Kohler manufactures different styles of shower handles that can complement almost any type of bathroom or kitchen theme. These shower handles are of high quality and prove to be a perfect choice in terms of style and functionality.

Whether you want to use these shower handles as beautiful accent pieces in your bathroom or kitchen or add something functional to these rooms, Kohler is your answer.

However, if you need to troubleshoot any functional problems, you’ll need to know how to remove a Kohler shower handle.

How to Remove a Kohler Shower Handle

Although removing a Kohler shower is not very challenging, you must first learn how to do it. Additionally, various models make removing the shower handle a unique experience each time. To remove a Kohler shower handle, you’ll need a Phillips screwdriver, tape, flat blade screwdriver, pliers, a 1/16-inch hex wrench, and a 3/32-inch hex wrench. Once you have these things, you can take the Kohler shower handle off using these steps:

1.   Turn Off Water Supply

The first thing you need to do before removing the shower handle is to turn off the water supply. This is the case with almost all plumbing projects, ensuring you perform the plumbing safely. Behind the wall, there’s a shut-off valve that you can open and close. If you can’t locate the water shut-off valve, you can always cut off the main water supply. This way, the excess water will drain off the pipe and prevent a sudden burst of water during handle removal. However, if you love the idea of water splashing on you, you can skip this step.

2.   Remove the Diverter Button

Some Kohler shower handles have diverter buttons, so after turning off the water supply, you must remove the diverter button. A few diverter buttons include a knob button, a threaded button, and diverter buttons with a set screw. The following are the methods to remove each of these diverter buttons:

Knob Button: There is a small knob on the diverter button, which you can remove by unthreading. Disconnect the diverter stem from the diverter button using a screwdriver.

Threaded Button: You can remove the threaded diverter button by removing the valve trim. You’ll need a screwdriver to unthread the diverter button and remove it while holding the stem in place.

Diverter Button with a Set Screw: To get to the valve trim, you’ll first need to unscrew the diverter sleeve. You can remove it by using a 1/16-inch hex wrench.

3.   Remove the Decorative Cover or Trim

You can move on to the next step if your Kohler shower handle has no diverter button. On most of the Kohler shower handles, there is a decorative cover in the middle that covers the securing screw. Move this decorative cover anti-clockwise; it will slowly start unlocking from the handle. Remove the cover and take out the O-ring that surrounds the faucet stem. Again, there are different shower handles, and their decorative covers may also differ. The following are a few types of decorative covers or trims:

Decorative Cover With Exposed Screws: Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the exposed screws on the decorative cover. The screw is on the valve stem, which you can drag and then take out the handle, bonnet, and sleeve. Then remove the screws on the faceplate, which will help remove the faceplate and the escutcheon.

Decorative Cover With a Plug Button: If the decorative cover has a button, use a flat blade screwdriver to slowly remove the plug from the valve trim. The screws, handle, and adaptor can then be removed from the stem using a Phillips screwdriver.

Decorative Cover With Set Screws: If the decorative cover has set screws, you can remove them in four different ways, but here’s the easiest method to remove a trim with set screws. To remove such trim, you’ll have to use a 3/32-inch hex wrench to loosen up the two set screws. Then you can remove the handle and the sleeves. After that, unthread the screw and remove the adapter from the stem.

4.    Remove the Screws

A screw in the center of the handle keeps the handle in place. Remove this screw with the help of a Phillips head screwdriver. If the shower handle is lever-style, the screw will be under the handle facing the wall. Now pull the handle from the faucet stem. You can remove the securing screw with the help of the wrench and then pull off the faucet handle from the stem. This is the simplest way to remove the screws from the shower handle.

5.   Remove the Sleeve

Next, you have to remove the faucet sleeve to unlock the tabs. Twist the sleeve counter-clockwise and then pull it towards yourself against the faucet stem. Once you remove the sleeve, you’ll be able to see the cartridge and stem of your shower faucet.

6.   Replace or Repair the Handle

After removing the handle, you can carry out the replacement or repair and then reassemble the shower handle. Retrace the steps and turn on the water supply to check it’s working correctly. If the shower works appropriately and there is no leakage, you’ve successfully performed the removal.

Conclusion

Swapping or repairing an old shower handle is one of the simplest improvements you can make to your bathroom — the same type of repair works on your kitchen handle, too. However, not all shower handles are the same, and you must read the manufacturer’s instructions before removing one. The good thing about Kohler handles and faucets is that most are designed to fit all sink and shower sizes. Thus, the process of removing Kohler shower handles is more or less the same, with a few slight changes due to differences in design.