What You Need

  • New shower head
  • PTFE tape (plumber’s tape — white thread tape, $3–5 from any hardware store)
  • Adjustable spanner or groove-joint pliers
  • A cloth to protect the finish

Step-by-Step

  1. 1

    Turn off the water supply

    You do not necessarily need to turn off the main water supply for this job — just ensure no one turns the shower on while you work. For safety, the shower mixer controls are sufficient if you do not have an isolation valve for the shower.

  2. 2

    Remove the old shower head

    Hold the shower arm (the pipe coming from the wall) firmly with one hand or grip it with pliers — this prevents it from turning and straining the pipe in the wall. Unscrew the shower head anticlockwise by hand first. If it is stuck, wrap a cloth around it to protect the finish and use an adjustable spanner. Old shower heads can be corroded on — some force may be needed.

  3. 3

    Clean the thread on the shower arm

    Wipe the thread on the shower arm clean. Remove any old PTFE tape residue. Inspect the thread for damage — if the thread is stripped or corroded, the arm itself may need replacing.

  4. 4

    Wrap with PTFE tape

    Wrap PTFE tape clockwise around the thread (the same direction you screw the head on) 3–4 times. PTFE tape fills the gaps in the thread and creates a watertight seal. Without it, the connection will likely drip.

  5. 5

    Screw on the new shower head by hand

    Thread the new head onto the arm by hand, clockwise. Tighten firmly by hand first. Then use the spanner to tighten a further half-turn to one full turn — do not over-tighten or you may crack the fitting.

  6. 6

    Turn on the water and check for leaks

    Turn the shower on. Check the connection point for drips. If it drips, turn off the shower and tighten slightly further. If dripping persists, the PTFE tape may need reapplying with more layers.

Upgrading to a rainfall shower headRainfall heads are heavier — check the shower arm is strong enough to support the weight before purchasing. Some rainfall heads require a ceiling-mounted arm rather than a wall arm. Most standard wall arms handle heads up to about 300mm diameter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Usually not — as long as the shower mixer tap is off, no water flows while you work. Turn the main water off only if you cannot isolate the shower or if you are replacing the shower arm as well. Having a helper keep an eye out and not turning on any taps while you work is sufficient for a simple shower head swap.
Check the new head has not inadvertently blocked the water flow with packaging material inside the connection. Also check whether your new head has a flow restrictor (a small disc inside the connection that limits flow to save water) — these can be removed or replaced with a larger one. If pressure was low before the replacement too, the issue is with your home’s water pressure, not the shower head.