How to Move a Shower Head and Install a Tee in the Riser

Turn off the water flow to the shower at your home's main water line. Turn the faucet in the shower on and allow the water to drain out of the pipe.

Snap a chalk line on the wall between the faucet and the shower head to mark the location of the riser. This is the vertical pipe that runs between the faucet and shower head.

Cover the bottom of the shower with a plastic tarp to protect the finish from damage.

Remove the shower head from the pipe that extends from the wall. This usually means turning it counter-clockwise, but you may have to unscrew it.

Cut a hole in the wall over the riser so you can access it. If the wall is tiled, you'll have to remove the tiles first. Remove the grout between the tiles with an electric grinding tool. (Wear safety goggles when you're grinding.) Take care not to scratch the surface of the tiles. After the grout has been removed, carefully pry the tiles off of the wall with a putty knife. Handling the tiles with care allows you to re-use them when the project is completed. Cut a hole in the cement backerboard with a reciprocating saw equipped with a masonry blade. Do not cut through the pipe. The hole should be positioned a few inches above the intended height of the new shower head and a few inches below the location of the tee, while allowing about 6 inches of space on each side of the riser.

Cut the riser where you're going to install the tee with a pipe cutter.

Measure the distance between the end of the riser and the height of the new shower head, and cut a piece of copper pipe to fit.

Solder a copper tee fitting onto one end of the pipe you cut in Step 7. The tee fitting gets its name because it's shaped like the letter T. Place the pipe in a vise and slide the tee fitting over the end of the pipe. Heat the joint where the pipe and tee meet with a blowtorch, then place solder wire against the side of the pipe opposite the flame. Allow the solder to melt and seal the joint. Seal the joint completely around the pipe, then allow it to cool for about five minutes. Examine the seal around the joint and add more solder if needed.

Solder a 90-degree copper elbow onto the other end of the copper pipe. Make sure the open end of the copper elbow is aligned with the part of the tee fitting that extends out sideways from the pipe.

Cut two pieces of copper pipe for the elbow and tee that are long enough to extend out of the wall and hold the new shower heads.

Place the open end of the tee fitting onto the riser and solder it in place.

Patch the hole in the wall with a piece of cement backerboard. Re-install the tiles you removed.

Install the new shower heads onto the pipes that extend out from the wall. Restore water to the shower line.