Replacing a shower handle should seem like an easy project.
Certainly, most door handles and cabinet handles are easy, and most expect that the shower handles will be the same way.
However, sometimes when you start to look at replacing a shower handle, you won’t be able to find the screws that you need to remove the handle.
If this is the case, you are in luck, and there are steps that you can follow to help you remove the shower handle properly.
How to Remove Shower Handle Without Screws
The following steps will help you remove a shower handle that has no visible screws.
Ensure that you follow these steps carefully so that you don’t do any damage to the shower or handle this process.
Many of these shower surroundings are glass, and you must ensure that your tools and your work do not cause any damage to the shower.
Step 1: Gather Supplies
One of the first steps in the process is to gather the supplies that you need.
Since you are not sure which type of screw the shower handle is going to have, you must have a few different tools available.
For instance, you should have both a flat head and a Phillips head screwdriver.
It also makes sense to have a set of Allen keys or hex keys.
These are typically well known for being used in shower handles.
However, there are not too many other tools you will need to complete this project.
If you happen to have the directions that came with your shower handle, you may want to take those out and see if they can help you.
Step 2: Look for Hidden Screw
Most people think their shower handle does not have a screw when, in reality, it probably does.
There are a few ways that you can look for the screws.
One of the most obvious is that there may be a cap that is hiding the screw.
Sometimes these caps just need to be popped off with a flat head screwdriver.
Always make sure you don’t damage the cap when you are popping it off.
Another place to look is on the underside of the handle.
Many times, the screws will be visible under the handle.
This is done to give the shower fixture a very seamless look, but in reality, the screws are relatively easy to access.
You will need to get on your hands and knees and look up at the shower handle to be able to see this.
The hidden screw is usually a hex-type screw, and when you are looking at it from this angle, you will see why they use these screws which are quite easy to hide.
If you truly can’t find a cap or a hidden screw of any kind, then chances are your shower handle was put on using some type of twisting method.
Step 3: If No Hidden Screw, Try Twisting
Therefore, in order to fix the issue and to do the reverse of this, you will need to twist the handle off.
Try to take a look at the brand of the handle that you have and see if there is a manual posted online.
If you can find the removal instructions, you may be able to see that it just takes a quick twist in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
Most of the time, if you twist it the right way, you will feel the handle sort of fall or drop off.
Again, it is certainly essential to make sure not to pull on or damage the handle in any way.
To ensure that you don’t do that, always work with these in a gentle way.
Step 4: Remove Screws
Once you have located the screws and made them accessible, you can then start to remove them.
These screws tend to be on the smaller side, and they can easily get lost in a bathroom.
You may have trouble finding a replacement, so you will want to be very careful with how they are handled.
When you remove the screws, make sure that you pay attention to the way that they are put in and if there was any cap or covering on the screw itself.
The worst part of this process is when you can’t figure out how to get the handle back on!
Step 5: Replace Handle
If you want to replace the handle on your shower, you will have to make sure that the new handle has screws that line up the same way.
It can be a bit difficult to switch for this reason.
There are just so many different styles and designs of shower handles that finding something which is a match can be difficult at times.
If you are really struggling, look for something that is from the same manufacturer as the original handle.
Sometimes companies will keep the same basic structure while just changing the design of the handle.
This makes it a bit easier to find the proper match.
Different Types of Shower Handles
There are several different types of shower handles, and to make sure that you understand how to replace yours, it is good to know which type you have.
The three basic types of shower handles are the knob, the lever, and the cross handle.
Each will have screws and hardware located in different places in the handle.
Of course, some people refer to the handle they use to enter their shower as the shower handle.
These are also considered shower handles, but they are more like a grab bar as opposed to the typical shower handles.
The shower handles inside the shower are turned and manipulated to change the temperature and pressure of the water coming from the showerhead.
1. Lever
A lever handle is essentially a lever.
When you want to move the shower handle to change the temperature, you will have to turn the lever.
Most lever handles allow you to pull them to open water flow and push them closed when you need to stop the flow of water.
You will have several options when it comes to the style of the lever.
Some of these are very sleek and high-end looking, while others are going to have a simple design and look to them.
2. Cross
A cross handle is something that looks like a cross or an X.
These handles typically tend to work in the exact way that a knob handle works, except they are easier to grab onto.
If you find that your hand often slips on the knob or you feel as though it is hard to pull open or closed, the cross could be a good choice.
We feel like these have a bit more of a modern look to them than the knob-type handles as well.
3. Knob
A knob handle looks like a traditional doorknob.
The knobs are circular in shape, and they can be turned on and off with a full turn while others may pull out or in.
The knobs can be in different shapes, and they don’t always have to be a circular knob shape.
This is a very traditional shower fixture and will usually be lower in price than some other choices.
A knob handle is a perfect option if you are trying to quickly fix your shower and get on with your day.
Many of these have a cap that needs to be popped off in order to access the screws.
What Happens If You Lose the Cap to Your Shower Handle?
When we said that the screws and the parts of the shower handle could be very small and difficult to work with, we weren’t kidding.
If you are not careful with these pieces, you will end up losing them.
When you are working on a shower handle, it is usually a good idea to place something over the shower drain.
This way, you won’t have to worry about things popping off and falling down the drain.
If you lose the cap, you are going to need to find a replacement.
Leaving the screw open and exposed could cause it to rust or deteriorate faster.
Although the cap is mainly for aesthetics, it can also serve the purpose of protecting the inner workings of the handle.
If you can’t find the cap, chances are there is a replacement part you can purchase.
You should not have to replace the entire shower handle.
Call the manufacturer and explain your issue to them, and they will likely have the part you need.
Worst case scenario, you can always look for an older model of the shower handle that you have that someone may be trying to sell.
Even if you don’t need the entire handle, you can use the cap to fix your current shower and save the other parts for spares should you need them.
You may also have luck measuring the size of the cap and seeing if a generic replacement could work.
Why Do I Need to Remove My Shower Handle?
Sometimes you will have to remove a handle not to replace it but to try and get it to work better.
Shower handles can get stuck or difficult to turn.
When this happens, they generally have some kind of buildup going on that you can’t see.
The buildup is behind the handle, and it just needs to be cleaned out, and the handle can be placed back on.
If you want to remove the build-up and get your shower working properly again, you will need to remove the handle.
Although the process is simple, you must make sure that you follow our steps so that you don’t do damage to the handle or your shower.
Conclusion
Nine times out of ten, even when you think your shower handle does not have a screw, it most likely does.
The screw may not be easy to see at first, but it is probably there.
You usually have to spend a few minutes being a detective and looking for different areas where the screw could be hiding.
Most of the time, the screw is under the shower handle or beneath a cap.
If you have the proper tools with you, mostly screwdrivers and hex keys, you will be able to remove the shower handle without much trouble.
As you probably noticed, there are a select few shower handles that do not have a screw.
These are certainly harder to work with and take a bit of maneuvering to get off.
Most of the time, this requires a twisting action and a bit of strength to get the handle to come off.
Make sure that you always pay attention to how you took your handle off so that you can get it back on.
Leave a Reply