxing and efficient shower every day.

Whether you want a luxurious rainfall shower or a quick high-pressure wash before work, you can upgrade it yourself without much effort. If you’re currently doing a whole bathroom remodel, check out our guide on the latest bathroom trends.

FAQs

High-pressure shower heads with optimised nozzles are your best bet if you want higher water pressure, but you can also get multifunctional shower heads that let you adjust the water pressure as you use them; so you can enjoy all pressures depending on your needs.

While it’s advised to avoid soaking your bathroom, you should be able to get away with just turning your shower off before you change the shower head. Make sure to keep your shower curtain or door closed just in case.

In general, shower pipes are universal, so any shower head should fit onto your shower arm. There are, of course, always exceptions so make sure to check for compatibility before buying a new shower head.