Swap a Showerhead in Ten Minutes With Teflon Tape

Weak spray, lime crust, a head older than your car — a new showerhead costs little and installs faster than a coffee run. The whole job is in the tape.

How to do it

1. Unscrew the old head from the shower arm. Use pliers with a rag wrapped around the finish.
2. Pick every bit of old tape and grit off the arm threads.
3. Wrap new Teflon tape clockwise around the threads (looking at the end of the pipe) 4 to 5 times, pulled snug.
4. Screw the new head on hand-tight, then a quarter turn more with the padded pliers.

Run it and check for drips at the joint. A drip means re-tape, not more muscle — overtightening cracks the plastic nut on most new heads.