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How to know if a ShowerStore.com product offers easy, leak-free installation

This icon indicates that the shower head or hand held shower proved easier to install than other products – mainly because we were able to achieve a leak-free installation right away. Find out more about these shower heads and hand held shower heads>>

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Don't over-tighten your shower head or hand held shower!

Over-tightening your shower head or hand held shower head can make a leak worse. Using too much force can cut a gasket used to make the seal. Simply hand-tightening the shower head or hand held shower head will usually create a leak-free installation. If you do need to use a wrench, don't force it. If you still have a leaky shower head, unscrew the shower head or the hand held shower mount from the shower supply pipe and check our sections on Teflon tape below.

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What's a gasket?

A gasket is a thin piece of material used to create a seal between two parts. For shower products, the gasket can be made of rubber or fiber.

Gaskets can tear when too much force is used and the supply pipe has a sharp edge. If you have a gasket with a cut, don't use it. Replace the gasket or use Teflon tape to repair the leaky shower head instead.

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What's Teflon^® Tape?

Teflon is a name for a material originally created by DuPont. It's made into lots of things, including a thin tape, which is used to help seal plumbing connections.

ShowerStore.com offers rolls of Teflon tape for sale to make a leak-free installation of your shower head, hand held shower head, or shower accessory purchase as easy as possible.

Teflon Tape, Now Only $0.25!

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Do I need a gasket for my shower head or hand held shower?

Most hand held showerhead sets require a gasket to be used in both ends of the hose fitting. Without a gasket, the hand held shower hose will almost certainly leak. Gaskets are always included with hand held shower head sets when they need to be. Sometimes they are built in to the connection end of the handheld shower head. If you lose your gasket, your local hardware store caries a wide range of gaskets that can be used for Hand Held Shower Head Sets.

Most fixed shower heads can be installed leak-free using only Teflon tape. A gasket in a fixed shower head makes it so you can screw the shower head on leak free – just like a light bulb. If your fixed shower head did not come with a gasket, use Teflon tape.

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Can I use pipe dope on my shower head or hand held shower?

Never use pipe dope or plumbers putty to install shower fittings like shower heads, hand held shower head sets or tub spouts. It may react with plastic components causing them to break.

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The right way to apply Teflon^® tape to a shower arm

Always apply Teflon tape clockwise onto the shower arm supply pipe. If you wrap the tape on counter-clockwise it will bunch up when you screw on your shower head causing a leak.

Hold the roll of tape in your right hand. Unroll a piece of the tape and press it onto the shower arm supply pipe threads with your left thumb. Pull the tape lightly with the roll in your right hand so there're no wrinkles. Keep the tension on the tape as you wrap it around the threads clockwise.

Wrap the tape around the shower arm supply pipe four to five times – even more if you like. Then pull the tape tight until it snaps and smooth the end around the shower arm pipe. Now you can screw on your shower head. For a perfect seal, see our section Don't over-tighten!

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Shower head or hand held shower head pause feature leaks

Some of today's showerheads and hand held shower head offer a pause, trickle or hold setting. This is so that you can save water while you shampoo or shave. The water will continue to run through the shower head or hand held shower head, giving you enough to rinse your hands or razor blade.

A shower head or hand held shower head cannot be made to completely shut-off the water flow because of the possibility of cross-flow, which can cause unusual things to happen, like hot water coming out of your sprinkler system! Because of this, the shower head or hand held shower head pause feature will always let a little water through.

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Hand held shower hose leaks

Today's hand held shower hoses are very durable. If your hand held shower hose leaks, it's probably because you're missing a gasket.

Gaskets are always included with hand held shower head sets when they need to be. Sometimes they are built in to the connection end of the hand held shower. If you loose your gasket, your local hardware store caries a wide range of gaskets that can be used for hand held shower head sets.

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Some Shower Heads and hand held shower heads offered by ShowerStore.com that offer easy, leak-free installation

At ShowerStore.com, we have tested hundreds of shower heads and hand held shower heads over the years. The shower heads and hand held shower heads listed below have proven to be easier to install than others – mainly because we were able to achieve a leak-free installation right away. Click on a product to find out more.

Quattro Massage Hand Held Shower Head Set by Interbath Model JQ922CH in Chrome		Metropolis Hand Held Shower Head Set by Interbath Model JF922CH in Chrome		The Original Shower Massage Hand Held Shower Head Set – 6 Settings – by Waterpik Model SM-651 in White		Malibu Hand Held Shower Head Set by Great Vibrations Model GC944CH in Chrome		Newport Hand Held Shower Head Set by Great Vibrations Model GC934CH in Chrome
Monterey Hand Held Shower Head Set by Great Vibrations Model GC924CH in Chrome		Sunset Hand Held Shower Head Set by Great Vibrations Model GC904CH in Chrome		InTouch Massage Showerhead by Interbath Model B26590WW in White		Tempest Shower Head by Interbath Model KF010CH in Chrome		Malibu Shower Head Set by Great Vibrations Model GV040CH in Chrome

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