There are many reasons why you may need to remove your shower handle. Perhaps you are completely renovating your bathroom, the shower handle is damaged or you just feel like updating your shower fittings.
Whatever the reason, if you need to remove a shower handle you may get stuck at the first stage if you notice your shower handle has no screws.
When you are trying to remove a shower handle with no screws, in most cases the screws are there but they have just been concealed. Regardless, removing a shower handle without screws can be confusing if you don’t know what you are doing.
In this article, we provide a step-by-step guide on how to remove a shower handle without screws and also shared what to do when the screws are hidden behind a cap or plate in your shower.
Contents
Essentials Needed To Remove Shower Handle Without Screws
Shower handles go through a lot more wear and tear than you may realize. Daily showers soaking the faucet, soap residue, and perhaps being neglected during your regular cleans of the bathroom, it is no surprise shower handles can break or start to stick.
Whether your shower handle has been in the house years longer than you have or it is just time for an upgrade, you don’t want to encounter problems when it is time to remove it.
Before you begin trying to remove your shower handle, you are going to need a few essential tools ready to help you get the job done:
- Allen wrench (or Allen Key)
- Pliers
- Screwdriver
- Faucet handle puller
- Rags or old cloths
- Hex key
- Distilled vinegar (if needed)
- Rust Cleaner (if necessary)
Different Types Of Shower Handles
There are many different types of shower handles and knobs and many of them do not have visible screws. In most cases your shower handle does have screws, they are just hidden out of sight to give your shower a more sleek look.
Before we share our step-by-step guide on how to remove a shower handle with no visible screws, let’s first take a look at the different types of shower handles.
Knob/Twisting handles
These shower handles are similar to doorknobs in shape, they are often square, globe, or jewel shape and you twist them to activate the shower. It is common for knob shower handles to have no visible screws.
Lever handles
A lever shower handle usually operates in a similar way to a twisting handle but instead of being the shape of a doorknob, these handles are a straight lever bar that you move up and down to turn the shower on or change the temperature from hot to cold.
Cross handles
Cross shower handles are in an X shape and you twist them to turn the shower on and off or adjust the temperature. Often cross shower handles have hidden screws or no screws at all.
Double faucet handles
These handles are often found in older homes. Usually, double faucet shower handles have knob or cross handles, one for hot water and one for cold.
How To Remove Shower Handle Without Screws
If your shower handle has no visible screws, don’t worry as you will still be able to remove it. Here are some easy-to-follow step-by-step guides:
How To Remove Shower Handle Without Visible Screws
If your shower handle has a button or cap fixture removing it is an easy process. You will need to remove the cap before taking off the handle. Here is how to go about it:
Step 1
First, you need to locate the button or cap on the shower handle, it is usually to the side or at the top of the handle.
Step 2
Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the cap or button cover. Push the head of the screwdriver between the cap and the wall and use it as a lever to remove the cap. Be careful as you don’t want to cause any damage.
Once you have removed the cap or base on your shower handle, you can now begin the process of removing the handle itself.
Step 3
Once you have removed the outer cap, the screws will be revealed. Using the correct sized Allen wrench or hex key, unscrew the screws carefully. It is always a good idea to turn the water supply off when removing the shower handle and to cover the drain so no screws or parts get lost.
Step 4
You should now be able to just pull the handle off with your hands.
Step 5
If there is soap residue or rust on the shower handle you can use distilled vinegar or a rust cleaner to remove it.
Step 6
You have now successfully removed the shower handle. If you will be reinstalling the same handle, make sure you keep all of the screws safe and make a note of how you removed it, you can then easily reverse the process to reinstall it.
The above method should work when removing cross, lever, and twist handles. For a double faucet shower handle, you just need to repeat the process twice, once for each handle.
Like many shower handles, the screws are often just hidden behind a plate or cap, once that is removed it is just a case of using the right-sized Allen wrench or hex key to remove the showerhead.
How To Remove Shower Handle With No Screws
Removing a shower handle that has no screws at all may seem impossible but the process isn’t too different from the method above. You will need an extra piece of equipment to remove the screwless showerhead but you don’t need a professional plumber to get the job done.
Step 1
Turn off the water supply and cover the drain
Step 2
Remove the base/plate by placing a cloth over it and twisting. If the plate isn’t budging, try adding some lubrication or rust cleaner.
Step 3
Once the plate is removed you should be able to see a stamp with the shower manufacturer’s name.
Step 4
Refer to the shower manufacturer’s website or a user manual to see if there is any information on removing the shower handle.
Step 5
If your shower handle has no screws and you can’t find any information from the manufacturer, you can use a faucet puller to remove the handle.
Step 6
Follow the instructions for the faucet puller and use the tool carefully to pull the shower handle off. You may want to put a cloth or towel between the shower handle and the wall to avoid any damage.
Step 7
Once the handle is removed you can then clean it with distilled white vinegar or a rust cleaner if necessary.
Watch this YouTube video to see a faucet puller in action.
FAQs
How do you remove a shower lever handle?
This is easier shown than explained. Watch the video below for a great step by step guide on how to remove a shower lever handle.
How to remove Kohler shower handle without screws?
If there are no screws present then you will need to unthread and remove the retainer. For a full step-by-step guide check out the Kohler website for support.
What type of shower stem do I have?
The best way to check this is to look at the center of the trim plate which can be found behind the shower handle. This will have the brand name or manufacturer’s symbol.
Can you replace a shower handle without replacing valve?
Yes, you certainly can. The shower handle is just the shiny lever held on with a set screw. If you find out the brand you can usually get a replacement at your local home depot.
Conclusion
Removing a shower handle with no screws is not a difficult DIY task. Often the screws are just hidden and once you remove the plate concealing them, all you need is the correct sized hex key or Allen wrench and you can have the shower handle removed in just a minute or so.
If your shower handle has no screws at all, the process requires a little more effort but it is still possible to do the job yourself. A faucet puller will become your best friend when you are trying to remove a shower handle with no screws.
Whatever type of shower handle you have, remember to shut the water supply off because you don’t want to get soaked while you are working!
