How To Install A Shower Head: Rain To Hand Held Showerheads

 

From learning how to install a Rain Shower Head to installing a Handheld Shower Head, we've got you covered!

Here you'll find that no matter the type of Shower Head installation you're trying to DIY, you'll be able to give your bathroom a nice upgrade in just minutes.

To make sure that we are on the same page when explaining how to install a new Shower Head, we're going to get specific and break it down by the type of Shower Head, step-by-step instructions and a video to wrap it up.

But in the words of the great Abraham Lincoln, "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." Don't worry, we're not cutting down a tree and it ain't gonna take 6 hours. 

First, let's talk about what you'll need!

 

How to Install A Shower Head: What You'll Need 

  1. Shower Head - We've got a great selection of all-metal shower heads!
  2. Thread Seal Tape - White thread seal tape used for plumbing, about $2 a roll.
  3. Rubber Sealing Washer - Usually included with your shower head.
  4. Adjustable Wrench or Pliers - For extra tightening.
  5. Terry Cloth - Protects Shower Head finish when using Wrench or Pliers.
  6. Safety Goggles - Better safe than sorry!
  7. Ladder - To climb up and replace Ceiling Mount Shower Heads.

    That's it, pretty simple! 

     

    How To Install a Wall-Mount Shower Head: Fixed or Rain Shower Head

    A Wall Mount Shower Head, is about as basic as it comes, so it’s a great project if you’re new to figuring out how to install a shower head.. All this means is that your Shower Arm extends out from your shower wall, not your ceiling. You can add different types of Shower Arms to make your Wallmount more spa-like or just stick with the standard J-Bend Shower Arm that most households have. What you'll find in common with the vast majority of Shower Heads, is that they all have a 1/2 inch female threads which fit perfectly with the vast majority of 1/2 inch male threads.

    Here's our Fixed Shower Head recommendation:

    Standard Shower Arm HammerHead Showers Fixed Shower Head
    7 Inch Shower Arm and Flange Set with Locking Set Screw
    Chrome 4 Inch Fixed Shower Head HammerHead Showers

     

    Now that we're clear, let's start explaining how to install a shower head for your bathroom!

     

    1. Remove the old Shower Head. You can attempt to remove it by hand, but if it's been on there for a while you might need to step it up to the Adjustable Wrench or Pliers. To protect the finish, if you're re-gifting, wrap the cloth around the fitting and grab hold with the Wrench/Pliers. Remember: Righty-Tighty, Lefty Loosy
    2. Remove old Thread Seal Tape and wipe away debris from Shower Arm.
    3. Wrap Thread Seal Tape around the Shower Arm. Starting at the bottom of the Shower Arm, apply the Thread Seal Tape clockwise to ensure that it doesn't unwind when you're screwing the Shower Head onto the Shower Arm.  Tightly wrap the thread seal tape 3-4 times moving up to the top of the Shower Arm. Press the Thread Seal Tape firmly to the Shower Arm to make sure it adheres properly.
    4. Ensure Rubber Washer is seated inside the threaded area of the Shower Head.
    5. Hand tighten the Shower Head. 
    6. Use the Adjustable Wrench or Pliers for extra tightening. Some Shower Heads have plastic fittings which must be hand tightened only and others have brass fittings with little notches meant for tightening with a Wrench or Pliers. Verify which you have and install accordingly. You don't want to over do it with the plastic fittings, as they'll split and then you'll be out a new Shower Head. (At The Shower Head Store, we identify which Shower Heads have plastic versus metal fittings on our product pages.)
    7. Check for leaks. If it's leaking, repeat steps 3-6.

     There you have it! You now know how to install a shower head on your shower wall!

    -> Video: How To Install a Wallmount Showerhead

     

     

    How To Install a Ceiling Rain Shower Head

    Learning how to install a rain shower head in the ceiling of your shower is one of the most luxurious upgrades you can do. These Shower Heads are attached to a Shower Arm coming vertically out of the ceiling, or with very high-end shower heads they are embedded in the ceiling. If you do not already have a Shower Arm extending vertically from the ceiling we highly recommend hiring a Licensed Plumber with Insurance to install, as this is a very advance plumbing project.

    That said, you've still got options if you want a Rainfall experience without the plumbing work of actually doing a shower head installation in the ceiling. You'll want to get your hands on an Overhead Shower Arms.

