The delta shower head has been a fixture in showers for over 50 years. As the name implies, this elongated handheld shower head has a conical end and an angled rectangular section in the middle that rotates with the handle. The idea behind this design is to create a variable surface area that strikes a balanced force on the water stream to ensure even distribution. When properly installed, a delta shower head balances water pressure throughout its length so there is no wasted force and pressure doesn’t build up along one end.
How To Remove The Delta Shower Handle
- First, turn off the water supply to the delta shower head and remove the handle. If it is a screw type, loosen the screws and then remove them. If it is a twist-off type, simply rotate them until they are loose and then pull them out.
- Next, remove any specialized components that may be attached to the head that adjust spray height or force from behind it. Loosen any screws or other fasteners holding these on, and then slide them off with your fingers or a pair of pliers.
- Once you have removed all of the specialized parts from behind your delta shower head, place it in a bucket underneath running water for about ten minutes to flush out any remaining water left in it before reinstalling everything back in place as needed.
- If you are unable to remove the delta shower head, you will have to cut the pipe and then replace it with a new one. Use a hacksaw or a pipe cutter to see off the end of either pipe connected to either side of it. Wear safety goggles, gloves, and protective clothing during this step because water may start spraying out and cause injury. Once both pipes are cut off, you can insert a new section of pipe in its place so that it connects correctly with each fixture. Use Teflon tape or plumber’s putty around the edges to ensure that no leaks occur when you reconnect them and then turn on the water supply again. If needed, reattach all of your components like shower heads, hand railings, and anything else on either side so they are ready for use in their new location.
- Install your delta shower head by screwing it into place or twisting it on until it is tight enough that it does not move under any amount of pressure but does not feel overly tight either. Use tapered plugs and Teflon tape for metal connections against metal fixtures and silicone caulk for plastic connections against plastic fixtures if needed to ensure that there are no leaks when you turn on your water supply again.
- You can then test the faucet for any leaks by turning on your water supply, using a towel to catch any excess water, and checking underneath the faucet as well as behind it before restoring your bathroom to its original condition.
What You’ll Need To Remove A Delta Shower Head?
Here’s a list of tools that you’ll need to remove a delta shower head.
- Pliers or vice grips to grip the shower head.
- A screwdriver or wrench to remove screws holding on a component behind the shower head.
- A bucket underneath the shower heads to catch any excess water left in it after removal.
- Tapered plugs and Teflon tape if you have to metal connections against metal fixtures, silicone caulk if you have plastic connections against plastic fixtures, and plumber’s putty if you’re using a new section of pipe as part of your repair job.
- A hacksaw or a pipe cutter to saw off the end of either pipe connected to either side of it.
- Safety goggles, gloves, and protective clothing during this step because water may start spraying out and cause injury.
- A wrench if the faucet has nuts or bolts holding it in place that needs to be removed before you can slide it off the fixture or wall.
How To Unscrew A Delta Shower Handle
- First, you need to find the correct size hex key that fits the screw head. To do this, you can use a screwdriver and look on the underside of it to see what size screwdriver it is or you can take your shower head to an area with several spare screws lying around that have different-sized heads on them. Use a wrench or pliers to grip the screw loosely and then turn it until you feel it move slightly if it needs turning because the threads may be dirty or rusted together.
- Once it’s turned, you’ll need to hold the screwdriver in place with a wrench or pliers and then use your other hand to turn the screw counterclockwise until it’s removed. If you have trouble removing it, use a second wrench or pliers to grip the screw and then turn it.
- Once it’s off, use your pliers or vice grips to remove any excess particles in the hole that were left behind during the removal of the screw.
- Now that you’ve got your hole clean, take some Teflon tape and wrap one end around an ice pick, and then press it into the hole so that it makes a good seal when pushing down on one end of a component while you tighten down on another component with a wrench or vice grips.
- Now that your hole is sealed, slide your plastic assembly onto one side of this component and tighten it in place using either screws, nuts, or bolts using either a wrench or vice grips for metal connections against metal fixtures or a plumber’s putty for plastic connections against plastic fixtures followed by silicone caulk if needed to ensure there are no leaks where you connect everything together again once finished.
Other Issues With The Delta Shower Head
- Delta shower heads don’t have a pressure gauge on them so you won’t know how much pressure your water is bringing to the shower head or faucet. Many people either take down their pressure before they run out of hot water or turn the water off when it starts running too low and high-pressure shower heads are available that can be connected to your faucet but will cost more.
- Shower heads can either leave rust spots on metal fixtures if not cleaned properly, clog up pipes if left plugged in for too long and if not installed properly, leak-causing spots where you connect it to the fixture which requires the use of silicone caulk to fix leaks.
- Shower head problems are pretty common with Delta products because they make their own parts or they use off-the-shelf parts made by other manufacturers and sell them as their own part so even though there are warranties, they may not cover repairs due to parts being mixed up or individual companies not having quality control standards that meet other companies standards because most plumbing companies who have company-wide quality standards won’t sell parts made by another company unless there’s a particular issue with that part and it can be patched in place without replacing all the work that was put into making this product work for you in the first place if one happens but since those other companies aren’t really a part of Delta’s production process, their warranty policies do not apply to any of their components.
- Since most plumbing contractors are responsible for installing their own equipment, it’s possible to get a plumber on the phone who may not produce parts that were made for your exact model but it is also possible to find a plumber who will install whatever units you want and even sell them if the plumbing system was installed by an outside contractor from a plumbing manufacturer like Kohler or Moen. Therefore, sometimes hiring a plumber isn’t necessarily a bad idea although there are many other factors besides just installation quality when figuring out how good of service you’ll get.
Conclusion
Delta Showers are a fixture in showers. They are also one of the more difficult shower heads to remove. The most common issue with the Delta shower head is a build-up of scale and dirt over time. To prevent this, clean the shower head and the drain connection at the bottom of the shower at least once a month. To clean the shower head, use a mild cleaner such as CLR or vinegar-water solution (not dishwasher safe). To clean the drain connection, use a small wrench to unscrew the handle and turn the shower head anti-clockwise to free up the connection. If you have any questions or concerns about the maintenance of your shower head, call your local home improvement contractor or ask us here on Home Advisor.
