How to Install a High Efficiency Shower Head
Installing a new, high-efficiency shower head is as easy as installing a normal shower head and requires very few tools. Installation is simple and there is more than one way to do it using different tools. Installation can be done in a few easy steps by the homeowner and does not require special training. This project should take less than 15 minutes to complete. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Remove the old shower head before installing the high-efficiency shower head. Removal is done by unscrewing the old shower head through counterclockwise rotation. Initially, the old shower head will have to be turned using a channel lock wrench, pipe wrench or vice-grip pliers (unless the head is already loose). Whatever type of wrench does the job, try not to damage the surface of the old shower head since it can be recycled or reused. Teflon tape on the inner surface where the wrench contacts the plumbing can be used to help guard against damage. If the wrench is adjusted to fit the pipe to prevent slippage, that can help as well.
-
2
Adjust the wrench. Channel lock wrenches are made with grooves in the head. These grooves are situated so that the two halves of the wrench interlock at the head. The grooves may be repositioned to interlock at different levels so that the wrench can be adjusted. To change the interlocking level, open the wrench as far as it will go. Then reposition the level that the grooves interlock at before closing the wrench on the item that the tool turns. If the wrench is a pipe wrench, the head adjusts by being extended and retracted. This is accomplished by turning a cylinder at the base of the head so that the grooves in this cylinder contact grooves on the retracting/extending upper part of the head. This allows the head to extend or retract based on the screwing action or the cylinder. Once the wrench is on the plumbing, it may need to be tightened again to fit tightly. If a vice grip pair of pliers is used, the easier way to adjust them is to open the grip up by turning the screw at the end of the handle until the tool is open more than what will be clasped. The tool is then put around the object (though it is not squeezed into the "locked" position). The tool is tightened and then removed. The tool is tightened more after removal by two twists so that the tool will lock into place with a click after it re-grips the desired plumbing.
-
-
3
Remove the old shower head by gripping it at the base (closest to the wall) and twisting it counterclockwise. After two turns, the head will come off by hand twisting the head and the wrench may be removed. Be careful not to drop the head to prevent damage to the head, the shower, floor tiles or an innocent toe. With the head removed, clean off the place where the interlocking threads allowed the head to screw onto the exposed pipe. Steel wool should remove any of the old remaining Teflon tape that is left on the threads. Once the high-efficiency shower head is removed, dry the threads with a rag and put on new Teflon tape.
-
4
Wrap new Teflon tape around the cleaned threads four times. Remove the new shower head from the package. This is a good time to take a quick glance over any literature that came with it. Hand tighten the new shower head to the pipe with your hands. With Teflon on the pliers/wrench that will be used to install the new head, grip the base of the new high-efficiency shower head and tighten it enough that water will not leak (think about waterproof food lids for an idea of how tight the head should be attached). If the new head is plastic, make sure not to squeeze it too hard or to twist it too tight since special care must be taken to ensure that the parts do not break.
-
5
Test the shower head by turning it on. Look for any leaks that there might be and adjust any Teflon tape as a result of the test. If the shower head leaks a little, check to see if there is an on/off switch on the head. This special switch is a feature that allows the shower flow to diminish as the person in the shower soaps up before rinsing. This feature leaks because the pressure that builds up behind the head could damage plumbing downstream of the on/off valves with too rapid of a change. Some manufacturers do not include this feature since it is thought to decrease the life span of the shower head.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure that the water is shut off when the shower head is removed.