    Here's our Overhead Shower Arm recommendation:

    Adjustable Height Shower Arm 8" Rain Shower Head

     

    However, if you are just wondering how to install a new shower head for an existing Ceiling Mount or you want to attach a Rain Shower to the type of Shower Arm we referenced above, we got you covered.  What you'll find in common with the vast majority of Shower Heads, is that they all have a 1/2 inch female IPS threads and fit perfectly with the vast majority of 1/2 inch male IPS threads.

    Here's our Ceiling Mount Shower Arm recommendation:

    6" Ceiling Mount Shower Arm 8" Rain Shower Head


     

    Now that we're clear, let's install it!

    1. Remove the old Shower Head. You can attempt to remove it by hand, but if it's been on there for a while you might need to step it up to the Adjustable Wrench or Pliers. To protect the finish, if you're re-gifting, wrap the cloth around the fitting and grab hold with the Wrench/Pliers. Remember: Righty-Tighty, Lefty Loosy
    2. Remove old Thread Seal Tape and wipe away debris from Shower Arm.
    3. Wrap Thread Seal Tape around the Shower Arm. Starting at the bottom of the Shower Arm, apply the Thread Seal Tape clockwise to ensure that it doesn't unwind when you're screwing the Shower Head onto the Shower Arm.  Tightly wrap the thread seal tape 3-4 times moving up to the top of the Shower Arm. Press the Thread Seal Tape firmly to the Shower Arm to make sure it adheres properly.
    4. Ensure Rubber Washer is seated inside the threaded area of the Rain Shower Head.
    5. Hand tighten the Rain Shower Head. 
    6. Use the Adjustable Wrench or Pliers for extra tightening. Some Rain Shower Heads have plastic fittings which must be hand tightened only and others have brass fittings with little notches meant for tightening with a Wrench or Pliers. You'll want to verify which you have and perform your shower head installation accordingly. You don't want to over do it with the plastic fittings, as they'll split and then you'll be out a new Rain Showerhead. (At The Shower Head Store, we identify which Shower Heads have plastic versus metal fittings on our product pages.)
    7. Check for leaks. If it's leaking, repeat steps 3-6.

     

    -> Video: How To Install a Hand Held Shower Head

     

     

     

    How To Install a Handheld Shower Head


    Learning how to install a Hand Held Shower Head gives you the flexibility to rinse your hair, shave your legs or clean down the shower. These shower heads come with three components: the Hand Held Shower Head, the Hose and the Shower Holder Bracket.

    Here's our Hand Held Shower Head recommendations:

    7" Shower Arm All Metal Hand Held Shower Head Set
    7 Inch Shower Arm and Flange Set with Locking Set Screw

     

    Luckily, learning how to install a shower head with handheld is just as simple as the other shower head installation projects we already covered!

    Let’s get started:

      1. Remove the old Shower Head. You can attempt to remove it by hand, but if it's been on there for a while you might need to step it up to the Adjustable Wrench or Pliers. To protect the finish, if you're re-gifting, wrap the cloth around the fitting and grab hold with the Wrench/Pliers. Remember: Righty-Tighty, Lefty Loosy
      2. Remove old Thread Seal Tape and wipe away debris from Shower Arm.
      3. Wrap Thread Seal Tape around the Shower Arm. Starting at the bottom of the Shower Arm, apply the Thread Seal Tape clockwise to ensure that it doesn't unwind when you're screwing the Shower Head onto the Shower Arm.  Tightly wrap the thread seal tape 3-4 times moving up to the top of the Shower Arm. Press the Thread Seal Tape firmly to the Shower Arm to make sure it adheres properly and will keep your shower head installation secure.
      4. Ensure Rubber Washer is seated inside the threaded area of the Shower Holder Bracket.
      5. Hand tighten the Shower Holder Bracket.
      6. Use the Adjustable Wrench or Pliers for extra tightening. Some Shower Holder Brackets have plastic fittings which must be hand tightened only and others have brass fittings with little notches meant for tightening with a Wrench or Pliers. Verify which you have and install accordingly. You don't want to over do it with the plastic fittings, as they'll split and then you'll be out a new Hand Held Showerhead. (At The Shower Head Store, we identify which Handheld Shower Heads have plastic versus metal fittings on our product pages, so be sure to review closely before starting the shower head installation.)
      7. Ensure the Rubber Washers are seated inside the threaded area on both sides of the Hose. Most Shower Hoses include the Rubber Washers and if they don't you can use Thread Seal Tape instead to seal the threads.
      8. Hand tighten one end of the Hose to the Handshower and the other to the bottom of the Shower Holder. 
      9. Dock the Hand Held Showerhead into the Holder Bracket.
      10. Check for leaks. If it's leaking, repeat steps 3-8.

