Does someone in your household enjoy the wide coverage of a rainfall shower head while you prefer something smaller? Love your fixed shower head but wish you had more versatility (like a hand held shower head!) for kids, pets, and cleaning? The best Dual Shower Head solves all of these problems AND instantly upgrades your shower experience.
That's why we're going to show you how to build your own DIY Dual Shower Head using the most durable components. This is the best option for adding a handheld shower head to an existing fixed shower head or vice versa.
*If you're wanting to start from scratch with two brand new shower heads, we've made it easier than ever to get an All Metal Dual Shower Head with our 1-Spray and 3-Spray Dual Shower Head Sets!*
By the end of this article, you'll be able to build a double shower head system that not only saves you the cost of hiring a plumber, but will have the entire household singing in the shower!
What Exactly Is A Dual Shower Head?
Commonly referred to as a Double Shower Head or 2-in-1 Shower Head, a Dual Shower Head is what you get when you pair two shower heads using a shower diverter valve.
If you don't have an existing shower head you want to incorporate into your double shower system, you can save yourself time and money with one of our dual shower heads.
Where most others are often limited in their design and functionality, we perfected both our handheld and fixed shower heads before bundling them together. Unlike the 2-way diverters found in many packaged dual shower heads, our 3-way solid brass diverter is built to last and clicks to let you know you've reached the right setting for your preferences.
If, however, you do have either a fixed or a handheld shower head you want to continue using, we recommend building a DIY dual shower head.
In this article, we'll specifically be talking about Dual Shower Heads with external shower arm diverters which do not require any rough plumbing. While there are also plenty of other ways to build a DIY Dual Shower Head, we'll be showing you the most common and simplest way.
You won't have to drill holes in your wall or attach any funky suction cups. All you'll be using is your existing shower arm and the 3 components that we'll be discussing in detail.
Pitfalls of Pre-Packaged Dual Shower Heads
The pre-packaged dual shower heads you'll find at most big box stores and online retailers don't always give you that many options. Here are some of the biggest pitfalls of these pre-packaged deals:
- Limited Finish Options: Chrome seems to be the most abundant finish choice for dual shower heads. What if you need it in Brushed Nickel or Oil Rubbed Bronze?
- Similar Shower Heads: The fixed shower head often looks like the hand held shower head without the hose. The benefit of a custom DIY dual shower head is to have two very different shower heads depending on what you need.
- Equipped with a 2-way shower diverter. What if you want a 3-way shower diverter that runs both shower heads at the same time? When you learn how to add a handheld shower to an existing shower head using our guide, you can easily get this functionality.
- Material Quality: Most double shower head systems are not made with quality components. They're mostly plastic. Wouldn't it be nice to have something made from Metal and built to last?
HammerHead Showers® All Metal Dual Shower Head Sets address every single one of these issues. Constructed from the highest quality brass and stainless steel, they come standard with a 3-way diverter and are available in multiple commercial-grade finishes that will never flake or rust.
Both the fixed and the handheld shower heads are top-selling customer favorites, but magic happens when they come together!
If you are adding a handheld or fixed shower head to your current setup, continue reading for our step-by-step guide to build your own DIY Dual Shower Head:
How To Build Your Perfect DIY Dual Shower Head
There are 3 essential pieces to building your own Double Shower Head with Handheld:
1. Start With The Base - The Shower Diverter Valve
Like most things in life, starting with the right base makes all the difference. In this case, that base is the shower arm diverter valve. We touched on it earlier; the shower diverter valve is the piece that will attach to your shower arm and bring both shower heads together into that 2-In-1 Double Shower Head System.
There are two different shower diverter valves types:
- Shower Arm Diverter WITH Hand Shower Holder Mount
- Shower Arm Diverter WITHOUT Hand Shower Holder Mount
Shower Diverter with Hand Shower Holder Mount
The shower holder is the bracket hook that will actually hold your hand held shower head.
The benefit here is that you have everything you need to build your DIY Dual Shower Head in one cohesive piece – making installation much more straight forward.
Shower Diverter Valve Without Holder Mount
These diverters are primarily used for Dual Shower Heads where the handheld shower head has a separate wall mount bracket.
This would mean that you attach your Fixed Shower Head to the front threads of the Diverter, attach the Hand Shower Hose to the bottom threads of the Diverters and then have your own separate wall mount for your Hand Shower.
