How to Install a Rain Shower Head

With all the different showerheads available on the market, it can become overwhelming to choose the best one. However, a more modern option that has been gracing luxurious bathrooms is rain shower heads. These tend to be larger than the average shower head, consisting of more holes for water flow and leaving you with much more coverage while you shower. So, if you’ve decided to give your shower an upgrade by getting a rain shower head, you’ve come to the right place.

Learning how to replace a rain shower head is not difficult but essential to do. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to install a rain shower head in the ceiling, as well as essential things you should be aware of regarding rain shower heads.

What is a Rainfall Shower Head?

First, if you’ve never heard of these before, you might be wondering what a rainfall shower head is, to begin with. These are some of the many options you have to choose from when it comes time to upgrade your bathroom.

Generally, these shower heads are much larger than average, coming in at 6 inches and above. This means you will have a lot more water coverage as you shower, making you feel warmer and more relaxed when you shower. Rainfall showerheads can be ceiling mounted or wall mounted. Some of them are multi-function, and others even come with an extra handheld shower head. The additional features that you get with your rain shower head are up to you!

What to Look For

Once you’ve decided that a rain shower head is the best option for your home bathroom, it’s essential to consider some of the different criteria that will go into making the right decision for getting a new showerhead.

• Wall-mounted vs. ceiling-mounted: Rain shower heads can be wall mount or ceiling mount. You may want to contact a plumber to see if your bathroom’s plumbing is suited for ceiling mount shower heads. If that’s the case, you can get one that would need to be attached to a shower arm. Otherwise, choose a wall mount rain shower head.

• Size: As we said before, rain shower heads tend to differ from other kinds due to their size. They have a wider diameter than different types of shower heads, enabling you to have more water coverage. People prefer this option because these shower heads are more relaxing and warmer in the cold winter months. However, you do need to consider size, especially if you have a smaller bathroom or tub. Rain shower heads tend to be between 6 and 10 inches in diameter. Another reason you need to consider the size is that rain shower heads work better if there is a lot of water pressure. So, if your home doesn’t have that much water pressure, you might need to choose a smaller shower head.

• Spray settings: This is undoubtedly a matter of personal preference. If you like to customize your shower, finding a shower head with multiple spray settings is essential. You can have a great, relaxing shower if you choose one with several massage settings, for example. Some of the more expensive options include spray settings such as massage and mist. If spray settings aren’t your thing, though, you can always choose a rain shower head that offers the bare minimum.

• Finish: The next factor is also a matter of personal preference. If you want something that will be longer-lasting and more efficient, then you might want to consider getting a rain shower head and shower arm that are made of steel or brass. There are also rain shower heads made of ABS plastic, but these don’t tend to be the most outstanding quality. Some people prefer to get a rain shower head that will go with the rest of the bathroom, but this isn’t too important. Just make sure that you find something that will last you a long time and do the job.

How to Install a Rain Shower Head

Now that you know what you should look for when getting a good rain shower head, it’s time to discuss how you install a rain shower head. Whether you’re looking to install one or you want to learn how to replace a rain shower head, these are the basic steps you’ll need to take.

First, you want to make sure you have an adjustable wrench, bucket, and plumbers tape. Before you start, a good rule of thumb is that you should make sure to turn off the water supply at home in case you accidentally turn the shower on.

1. To begin, understand that showers have hot and cold supply lines that come to the control valve. Then, the water will come up through the shower arm and out through the head. Thus, the shower arm and head are separate.
2. Start by removing the shower head you already have. Even if you are switching to a rain shower head, this should not be too difficult. You may need to use the adjustable wrench. It might be a good idea to get your bucket in case you need to catch any water.
3. Then, remove the shower arm while using a cloth to protect these parts from damage by wrenches.
4. Get your plumber’s tape and wrap it around the threads to prevent leaks and so that the threads don’t unravel.
5. Slide the ring that hides the hole in the wall, called the flange, over the shower arm. Then, please put it in the drop-ear and tighten it using your hand.
6. Now it’s time to install the rain shower head. Either by using your hand or a wrench, place it on the shower arm and tighten it. You can now remove any extra plumbers tape that’s showing from the shower arm.
7. The last step involves turning on your home’s water supply so you can see if there are any leaks.

These steps are not difficult to follow, even if you’re not a professional. However, if anything seems confusing to you, you may want to reach out to a plumber so that you don’t ruin your rain shower head.

