Why Does My Hand Shower Head Spray Out the Side and Can I Replace Just the Head?

When your hand shower head sprays out the side, squeals at some settings, or has broken off at the plastic threads, the good news is that the head is its own part. On the Ella fast-fill faucets the handset threads onto the end of the 5 foot hose, so you can replace just the wand and leave the hose, the deck mount and the faucet exactly where they are. The first thing to check is the joint between the head and the hose: unscrew the head by hand and look for the washer and the small blue check valve inside the threads, because a missing washer or check valve is a common reason water sprays sideways at that joint. If the head itself has cracked or come apart, a matched replacement handset is the fix.

Likely Causes

• The washer between the head and the hose is worn, missing, or was reused from an older hose.
• The blue backflow check valve inside the head is missing, so the joint drips or sprays.
• The plastic threads on the head have cracked, often after a drop or a move.
• The head was fitted to the wrong end of the hose. The conical connector belongs on the handset and the hex nut end goes to the deck mount.

What to Check, in Order

1. Turn the water off, then unscrew the head from the hose by hand. No tools are needed.
2. Look inside the head for the small blue check valve and confirm a washer is present at the joint. If either is missing, the head itself is what needs replacing.
3. Inspect the threads. A crack above the threading cannot be repaired, so photograph it for your request.
4. If the head is intact, thread it back on hand tight with the conical connector on the handset and try each of the five spray settings. Our guide to hand shower hoses, diverters and the wall mount kit covers which end goes where and the washers that ship with a new hose.
5. If one setting hisses or squeals, take a short video of it for your request so the team can tell whether the head or the hose joint is the cause.
6. For everything else the hand shower can do, see showering in your walk-in tub.

When to Open a Ticket

Hoses and handsets are matched to your faucet set, so please do not buy a generic head. Contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support, with your tub model, a photo of the wand and a photo of the faucet. If you bought the tub years ago, the team can look up your original order to match the right handheld. Our article on how to order replacement parts lists everything a parts request should include.

The video shows the mixer head coming off the end of the original hose by hand, which is the same threaded joint you use when only the head is being replaced.

Related Guides

• Hand Shower Hose Leaks or Will Not Attach at the Faucet: Replacing the Brass Connector Rod
• Is the Gray Ring Inside My Hand Shower Holder Broken?
• Hand Shower Holder Loose, Detached, or Broken: Tightening the Base Nut or Replacing the Sprayer Base
• Which Handheld Shower Head Is Best for an Ella Walk-In Tub?
• How Do I Use the Hand Shower in My Ella Walk-In Tub?

Common Questions