In general, showerheads can be replaced whenever you desire. Whether your old showerhead has broken or you want to try a new style. Generally, they are also relatively easy to install and remove.
Nearly all showerheads are screwed toward the threaded end of the shower pipe. Therefore, removing the showerhead is as easy as extracting the connecting screws.
Removing a stuck shower head with a wrench or tools; sometimes may damage or can leave a scratch on it. However, there are pipe wrenches in stores that do not scratch the showerhead. But if you are reluctant to purchase the wrenches or tools, then; how to remove a shower head without a wrench or tool? Is there any way to do so?
Yes, there is a way. The showerhead can remove without using tools such as pliers or wrenches, and you will not face any difficulties in this task. We’ll show you how to do it with detailed instructions.
A shower head is a leaky nozzle; that circulates water into a bathtub or shower with a high solid angle. From time to time, rust or minerals can build up on the showerhead and cause it to get stuck. It is often difficult to remove a shower head with rust or mineral deposits.
Find Out Why the Showerhead is Stuck
If the showerhead is in good condition, it is possible to remove it by hand. If it is not possible, the showerhead needs to be removed by other means. Before further attempts to remove the showerhead, assess the installation to learn why it is stuck:
- See the traces of rust – Watch if there is a copper or orange-colored ring around the showerhead’s joint to the shower arm?
- Look for indication of mineral deposits – is there any sign of a white ring around the connection from the showerhead to the shower arm?
If there are no traces of rust or mineral deposits on it, your showerhead is strongly connected.
Preparing to Remove Your Stuck Shower Head
Make an effort to loosen the showerhead using different tools such as hammers, pliers, center punches, and wrenches. Heat the attached shower head to break up the attached rust and mineral deposits. Check the showerhead with rust, calcium, and lime remover, then apply a second coat of penetrating fluid to free the connector.
Use lime remover, vinegar, or cutting oil to the showerhead and allow it to sit for 20-25 minutes. Unless, pour the vinegar into a plastic bag, place it over the showerhead, and leave it to sit for 2-3 hours. Rotate the showerhead and attempt to pull it out by hand, or you can remove it with a belt.
Cut Out the Water Supply
You don’t need to turn off the water when you remove the showerhead by hand without any tool. Nevertheless, removing a stuck shower head involves further difficulties and risks. Hence, it is encouraged to turn off the water source. The water valve can be in one of two positions:
- under the sink
- It’s in the basement, just below the bathtub.
Make Your Workplace Ready
In the process, you use tools and chemicals that can damage your shower or bathtub. First, cover the shower or bathroom floor with a thick work rug to prevent damage. You will also deal with the small pieces. Finally, cover the drain hole with a cloth to preserve the loss of components.
Removing your Stuck Shower Head
Since most of the shower heads are designed to be hand-tightened, you don’t need a wrench to remove the showerhead, and anything that can be hand-tightened can usually be loosened by hand.
Although not technically a wrench, adjustable slip lock pliers do the job, but a sharp clutch can easily harm the finish of your shower head. You need to find different options, especially if your shower head is stuck with rust or mineral deposits.
How to Remove Shower Head Without a Wrench?
Before estimating how to complete this job without the right tool, it is necessary to know what kind of showerhead; are you going to remove? There are different showerheads available, including handheld, wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, rain showerhead, and more.
In most cases, the pipe that brings water into the showerhead comes out from the shower wall, so most of the processes for removing the showerhead are the same.
Increase the Strength of your Hands
The recommended removal process by the showerhead manufacturer is by holding the showerhead with one or both hands and rotating it anticlockwise. Use as much force as you need to twist the showerhead.
If the showerhead does not turn, the shower arm may come loose from the fitting behind the wall. However, it is fine, it doesn’t leak, and the showerhead and shower arm can be taken to the workshop to be separated.
If your hands continue to slide over the smooth surface of the showerhead. Then cover the showerhead with a towel and try again. If you still don’t have the grip you need, wear rubber gloves. After all, in most cases, this is enough to remove your old showerhead.
Remove Shower Head Using Vinegar
If you’re searching for how to remove a stuck shower head from a handheld or wall-mounted showerhead without tools? The vinegar method is for you.
Collect the materials you need before continuing this process
For wall-mounted shower head, plastic bag to fit over connection fitting, rubber band or duct tape, and some white vinegar.
- Take a plastic bag and fill it with some white vinegar.
- Dip the showerhead in the plastic bag so that the showerhead is entirely soaking in vinegar. Fasten the plastic bag around the shower arm with duct tape or a rubber band.
- Leave it on for a few hours or overnight. It will break down chemicals or calcium that build up around the showerhead joint, which causes your shower head stuck to the arms.
- Remove the plastic bag and rotate the showerhead carefully. The head will loosen bit by bit and come out.
Using Duct Tape to Removing a Shower Head
Whatever your needs, duct tape is one of the handiest tools and should be in every toolbox. It’s mainly used to hold things together, but you can also make a pretty reliable wrench in a pinch.
- Cut off a piece
The best length size for making a temporary wrench is about 12 inches. At this stage make sure, the tape must not stick to itself. Cut this piece in the middle to make two stripes.
- Fold the pieces into layers
Stick one piece of tape to another piece of non-stick side to make it stronger by layering the tape.
- Wrapping Around the Showerhead
Once we’ve made our homemade wrench, now it’s time to wrap the stick side around the showerhead. Do this by rotating counterclockwise; until you have about 6 inches of tape left. If you need a longer handle length, wrap it less or cut a longer piece from the start.
- Drag it
Unscrew the showerhead properly by dragging the temporary wrench counterclockwise.
Unscrew the Showerhead with an Ordinary Waist Belt
A regular waist belt can become a nice classic wrench. It can generate a pretty good amount of tension, but you will get less advantage.
- First, insert the end of the belt into the buckle and tighten it properly. It will create the direction in which the belt is to face.
- Attach a loop to the belt where the shower head connects with the pipe. So the strap points in the opposite direction from the path you want to twist the connector.
- Free the belt from the buckle while tightening the loop around the pipe connector.
- Drag the end of the belt to produce firm contact with the showerhead.
- Put the belt in place and drag it anticlockwise. Be sure to use smooth force for unscrewing the showerhead from the connecting pipe.
Rust and Scale Dissolution
If you are unsuccessful in rotating the showerhead with your hand and do not have enough time to get a strap wrench, you may try removing the showerhead by dissolving rust or scale binding. Rust and scale are two distinct things, and they require different chemicals to dissolve. Again, though, it is not difficult or expensive to get.
If WD-40 is not available to you, use a comparable spray oil. Sprinkle on the connection and leave it for around 10-20 minutes. Usually, this will be enough to free the joint and let you extract the showerhead by hand. If it doesn’t have an effect on the second attempt, you should go for something different that can dissolve scales, which lubricant can’t.
What to Do After Removing the Showerhead
Considering the hardness of the water in your area and the oldness of the showerhead, you may require cleaning the pipe threads of your water pipe and the head if you want to install it again. Dipping them into vinegar for 20-30 minutes is an excellent approach to get rid of calcium deposits.
If the vinegar therapy doesn’t work as expected, take a nylon or wire brush to clean off the loosened trash.
Lastly, during fitting, the new showerhead, apply the plumber’s tape to the threads. It can help stop leaks after fitting a new showerhead.
Conclusion
I have discussed detailed instructions above on home solutions on helpful expert methods for shower head removal without a tool or wrench.
To facilitate the method, I hope that the proposed equipment will help you with the whole shower head replacement or cleaning direction.
Before starting the stuck shower head removal process, take appropriate measures to keep your shower tub faucet area clean and hygienic.
