How to replace a shower head and valve handle

Remove the old shower head and if the new head comes with its own gooseneck, remove the old gooseneck as well.

If a bathroom renovation requires you to replace a shower head and valve handle and the valve itself is still in good shape and functioning properly, the whole process should only take a few minutes.

Problem: You need to replace shower head and valve handles to complete the shower renovation.

Solution: To replace shower head.

To replace a shower head and valve handle, you don’t need to turn off the water to complete these tasks. To replace a shower head as part of the bathroom remodel, remove the old shower head and if the new head comes with its own gooseneck, remove the old gooseneck as well. If the old products are still in good shape, be careful not to damage them so they can be re-used in another location.

Wrap the threads of the new gooseneck with Teflon tape or coat with pipe joint compound to make a waterproof seal.

Make sure the threads on the pipe in the wall that will receive the new gooseneck are clean and free of debris. Wrap the threads of the new gooseneck with Teflon tape or coat with pipe joint compound to make a waterproof seal.

Coat the threads on the other end of the gooseneck with Teflon tape.

Thread the new gooseneck into the wall pipe and tighten it to the point that the gooseneck is in the proper position.

You can usually do this by hand tightening, but sometimes you’ll have to use a wrench or channel-lock pliers to turn it just a bit more to get a proper alignment.

If you do use a tool for this, wrap the jaws with electrical tape or cushion them with a cloth to avoid marring the new gooseneck.

Thread the shower head onto the new gooseneck.

Coat the threads on the other end of the gooseneck with Teflon tape or compound and then thread the shower head onto the new gooseneck.

If your shower head comes with a rubber washer, make sure the rubber washer is properly placed inside the shower head before tightening. HAND TIGHTEN ONLY.

Only use a wrench or pliers to tighten shower heads that do NOT have a rubber washer – again, take care not to mar the finish if using tools to tighten.

Remove all the screws that hold the handle and the escutcheon plate in place.

Solution: To replace the valve handle.

Remove all the screws that hold the handle and the escutcheon plate in place. You may have to pop off the plastic center on some handles, as that is where the attachment screw is concealed.

You may have to remove some plastic covers or other components that were designed for use with the original escutcheon plate.

Make sure the new escutcheon plate will fit. Most shower valves and escutcheon plates are designed to work together.

You may have to remove some plastic covers or other components that were designed for use with the original escutcheon plate.

Insert the mounting screws through the escutcheon and tighten to the proper holes on the valve.

Insert the mounting screws through the escutcheon and tighten to the proper holes on the valve.

Insert the handle in proper alignment and fasten with a small setscrew and a hex key from the underside of the handle.

Insert the handle in proper alignment and fasten with a small setscrew and a hex key from the underside of the handle.