That wall mount could be another shower arm, a slide bar with handheld holder or a wall mount bracket that is affixed with screws or an adhesive.
You can increase the range of motion for your handheld by 27.5" with a shower slide bar – it caters to all the heights and abilities in your household!
Plus, with hand crank tightening you won't ever have to worry about the handheld slipping or falling between adjustments.
Or enjoy perfect handheld placement with a shower head wall mount, and extend your rain shower overhead for the ultimate rainfall effect. This dual shower head includes our adjustable shower arm extension with the deepest locking gears on the market.
Where other shower arm extenders sag and droop after several uses, ours is guaranteed to hold and withstand the wear and tear of supporting even a large metal rain shower head for years to come.
Typical hand shower wall mounts use suctions that slip and fall when frequently adjusted. Our screw mounted shower head holder isn't going anywhere: install it once and enjoy it for life!
It's made from solid brass with full 360° rotation, plus the ability to angle up, down, left, or right. The tapered holder fits most shower heads, letting you put the handheld with arm's reach of everyone in the household.
2-Way Shower versus 3-Way Shower Diverter Valve
For the shower arm diverters without the holder mount, there are 2-Way and 3-Way Shower Diverters. The only difference is that the 2-way shower diverter can only run one shower head at a time, where the 3-way shower diverter can also run both shower heads at the same time.
At HammerHead Showers®, we always use a 3-way diverter over the 2-way diverter, as it gives the most options. Why not have the ability to run both shower heads at the same time? Exactly!
2. Choose A Hand Held Shower Head
When you're exploring how to make a double shower head, getting the right hand held shower head is the next crucial step after starting with the proper shower diverter base.
Here are some features to consider for your Hand Held Shower Head:
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Hose Length: Is a standard 60" hose sufficient, or will you need a longer one? We've found more length goes a long way in showering and cleaning more effectively. That's why our handheld shower heads come standard with an all metal 72" hose.
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Pause Feature: Do you want the option to stop the flow of water on the hand shower when lathering up? This is a great feature for saving water and saving eyes (bathing kids or pups, anyone?!)
- Materials: Is plastic acceptable, or do you want to upgrade to a solid metal setup? Hint: Unless you enjoy replacing a kinked-up hose and a cracked or leaking shower head every year, then you should definitely opt for all metal.
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Spray Settings: Do you want multiple spray options?
Our 3-Spray handheld offers the most versatility for your dual shower head set up. But some people prefer a simpler, single-function shower head:
You can't go wrong with a classic handheld with one high pressure spray. With our proprietary nozzles that pressurize the water, you're guaranteed to get a powerful flow!
3. Find Your Fixed Shower Head
This is the easiest part of building the perfect DIY Dual Shower Head. Your fixed shower head will attach to the male threads on the front of the shower diverter and there really aren't any limitations here.
Some features to consider for your Fixed Shower Head:
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Size: Do you want a small concentrated flow?
Or a large Rainfall Shower Head?
The Shower Head Store's Pro Recommendation
You can't beat the quality of our
All Metal Dual Shower Heads. Plus, they give you the best balance with the versatility of a high pressure Hand Held Shower Head, and the luxurious coverage of an 8-inch Rainfall Shower Head. Here's what's included:
- 1-Spray or 3-Spray Hand Held Shower Head Set
- 8 Inch Rainfall Shower Head
- 3-Way External Shower Arm Diverter
They are both available in Chrome, Brushed Nickel, Matte Black, or Oil Rubbed Bronze (plus brushed gold for our 1-Spray!). So you will have no problem finding the perfect match for your bathroom decor.
Build Your DIY Dual Shower Head
Now that you've learned how to add a handheld shower head to an existing shower and build your own DIY double shower head system, the sky's the limit when it comes to creating the custom shower of your dreams.
Use our recommended 3-piece dual shower head system, or design your own DIY dual shower head with your favorite fixed shower head, handheld shower head, shower diverter valve and other customizing accessories.
Already love your fixed shower head? Then simply upgrade with the dual shower head splitter and a handheld shower head. Or, start from scratch with all new pieces!
No matter how you build your DIY dual shower head system, The Shower Head Store is here to help! Contact us at any time to answer your shower head questions.