Replace a showerhead

A shower can mean many things to many people. The water can sprinkle, spritz, or swivel and rain down in a gentle stream, or it can spray straight or in a powerful downpour. When you shop for a new showerhead you’ll see they do a lot more than spray water and many are designed for easy installation. Take a walk through the plumbing department of any bath or home center, and you’ll see a dazzling array of showerheads.

A plumber will charge $238, which includes labor and the showerhead, to remove the old one and replace it with a good-quality new one. If you have some experience working with plumbing jobs and have the necessary tools, you can do the job for $75, the cost of a moderately priced new showerhead, and save 68 percent.

Use slip-joint pliers and an adjustable wrench to remove the old shower head and unscrew it from the shower arm. You may need a lubricating spray to loosen it. Before installing the new head, clean the threads of the arm and wrap them with Teflon tape. Then use the pliers to tighten the new head on threads, making sure there’s a rubber washer inside.

To find more DIY and contractor project costs, videos and calculators, visit www.diyornot.com on a laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Pro Cost -- DIY Cost -- Pro time -- DIY Time -- DIY Savings -- Percent Saved

$238 -- $75 -- 1.0 -- 1.5 -- $163 -- 68 Percent

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