Modern homeowners have a huge number of choices when it comes to selecting a shower faucet for the bath. The faucet that you choose can make your personal sanctuary, the bathroom, a more attractive spot in the home and can add to the functionality of the bathroom as well.
You can easily install your own shower faucet without calling in an expensive plumber to do the job for you. Oftentimes changing the faucet is all that is needed to solve the problem of a leaky shower, although you might have grown tired of your faucet and are looking for a change. Either way, performing the simple replacement can save you a hundred dollars or more over the cost of a plumber.
Choosing Your Faucet
When choosing your faucet, it is often the best idea to go with a faucet that is similar in style to your existing faucet. This allows you to easily match up the faucet with the existing plumbing lines in the shower. Keep in mind that if you want to go with a completely different size or style of faucet, you may need to run extra lines to the shower or move existing lines to accommodate the faucet.
Preparation
You will need to turn off the water to the shower before you remove the old, existing faucet to replace it with a new shower faucet. This is usually done by turning off a va
lve to the shower, or you can turn off the water to the entire home while you are working.
Removing the old faucet is simple and usually involves using a pipe wrench. There is typically an access panel that is located in the shower that will allow you to remove the fixture from inside the wall. If your existing faucet is particularly old, you might want to check for corrosion of the pipe work leading to the faucet while you have this panel open; now is the optimal time to replace any faucets. Disconnect the faucet from the pipes that feed the water to the shower.
Once the old faucet is out of the way, you are ready to place the new faucet. Line the faucet holes up with the holes to the plumbing lines, and attach the faucet using the bolts and nuts that come with the faucet in its packaging. Follow the instructions included with your new shower faucet. You will then turn the water supply back on and check your work for leaks. Enjoy your handiwork and the savings!