How to Install a Ceiling Mounted Rain Shower Head

Some people may prefer getting a ceiling mount rain shower head, which will provide them with the ultimate rain experience. However, installing a ceiling rain shower head is more complicated since you will have to remove a part of the wall, so you might want to have a professional install this for you. This is also so that nothing happens to your wall. But if you’re confident in your abilities, here’s how to install a ceiling-mounted rain shower head.

1. First, you will need to take off the screws that are on the drop-ear. Then, take the drop-ear and pipe off. Next, take the plastic pipe- PEX- place a crimp ring onto it while using a crimp tool to get it on.
2. Take your drill and create a hole in the top part of your wall for the PEX.
3. Get plumber’s tape to wrap around the shower valve fitting. Then, you will want to take your PEX pipe and secure it in the hole you created and the valve. You may need to use a wrench to make sure that the pipe is tight.
4. Using a crimper, crimp this PEX pipe to a 90-degree angle, then cut another one that will extend over the shower. You will want to make sure that there is a cross brace where the drop-ear elbow is. Then, secure the pipe onto the brace. You will also want to take clamps and place them on the pipes to prevent them from shaking.
5. Get a capped pipe nipple and install it into the drop ear. Then, turn on your home’s water supply to see if there are any leaks.
6. Now, you can close the wall and ceiling. Keep the cap on the pipe nipple, and don’t install the shower arm and rain shower head until you’re done with the renovation. Then, you can install the shower arm. The other steps required to install the rain shower head to the pipe nipple are the same as the wall mount shower head.

Once again, doing a ceiling mount is much more complex and might be better left in the hands of the experts. Removing part of the wall can be tricky for some. You’ll also want to ensure that your home’s plumbing is suitable for a ceiling mount rain shower head.

What to Know About Installing a Rain Shower Head

Here are a few things that you should be aware of when you install your rain shower head.

• Don’t be afraid to hire a professional. Although we all like to save money where we can, installing a rain shower head can be difficult if you’re not a professional. This is especially true if you want to install a ceiling-mounted shower head. Perhaps your bathroom doesn’t have the appropriate plumbing to accommodate the ceiling-mounted shower head. You may want to call in a professional to get a second opinion and even help you install it.

• Keep all the pieces you removed. It might also be a good idea to keep all the leftover pieces or that you removed when you’re done installing the rain shower head. This is simply since you might need to remodel or repair again in the future, and having those pieces on hand will certainly help save you from a headache.
• Are There Dual Shower Heads? Dual shower heads may or may not require extra steps to install. Read our article about how to install dual shower heads.

• Keep an eye out for leaks. One of the most important things you need to do when installing the rain shower head is to check for leaks. Make sure that water is not leaking anywhere when you turn it on again. If you find that water is leaking from someplace, you may need to add more plumbers tape, reconnect the showerhead, and tighten it with the adjustable wrench. See if the tape is sticking out, and if it is, you’ll want to redo the tape correctly. If all of these features are installed exactly as they should be, it might be time to replace the shower arm since this could be a sign of damage or wear.

• Understand that bigger doesn’t always mean better. For example, you might feel intrigued by its allure with a rain shower head since these shower heads do provide a lot of water coverage. But keep in mind that a bigger shower head will require more water, which means that you might not get a lot of water pressure when you shower. So if you’re someone who prefers to have quite a bit of water pressure when showering, you may want to consider getting a rain shower head that’s smaller in size, and that has fewer nozzles.

• How high to install a rain shower head? Lastly, it’s essential to consider the shower head height when installing. You need to make sure that your shower’s ceiling is high enough if you want to have a ceiling-mounted rain shower head. There should be about a foot clearance from the ceiling to the showerhead. A good rule of thumb is to position it 3 inches above the person’s head. Of course, this all depends on how tall the user is, but you’ll still want to make sure that the individual can get under the shower head comfortably. Check out shower heads for tall people.

Conclusion

If you’re someone who likes to have luxurious showers, you’ve probably heard of rain shower heads and dream of having one. There are many things to consider when getting a rain shower head, however, and they might not be the best options for some bathrooms. Depending on whether you want a wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted shower head, your bathroom’s plumbing set up will play a huge role. But if you do choose to get one of these shower heads, you’re certainly not going to regret your choice after a relaxing and warm shower.

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Sources

https://www.lowes.com/n/how-to/how-to-install-a-rain-shower-head