Showerhead is too high. Workaround?
June 21, 2022 9:28 AM Subscribe
We’re moving into a new house and we must be shorter than the previous owners. Also, I think, we’re dealing with 10- or 12-foot ceilings.
The Showerhead is installed too high for us. I’m not a plumber or even much of a handyman. Is there a workaround?
It’s one of those (to me) new 12-inch wide heads.
Add-on question: we want to attach a handheld head for detail work.
I can’t see where the current head screws on to the plumbing. If it’s behind the tiles, what are my options?
Add-on question: we want to attach a handheld head for detail work.
I can’t see where the current head screws on to the plumbing. If it’s behind the tiles, what are my options?
My shower head unscrews at the end of the existing pipe, not at the tile. If yours works that way, you can search for shower head extension arms and find one in the length that suits you. Then simply remove the shower head and attach the extender to the end of the existing pipe. I don't know the answer for behind the tile.
posted by racersix6 at 9:37 AM on June 21, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by racersix6 at 9:37 AM on June 21, 2022 [6 favorites]
It's just about guaranteed that the shower head will unscrew from the end of the pipe, and replacing those things- and extending them! - is as racersix6 notes pretty easy. This is the sort of project that you really only need a wrench and a bit of patience and paying attention to get right, and isn't difficult or expensive; just watch a few youtube videos of people doing it, then do it.
posted by mhoye at 11:01 AM on June 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by mhoye at 11:01 AM on June 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
A couple of suggestions:
Get a shower head extension with a shut-off valve. Useful as a water saver.
When you attach the shower head to the extender and the extender to the water pipe, first wrap the threaded ends with Teflon tape. This will make it much easier to remove the shower head or extender later, as it guards against corrosion of the connectors.
posted by SPrintF at 1:39 PM on June 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
Get a shower head extension with a shut-off valve. Useful as a water saver.
When you attach the shower head to the extender and the extender to the water pipe, first wrap the threaded ends with Teflon tape. This will make it much easier to remove the shower head or extender later, as it guards against corrosion of the connectors.
posted by SPrintF at 1:39 PM on June 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Absolutely, there's this 11 inch 2-way lockable / adjustable extension arm.
There are even longer ones, like 15- or even 16-inchers.
One end goes onto the wall pipe like a showerhead, then you just attach the showerhead to the other end.
Or you can pick a 3-way, where it goes into a Y splitter, and a "switch" where you can choose shower head, handheld, or both.
posted by kschang at 2:53 PM on June 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
There are even longer ones, like 15- or even 16-inchers.
One end goes onto the wall pipe like a showerhead, then you just attach the showerhead to the other end.
Or you can pick a 3-way, where it goes into a Y splitter, and a "switch" where you can choose shower head, handheld, or both.
posted by kschang at 2:53 PM on June 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Yes, kschang - That's exactly what it looks like (minus the arm).
posted by feelinggood at 4:12 PM on June 21, 2022
posted by feelinggood at 4:12 PM on June 21, 2022
We extended ours. It's pretty easy. I would recommend purchasing plumber's tape and wrapping the threads with it before tightening the extension on the original pipe and before tightening the head on the extension. Just a little extra leak prevention
posted by TimHare at 10:52 PM on June 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by TimHare at 10:52 PM on June 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: FROM OP: I spoke to the plumber. No problem, we can bring the shower head out lower. But we don't cut through tile. You'll have to get someone else to do that. Get someone else to cut the hole and we'll connect the head lower.
I have no words.
I've reluctantly marked this resolved although I might be back on this same topic later. The house has more pressing needs.
posted by feelinggood at 7:54 AM on July 23, 2022
I have no words.
I've reluctantly marked this resolved although I might be back on this same topic later. The house has more pressing needs.
posted by feelinggood at 7:54 AM on July 23, 2022
Wuh?
For Pete's sake, just install the extension, and forget about rerouting the existing shower head!
posted by kschang at 9:31 AM on July 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
For Pete's sake, just install the extension, and forget about rerouting the existing shower head!
posted by kschang at 9:31 AM on July 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
No, you don't need to change where the shower pipe comes out of the wall! You buy an extension which goes between the existing pipe and the shower head. You take the shower head off, screw the extension pipe where the showerhead was (again, suggest plumber's tape), then screw the shower head onto the extension. It lowers the shower head because the pipe, which is slanted downward, has more length added to it.
posted by TimHare at 8:43 PM on July 29, 2022
posted by TimHare at 8:43 PM on July 29, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by XtineHutch at 9:36 AM on June 21, 2022 [5 favorites]