Learn How to Remove a Shower Head Fast and Simply

If you are looking for information on how to remove a shower head, you have come to the right place. A shower head is that perforated fixture or nozzle that distributes or directs the spray of water in your bathroom shower. Modern shower heads mostly screw onto or are attached on the threaded end of the bathroom shower pipe. Removing a shower head is as simple as unscrewing it from the shower pipe. That sounds easy, ha? Even though shower heads are designed such that you can easily remove them, shower head removal can be challenging because they are oftentimes fixed tightly. 

Over time, your shower head may develop a buildup of hard water minerals or rust, and you may find that your shower head won’t unscrew. In a perfect world, removing your old shower head should be fast and simple. You can also do it without any shower head removal tool. Read on to discover how to remove a shower head fast and simply!

Shower Head Removal Tool

We would like to show you how to remove a stuck shower head without tools. However, you will find that sometimes you need a shower head removal tool especially when your shower head is tightly stuck on the bathroom water pipe. To properly change shower head, make sure to have the following shower head removal tools:

• Center punch
• Cloth rag
• Mallet
• Pipe wrench (adjustable)
• Pliers
• Plumber’s tape   

How to Remove a Shower Head with Specific Steps

There are three important steps that you should follow when removing a shower head. These steps are important because they prepare the process of removing the shower head whether it is stuck or not. These steps are:

Step 1: Preparing to remove shower head

1. Check whether and why your shower head is stuck or tightly fixed.

If your shower head is in good condition, you can easily unscrew it using your hands. However, before making attempt to remove your old shower head, check whether it is stuck by ding the following:

• Look for signs of rusting. Can you see copper or orange colored deposits or ring around the area where the shower head connects to the shower arm or pipe?
• Check for signs of mineral deposits or buildup. Can you see a ring whitish in color around the area where the head connects to the arm?
• If you find that your shower head has no rust or mineral build up and does not unscrew by hand, then it is most likely that the head is too tightly fixed to the water pipe (arm).

Step 2: Turn off the water.

Removing a shower head by hand does not necessitate turning off the water supply. However, if your shower head won’t unscrew, you will need to turn of the water because removing a shower head that is stuck presents some challenges. To do this, you can locate the water valves in one of these places;

• Below the bathtub
• Under your bathroom sink

Step 3: Prepare the place where you will be working in.

If your shower head won’t unscrew, you will be working with chemicals and tools that can easily damage your bathroom tub, shower, floor and other places. You therefore need to take proper precautions:

• Use a thick blanket or other material to cover your bathroom floor, tub and other surfaces.
• Stuff a cloth or other suitable material down your bathroom drain to prevent small pieces and bits from getting in.

Step 2: Clean stuck shower head using vinegar or applying calcium, lime or rust remover. Cleaning off rust and mineral deposits from your shower head using chemicals may loosen the nut or connector for easy unscrewing. Follow these steps;

• Carefully read the instructions on the bottle of your preferred chemical and use accordingly.
• Wait for some time before scrubbing off using a wire brush.
• Wipe the surfaces of your head and pipe clean.

Step 4: Remove a Shower Head by Hand or Using Shower Head Removal Tools

How to Remove a Shower Head by Hand

To remove a well working shower head does not need any shower head removal tool. If you want to learn how to remove shower head to clean or to change shower head for any reason, here is how to remove a stuck shower head without tools:

1. Grip or hold the connecting nut or the shower head depending on how your shower head is designed.
2. Turn anticlockwise in order to unscrew to remove your old shower head.
3. For more leverage, use your other hand to hold your bathroom shower pipe (arm) as you continue turning the shower head.

Note: Ensure that you do not move, bend or dislodge your shower pipe.

What to Do if the Shower Head is Stuck

If you are not able to remove the shower head by hand because it is tightly fixed or stuck, you need to use shower head removal tools as listed above to remove the shower head. Simple shower head removal tools such as wrenches, pliers and center punches can be used. Primitively follow the listed procedure:

• Use an old cloth rag to cover the plumbing nut or connector to prevent it from getting damaged.
• Use the pliers or wrench to hold and grip the nut or connector.
• Turn the pliers or wrench anticlockwise in order to loosen, unscrew and remove the head.

If your shower head is stuck and you find that does not work, you can use penetrating lubricant to help removing a stuck shower head. Follow these steps to loosen it before unscrewing it: 

• Apply a coat of the lubricant to the nut (connector) and let it sit for at least two hours.
• Apply another coat and let it sit for two more hours.

And then it should be easier for you to unscrew the nut (connector) by use a wrench or pliers. 

Learning how to remove a shower head is easy if you follow the right steps. You also need to understand that frequent contact of your shower head and connector with water is a perfect scenario for rust or mineral deposits to build up. With the right tools and expertise, you can now remove, buy and install a brand new shower heads by yourselves.   

Conclusion

If you are fortunate enough that your shower head is not tightly fixed or stuck, removing it is as easy as unscrewing it from your bathroom water pipe. However, chances are that you want information on how to remove a shower head that won’t unscrew easily, and that is why you are reading these guidelines. Follow these detailed steps on how to remove a shower head fast and simply, and you will be well on your way to cleaning the old shower head or installing a new high-quality shower head.

FAQs on How to Remove a Shower Head