      If you’ve completed these steps without leaks, then give yourself a pat on the back - you’ve successfully learned how to install a shower head with handheld!

       

      -> Video: How To Install a Hand Held Shower Head

       

       

      How To Install a Handheld Shower Head Combo

       

      A Hand Held Shower Head Combo gives you all the flexibility of a Handheld with the extra feature of a Fixed or Rain Shower Head. Learning how to install a shower head with a handheld combo is one of the simplest ways to give your shower a major upgrade. These shower heads come with a Shower Holder/Diverter so you can switch between each Shower Head or run both at the same time.

      They typically come with 4 main components: the Hand Held Shower Head, the Fixed or Rain Shower Head, the Hose and the Shower Holder/Diverter.

      Here are of our Dual Shower Head Combo recommendations: 

       

      7" Shower Arm HammerHead Showers Dual Shower Head System  
      7 Inch Shower Arm and Flange Set with Locking Set Screw
       

       

      Ready to figure out how to install your dual shower head combo? Let’s get started!

        1. Remove the old Shower Head. You can attempt to remove it by hand, but if it's been on there for a while you might need to step it up to the Adjustable Wrench or Pliers. To protect the finish, if you're re-gifting, wrap the cloth around the fitting and grab hold with the Wrench/Pliers. Remember: Righty-Tighty, Lefty Loosy
        2. Remove old Thread Seal Tape and wipe away debris from Shower Arm.
        3. Wrap Thread Seal Tape around the Shower Arm. Starting at the bottom of the Shower Arm, apply the Thread Seal Tape clockwise to ensure that it doesn't unwind when you're screwing the Shower Head onto the Shower Arm.  Tightly wrap the thread seal tape 3-4 times moving up to the top of the Shower Arm. Press the Thread Seal Tape firmly to the Shower Arm to make sure it adheres properly.
        4. Ensure Rubber Washer is seated inside the threaded area of the Shower Holder Diverter.
        5. Hand tighten the Shower Holder Diverter.
        6. Use the Adjustable Wrench or Pliers for extra tightening. Some Shower Holder Diverters have plastic fittings which must be hand tightened only and others have brass fittings with little notches meant for tightening with a Wrench or Pliers. Verify which you have and install accordingly. You don't want to over do it with the plastic fittings, as they'll split and then you'll be out a new Hand Held Showerhead. (At The Shower Head Store, we identify which Handheld Shower Head Combos have plastic versus metal fittings on our product pages.)
        7. Ensure Rubber Washer is seated inside the threaded area of the Fixed or Rain Shower Head.
        8. Hand tighten the Fixed or Rain Shower Head to the front of the Shower Holder Diverter.
        9. Use the Adjustable Wrench or Pliers for extra tightening. Repeat instructions from Step 6 for this part of the shower head installation.
        10. Ensure the Rubber Washers are seated inside the threaded area on both sides of the Handshower Hose. Most Shower Hoses include the Rubber Washers and if they don't you can use Thread Seal Tape instead to seal the threads.
        11. Hand tighten one end of the Hose to the Handshower and the other to the bottom of the Shower Holder. 
        12. Dock the Hand Held Showerhead into the Holder Bracket.
        13. Check for leaks. If it's leaking, repeat steps  3-11.

       

      -> Video: How To Install a Dual Hand Held Shower Head Combo 

       

      Conclusion: How to Install a Shower Head 

      No matter which type of all metal shower head you choose, learning how to install a shower head is a simple skill you can use to give your shower a major upgrade. The right showerhead can make all the difference when it comes to truly enjoying your shower experience!

      If you’re more of a visual learner, don’t forget to watch our showerhead installation videos linked in this post - we’ll show you just how easy it really is!

      Do you have questions about how to install a shower head in your bathroom? Don’t hesitate to reach out and contact The Showerhead Store today.

      ***The Shower Head Store is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon offers a small commission on products sold through their affiliate links. Each of your purchases via our Amazon affiliation links supports our cause at no additional cost to you. To learn more, you can read up on our Affiliate Disclosures Page.***

      Newer Post →

      Sign Up to Receive 10% Off Your First Order

      Enter your details below to stay up to date on our promotions, new products and DIY content.