Handheld on a wall bracket
The simplest setup: the handheld clips into a fixed holder at one height.
Aging in place · Safer showers
Handheld shower and slide bar installation
Quick answer
A handheld shower is a shower head on a hose that you can hold or clip at different heights. Mounted on a slide bar, it can be set low for someone sitting and high for someone standing. HandyMangum installs handheld showers on existing shower arms, adds slide bars that can double as grab bars, and installs diverters so you keep the fixed head too.
Why a handheld shower helps
A fixed head sprays from one spot overhead, so someone sitting on a shower seat ends up turning and leaning to rinse. A handheld lets them bring the water to where it is needed, and lets a caregiver help without getting soaked.
Most installs use the existing shower arm and do not open the wall. A slide bar needs solid mounting, and a slide bar that is also a grab bar must be anchored like one.
Who it helps
- Anyone using a shower seat or tub bench
- Caregivers helping someone bathe
- People who cannot raise their arms easily
- Wheelchair users with a roll-in or curbless shower
- Households of different heights
- Washing pets and cleaning the shower, too
What the job involves
Check the shower
We look at the shower arm, the valve and the wall so the hose reaches the seat.
Mount the slide bar
Into studs or rated anchors, at a height that works sitting and standing.
Connect and test
Handheld or diverter on, every joint sealed and leak-tested.
Options
Slide bar
A vertical bar the holder slides up and down, so each person sets their own height.
Grab bar slide bar
A slide bar strong enough to be a grab bar. Saves wall space in small showers.
Grab barsDiverter with two heads
Keep the fixed rain head and add a handheld; a diverter switches between them.
Longer hose
A 72-inch or longer hose helps when the seat is across the shower from the valve.
On/off button on the handle
Lets someone pause the water without reaching for the valve.
Good to know
- ADA guidelines call for a hose at least 59 inches long and a handheld that can be used both fixed and handheld. We use that as the baseline.
- An ordinary slide bar is not a grab bar. If someone will hold on to it, choose one rated as a grab bar.
- New valves or moving the water supply mean opening the wall. If any part of the job needs a permit or a state-licensed trade, such as new plumbing lines or new wiring, we tell you during the quote and that part is handled by properly licensed professionals.
Handheld Showers & Slide Bars FAQs
Can a handheld shower be added to my current shower?
Usually yes. Most handhelds screw onto the existing shower arm, with no changes behind the wall.
What is a slide bar?
A vertical bar on the shower wall that holds the handheld at any height along it, so a seated or standing person can set it where they need it.
Can a slide bar double as a grab bar?
Only if it is made and rated as a grab bar and anchored like one. Standard slide bars are not built to hold a person's weight.
How long should the hose be?
ADA guidelines call for at least 59 inches. Longer hoses help when the seat is far from the valve.
Can I keep my rain shower head?
Yes. A diverter lets you switch between the fixed head and the handheld.
How do I book?
Estimates are free. Call or text (407) 699-1123, or send the online request with a few photos. We send a written quote before any work starts.
Add a handheld shower
Call or text (407) 699-1123, or send the online request with a few photos. Estimates are free on every job.