My shower handle just fell off and all that's left looks like a screw so I have been using a screwdriver to turn on the shower. Can I go to the store and purchase a handle and install it myself or do I need to call a plumber?

If you think you could do it then go for it and if your not really sure what to do then call a plumber;)

No need to call a plumber. If you can get the screw out, just take what is left of the old knob to a hardware or home center and look for one that will fit. Sometimes the screw won't come out. Here is an answer I posted in response to a specific question about removing a screw.


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Originally Posted by lnz
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By the way- is there a good way to try and unscrew an old corroded screw without damaging the head?


Usually getting it out is more important than saving the head. You can replace it. However, destroying the head before you have it out is counterproductive. Some screws will not yield to a proper fitting, quality screwdriver. Heat works well on iron and steel. Even with them, I find hammering on things is often more quick. The trick is to hit stuff hard enough to distort it, but it still springs back without staying bent or breaking. When it moves, it breaks apart the rust, corrosion, lime, etc. holding it. A little spray lube helps too. I like silicone oil. I can use the same can to remove stuff and to lubricate things I don't want to gum up. It also doesn't swell rubber. The hammering opens up the joint long enough for the oil to wick in. You can put a good screwdriver with a tough plastic handle in the screw head and hammer on it. Often after a few minutes of that, the screw will back out. There are little hand impact tools that work great too. They take a bit or socket at one end and you hit the other end with a hammer. They twist when you hit them. Provides both the impact and the twist. If the head does strip or twist off without it coming loose, you can switch to a punch. Work at the edge pushing it in the way it unscrews. If the head twists off, you should be able to remove the knob. Then you can unscrew the assembly and carry it to your shop for further work if it is worth salvaging. A good hardware store is a better place for it. Match it to a new one. Note, hot and cold are not interchangeable. If the knob is worse for the wear or just old and shabby, they have new ones. It would gaul me to go through all that in a rental.

The above techniques will work on shower heads too. From your more recent posts, that sounds like where the problem is.

Comments on this post
Doug238 disagrees: I think we were talking about the shower arm and head. I think you are talking about the stem.''

The nut that holds the cartridge in should be exposed with the know broken off. As in my answer above, you can shut the water off and remove the cartridge.

I often put something on a screw to make sure I can get it out if I have to in 10 years, silicone grease, Anti-Seize, oil, something.

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Originally Posted by labman

Heat works well on iron and steel. Even with them, I find hammering on things is often quicker. The trick is to hit stuff hard enough to distort it, but it still springs back without staying bent or breaking. When it moves, it breaks apart the rust, corrosion, lime, etc. holding it.

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While not unheard of, "iron and steel" are pretty darn rare in shower valve applications, Labman.