How to Install a Moen Shower Fixture

Install a Moen shower fixture to upgrade features or to replace a leaky, corroded shower. Moen guarantees their products against leaks, and they provide a toll-free help line for installation assistance (see Tips section). A plumber's fee for installing a shower head will cost more than the fixture itself. Many bathroom plumbing jobs should be left to professionals, but shower heads are made to be easy for users to install. It takes very little time and there are only a few common tools needed to install a Moen shower fixture.

Things You'll Need

• Safety glasses or goggles Adjustable slip-slot pliers Adjustable wrench Slotted screwdriver Teflon plumbing tape Cleaning rag Bleach or vinegar

Instructions

How to Install a Moen Shower Fixture

1. Turn the diverter valve to the lower faucet position. Allow a few minutes for any water to drain out of the shower pipe.

2. Put on safety glasses or goggles. This protects against water splash and metal debris while removing the old shower fixture and cleaning the water-supply pipe threads.

3. Unscrew the existing shower arm by turning it counter-clockwise by hand. If it's too tight for hand removal, grip the arm with adjustable slip-slot pliers about an inch from the wall and turn to loosen. The flange ring will come off with the shower arm.

4. Clean the threads inside the wall pipe. Gently scrape inside threads with the head of a slotted screwdriver to check for metal debris. Wet the corner of a cleaning rag with water and pour bleach or vinegar over the corner. Stuff the soaked corner of the rag inside the threading and twist to clean out mineral deposits.

5. Wrap Teflon plumbing tape around the threads of the new shower arm in a clockwise direction. Make the first wrap cover the threads using very little tension. Then twist the tape around the threads two more times and pull until the tape snaps.

6. Screw the taped end of the new shower arm into the water-supply pipe. Tighten by hand as far as possible. Place the cleaning rag between the shower arm and the grips of the adjustable pliers to avoid scratching as you tighten with pliers. Slip on the flange ring.

7. Wrap Teflon tape around the exposed threads of the shower arm to receive the shower head. Twist on the new shower head by hand. Hold the shower arm with a rag and pliers while tightening the nut on the shower head with an adjustable wrench.

8. Check for leaks. Turn shower on full force. If there is a leak coming from under the flange, retape and tighten the arm. If a leak drips from above the shower head, retape and tighten the shower-head nut.

Tips & Warnings

• Call the Moen help line for assistance at [phone] in the U.S. or 800-465-6130 in Canada .

• Do not drop tools or shower heads on the bathtub or shower-stall tiles. Bathtub chips, tile cracks or bruised toes can result.