How to Add a Hand Held Shower Head in 7 Easy Steps 

A basic shower gets the job done, but a handheld shower head makes it so much better. A handheld shower head is a flexible, hose-connected shower head you can hold and move freely. And homeowners love to add one for simple reasons: The best part? You don’t need a plumber. Most people finish this upgrade in under an hour. In this blog, you will learn exactly how to add a hand held shower head in 7 easy steps. We cover every tool, every part, and every move from start to finish. Tools and Materials Required Collect these items before you begin; having everything on hand saves time and prevents trips to the hardware store in the middle of the job. Check Your Existing Shower System Before you begin, check out your current shower to avoid any surprises when you’re working. 1. Most home showers use a ½-inch NPT (National Pipe Thread) connection. This is the standard screw fitting on your shower arm — the pipe sticking out of your wall. Nearly all handheld shower kits fit this size. 2. Your current fixed shower head simply screws off by hand or with a wrench. No special tools needed. 3. But some setups need a diverter valve, a little switch that directs water between two shower heads. You may need one if you want to keep your old shower head running alongside the new handheld unit. More on that in a later step. 4. Most standard bathrooms need zero extra parts beyond the kit itself. So, check your setup first and shop with confidence. How to Install a Hand Held Shower Head in 7 Easy Steps  Difficulty Level Time Required Easy 20–60 minutes Step 1: Remove the Old Shower Head  Wrap a soft cloth around the base of your old shower head. This stops the wrench from leaving marks on the metal. Grip the cloth-covered base with your adjustable wrench and turn it counterclockwise. Once it starts to move, spin it off the rest of the way with your hand. Caution: Forcing a stuck shower head too fast can bend the shower arm inside the wall. Work slowly and let the wrench do the job. Step 2: Clean Off the Old Tape and Inspect the Threads Use your fingernail or a dry rag to peel off every bit of old plumber’s tape from the shower arm. Old tape leaves behind a gummy layer that stops new tape from sealing well.  After clearing it off, hold the arm near a light source and look at the threads carefully. Smooth, clean threads mean you are ready for the next step. Pro Tip: Run your fingertip along the threads after wiping them down. Anything that feels rough, raised, or uneven needs a closer look before you go further. Step 3: Apply New Plumber’s Tape On The Threads  Get the first edge of the plumber’s tape really tight against the bottom of the shower arm threads. Wind the tape around the threads moving in a clockwise direction. Go around two to three full times, keeping the tape pulled tight the whole way. Press the torn end flat against the threads with your thumb so nothing hangs loose. Caution: Wrapping the tape in the wrong direction, counterclockwise, makes it unravel the second you screw anything onto it. Always go clockwise. Step 4: Screw On the Mounting Bracket Pull the mounting bracket out of your handheld shower head kit. Line it up with the shower arm and begin threading it on by hand. Turn it clockwise and keep going until your hand cannot move it any further. Wrap your cloth around the bracket and tighten it one quarter turn more with the wrench. Pro Tip: The bracket should face straight out from the wall once tightened. The hose and shower head will hang all weird if it is at an odd angle. Step 5: Connect the Shower Hose to the Bracket Take the shower hose from your kit and find the end that fits into the opening of the bracket. Thread the end onto the bottom of the bracket by hand first.  Once hand-tight, hold the bracket steady with one hand and give the hose fitting a short quarter turn with the wrench. Let the hose fall naturally and make sure no section of it is twisted or kinked. Pro Tip: A twisted hose puts stress on both connection points and shortens the life of the hose significantly. Step 6: Connect the Hand Held Showerhead to the Hose. Hold the open end of the shower hose with one hand to keep it steady. Take the handheld shower head and thread it onto the hose end clockwise.  Hand-tighten it until you feel firm resistance. Then use the wrench with the cloth to snug it up one final quarter turn, nothing more. Pro Tip: Most leaks in a handheld shower head installation happen at this joint. Take your time here and make sure the connection feels solid before testing. Step 7: Turn the Water On and Look for Leaks Reach into the shower and turn the water on to full flow. Stand back and watch every connection point for a full minute — the shower arm, the bracket base, and both ends of the hose.  Press a dry fingertip against each joint and check for any moisture at all. Then switch between every spray setting on the handheld shower head to make sure water pressure stays strong and consistent. Caution: A small drip caught now takes seconds to fix. Left alone, that same drip can damage your wall for weeks and months. How to Keep Your Existing Shower Head and Add a Handheld One Difficulty Level  Time Required Moderate 30–90 minutes The good news is you do not have to choose between your old shower head and a new handheld one. A simple extra part lets you run both. Using a Diverter Valve A diverter valve is a small fitting that splits incoming water between two separate outlets —