Handy tips for shower head installation

One quick way to freshen up the look of your bathroom is by replacing your shower. Shower arm and shower head installation is reasonably easy and can be done by most DIYers, depending on the shower you choose.

You certainly won't be short on choices. The number of showers on the market is incredible. There are so many variations in style and functionality that it can make your head spin. One thing's for sure, you'll find the perfect replacement to match your existing bathroom design.

There are some handy tips to remember when doing this.

The tools you will need

First of all, you need the right tools. Without the right tools, it'll be frustrating, and you won't really be able to do the job correctly.

Here's a quick checklist:

• Stanley knife
• Adjustable wrench
• A stiff old toothbrush or small wire brush
• Drill and masonry bits
• A small sturdy ladder
• Teflon tape

Once you have the right tools and equipment by your side, you can begin your shower makeover.

Replacing a traditional showerhead and arm

This is probably the easiest of the lot. When you're replacing a shower head and arm, simply remove the old one, by twisting it off. You might need to get the wrench onto it if it's too tight, being careful not to damage the thread when you unwind it.

Once you've removed it, take the old cover plate off, clear away any old Teflon tape from the thread, and with your stiff toothbrush remove any dirt from the thread. Get the thread completely clean.

Place the new cover plate on, and wind Teflon tape around the thread clockwise to go with the thread and not against it, otherwise, when you're screwing the new arm on, the Teflon thread will unravel. Wrap the tape around tightly, about 4 to 8 times.

Remove any Teflon tape covering the outlet with a Stanley knife, ensuring the Teflon is only over the thread.

Place your new shower arm and head over the thread and rotate it gently but firmly using your hand first, then the adjustable wrench. Make sure you don't rub the wrench up against the cover plate. That way you protect the finish. Twist it around several times until you have a tight seal, and align it in the final turn.

Installing shower rails

A shower rail is one of the most common additions to a shower; it's convenient and very handy for families. Shower rail and shower head installation is a little more complex, but still doable for a DIYer with the right tools.

By placing the rail against the tiles, you'll be able to see the height the shower rail should be on the wall. Mark where the holes will be at the bottom of the rail with a pencil. Ensure the rail is in the centre of the wall. Quite often it might be along the vertical tile line if it was tiled beautifully. With a spirit level, ensure the rail is plumb.

Make sure there's no wires or pipes behind the tiles and drill the holes using your masonry bit, making sure it's off hammer. If the back of the tiles is wood, you can use wood screws. If it's a plaster cavity wall or brick wall, you'll need to use the cavity plugs they provide in the shower rail pack.

Fix the first bracket, then attach all the holders to the shower rail. Now you can mark where the 2nd bracket will go and fix it the same way. Don't tighten the screws too much; just enough for a tight fix.

Now it's time to fix the flexible pipe to the water feed. Fit the new spacer and gripper ring, and then the wall inlet mounting plate. Lastly, fit the flexible piping. Job done!

Double-check for leaks

As a final step, check that there are no leaks. If there are leaks, it could be for a number of reasons.

These can be:

• The shower head is not tightened enough
• Not enough Teflon tape was used to wrap around the thread or it was displaced when attaching the showerhead
• A rubber seal is damaged or not fixed properly

Depending on what the problem is, you might need to re-tape or re-tighten the shower head. If it's still leaking, then most probably a component was damaged during the install. Hopefully, it all goes well, there are no leaks, and you end up with a great result.

A stylish new shower or shower rail will really lift the look of the space, such as the Caroma Track Rail Shower with Overhead, available at Plumbing Sales.

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