A stuck showerhead is a nuisance. The original design allows the showerhead to simply screw onto the shower pipe. It will then distribute water evenly, according to the head setting, allowing you to enjoy your shower.
Unfortunately, in many parts of the country, the water is known as hard. This means that there are a large number of minerals in it. These minerals cause calcification. In effect, they deposit themselves inside your pipes and around openings. Over time the deposits will become significant enough that the water flow is reduced or even stops. At this stage, you’ll need to remove the showerhead to either clean it or replace it.
Of course, you can also remove the shower head just to replace it with a different one. This is a job you should be able to do yourself. However, if you have issues with a stuck showerhead you can call your local plumber Sydney and have them take care of it.
This is also a good opportunity to have them inspect the rest of your plumbing system and verify that everything is working properly.
Follow these steps to remove a stuck shower head.
Preparation
You won’t need many tools to get this job done. But, you do need to place a black bin bag in the shower tray or bathtub. It must be under the showerhead and over the plughole. The idea is to catch the debris rather than allow it down your shower drain and potentially cause a clog.
You will need some pliers or a wrench, one of each is best. But, before you start removing the showerhead, turn the water off to the shower.
If the taps are off then no water can emerge. But, if you knock them you may find yourself getting soaked. Equally, you could accidentally damage a pipe. It is simply safer to turn the water off first.
Undo the Shower Head
By turning the shower head clockwise it will come loose from the pipe. If this is not possible by hand then you need to place the wrench on the end of the pipe. It is usually shaped to handle this. By using the wrench on this side you will avoid damaging the shower hose. You can then use the pliers to grasp the showerhead and twist. It offers a better grip and should allow the head to start moving.
You can use tape to protect the showerhead from the pliers. This is a good idea even if you are discarding it because it minimizes debris.
If this doesn’t work you can soak the join in white vinegar. Simply leave it for several minutes to eat rust and mineral build-up around the join and then try again.
Should this still not be successful, it is possible to undo the pipe where it joins your faucet. This means you’ll have to replace the flexible hose as well as the showerhead. Fortunately, this doesn’t make a big difference to the cost.
