How to Change a Shower Faucet

Leaky shower is a common problem in almost all homes. This simple plumbing work does not need expertise and you can fix this problem yourself. All you need to do to solve leaky shower is to change the shower faucet.

1. Choosing the right shower faucet – The new faucet which you are going to install should be chosen properly. The bathroom fixtures and shower outlets will be different with different bathrooms and you should know the types of faucet that is required for you to change the old one. It is better to measure the length of your old faucet and use the measurement to get the new faucet. Modern day shower faucets come in different materials, allowing you to choose the one that fits your bathroom décor.
2. Cut off water supply – Before removing your old faucet, you have to cut off the water supply to the shower. Many people forget this step and end up with over flowing water that cannot be controlled. Sometimes, you may have valves that can be turned off to cut water supply to the bathroom. Otherwise, you have to look for valves in the basement and close them to cut of water supply. If you are living in an apartment, look for the valve that supplies water to your house and then close the valve.
3. Removing the old faucet - If you want to change the faucet, you have to remove the old faucet first. This can be done with the use of pipe wrenches. The fixture has to be removed from behind the wall. In certain homes, there will be access panels on the walls aiding shower fixture. If you don’t have access panels on the walls, then you have to cut the wall board to remove and install the new water faucet.
4. Take care of the pipes - Many homes have copper water feed pipes which make the detachment job easier. If you have old pipes, then you should be ready to face the corroded pipes that can turn easily when you try to detach. This step should be done carefully so that you will not break the pipes. Broken pipes can be replaced only by opening the access control panel in the walls and this can be done efficiently by a plumber.
5. Remove the old faucet completely - The old faucet will be connected to the shower fixture by means of various nuts. The visible portion along with the base has to be removed completely by unscrewing the nuts. You have to do this with the help of right tools. Take care that the faucet is removed completely from the water feed pipes. Don’t try to twist or turn the pipes because it will result in more complex plumbing work.
6. Match the new faucet with the holes in the shower fixture – Now you have to line the new faucet along the holes in the shower fixture. You have to be sure that the new faucet looks very similar to your old one. Then you can start screwing the nuts and so that shower faucet is fitted to the access control panel. All the shower faucets come with instruction guides which you have to refer to fit the new shower faucet.
7. Turn on water supply and check for leaks – The final step is to turn on water supply and check if the new shower faucet is working properly. Sometimes, you may have leaks which require tightening the screws and nuts. The instruction guide will give you information on tightening appropriate nuts. If you have an electrical shower, then you have to turn on the power supply too for checking the faucet.