How To Hack a Showerhead That Is Too Low?
Good Questions

Q: We desperately need your help. We just moved into a beautiful apartment with a clawfoot tub. The showerhead looks like the picture above. My boyfriend is 6'5 and the shower head is not tall enough for him, it pretty much hits him in the chest. We added a shower head of our own, but it does not add height. I've looked into shower head extensions, but because of the curve on the shower pipe, I don't think those would work. Please help!

Sent by Jean

Editor: I'd like to recommend looking into a handheld showerhead with an extra-long hose — holders can be mounted at different heights. Who else has suggestions or advice?

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first. Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to: newyork(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)

Comments (8)

I had a similar problem with my place and purchased one of these, but I feel it wouldn't be to much to just have whole new longer/taller piece of pipe cut and install it yourself or have your landlord do it.

We had the exact same set up in our new apt 3 months ago. We bought this: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Rainfall-Chrome-3-1-2-Showerhead/495925/product.html
though we got it on amazon for $16. The arm extension (which is not pictured) was perfect, and the showerhead itself is pretty great. It looks identical to this one: http://www.amazon.com/Danze-D461045-Showerhead-Adjustable-Extension/dp/B000EN4MCK/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1248700090&sr=8-5, which is more pricey.

Found the cheaper amazon version: http://www.amazon.com/Interbath-All-Directional-Chrome-Showerhead/dp/B000HQV8BC/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_b

Seconding the hand-held shower head. I'm similarly tall and had the same problem in a rental (though our clawfoot tub had a carpeted box built around it...) and the long hose on a hand-held showerhead allowed me to mount it way higher than I needed. I used a vise clamp to hold it in place, but a prettier, less industrial solution should be easy enough.

My boyfriend and I have the same problem.
I didn't want to ruin the look of the curve at the top of pipe with an extension so we unscrewed the pipe and took it to the hardware store to find a piece to extend it from the bottom (where it attached to the tap).
Unfortunately we weren't able to find something the right size at our neighbourhood store, but you might have better luck at a big Home Depot.

We were successful in suspending the curtain ring from the ceiling with chains. It was way cheaper than the shower curtain ring and attachment sets and gave us several extra inches of splash protection. Plus it looks great!

My husband is 6'7", so he runs into this problem perennially. He's had a shower extension that he's been carrying with him from apartment to apartment ever since he graduated from college fifteen years ago. It's the older version of this: http://www.cheaperbythedozen.com/flexshowshow.html

It's not hand-held, but it's roughly the same sort of idea. Less annoying, though, I think, because both of your hands are free.

I agree with the earlier poster who recommended extending the pipe. If there is some point where the pipe screws into a faucet (as there is in the picture above, in the middle of the shower pipe) then this is pretty easy. The hardest part is doing it in a way that doesn't damage the finish on the pipe.

Go to a plumbing supply place or a hardware store where they actually give advice (not a Home Depot). They can show you how to extend a pipe.

A plumber can do this job in well under 30 minutes, so a reasonable plumber can charge $50 to do it.

Be careful you don't raise the showerhead so much that it splashes water out and soaks the walls. Unless of course the walls and floor are tile.