How to Change a Shower Head
The first time I took a shower in my new apartment, I had to step back as far as I could go to avoid the water hitting me directly in the face. The shower head was unusually high and even after lowering it as far as it could go, the trajectory was such that the water couldn’t hit my body any lower than chest level.
I tried my best to deal with it, but after awhile, I realized that something needed to be done. I contacted the building management repeatedly to no avail and finally I became fed up. I knew I had to take matters into my own hands.
I knew nothing about do-it-yourself home repairs, so I asked a couple of male friends who explained how to change a shower head and it sounded relatively easy, so I tried it.
In order to change a shower head, you only need a few items. A new shower head, of course, a wrench, a small washcloth, and Teflon® tape (or plumber’s tape.) The rest is easy:
1. Make sure the faucet is turned is off. (There may be excess water in the pipes that will drain once you unscrew the shower head.)
2. Use the wrench to unscrew the old shower head.
3. There may be dirt built up around the threads of the pipes so use the washcloth to clean it thoroughly.
4. The Teflon® tape is used to cover the pipe threads to create a seal between the pipe and shower head. Start at the base of the threads and wrap the tape around the pipe until the threads are covered. Wrap the tape around a couple of times in order to create a strong seal.
5. Next, screw the shower head on by hand. You may or may not need to tighten it with a wrench depending on the brand. If you do use a wrench, use the washcloth as a buffer between the wrench and shower head to avoid scratches and/or damage.
6. Once the shower head is secure, turn on the water to test for any leaks. If there is leakage, the shower head may not be screwed on tight enough or there is not enough tape to seal the pipe. These problems can easily be fixed by tightening the shower head or adding more tape to the pipe threads.
I got it right on my first try, so now home improvement projects are not so intimidating anymore.
Sources: Personal experience
