Replacing or installing an overhead shower is a genuinely manageable weekend job with basic tools — you don't need a plumber for a straightforward like-for-like swap. Here's the process from start to finish.
What you'll need
- An adjustable wrench or plumber's wrench
- PTFE (Teflon) tape
- Your new shower head, arm and flange
Step 1: Shut off the water supply
Turn off the main valve feeding your bathroom, and open the tap briefly to release any pressure remaining in the line before you start.
Step 2: Remove the old fitting
Unscrew the existing shower arm counter-clockwise from the wall outlet. If it's been in place for years, this may need a firm, steady turn — avoid sudden force, which can damage the wall-mounted pipe threading.
Step 3: Prepare the new connection
Wrap PTFE tape clockwise around the exposed threading of the wall outlet, three to four wraps, before fitting the new arm. This step is what actually prevents leaks — don't skip it.
Step 4: Fit the arm and flange
Screw the new arm into the wall outlet by hand until snug, then tighten a further half turn with a wrench. Slide the decorative flange down to cover the wall gap.
Step 5: Attach the shower head
Most Piffero overhead showers use a tool-free swivel connector — simply push and twist the head onto the arm until it clicks or sits firmly in place.
Step 6: Test before you finish
Turn the water supply back on gradually and check the wall connection for drips before you consider the job done. A small drip at this stage almost always means the PTFE tape needs another wrap, not a new fitting.
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