When it is time to build out a shower, it’s important to look at what your options are. There are several details to go through and that includes the placement of the showerhead. You may wonder, can the shower head be on the exterior wall?
It is not recommended to place a shower head on the exterior wall. This can lead to structural liabilities in terms of the placement of the risers, drain, and everything in between.
This is why the showerhead should only be installed on an interior wall.
The key factors include:
- Placement of the Rest of the Plumbing
- Potential Risks of Leaks
- Structural Concerns
When asking “Can shower head be on an exterior wall?” it is better to go with a shower head that’s installed in the right spot without compromising on structural integrity.
If you are looking to keep things as simple as possible, you will want to avoid installing the shower head on an exterior wall.
This guide will look at the query, “Can shower head be on an exterior wall?” while thinking about the negatives of installing a shower head on the exterior wall.
Best Shower Head for Interior Wall (EDITOR’S CHOICE)
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Negatives of Shower Head On Exterior Wall
1. Compromises the Plumbing
The plumbing is going to be the main concern.
You will not want to set up the plumbing in a way where the showerhead is on an exterior wall. This is going to misalign the rest of the components in your shower setup and can cause significant damage over the long term.
It’s better to avoid a situation where the showerhead is set up on an exterior wall. A lot of regions will have plumbing codes that go against these types of installations due to the safety concerns that come along with such an installation. It is recommended to look at what the plumbing codes have to say about this in your region.
If you want to keep things as safe as possible, it is better to install the showerhead on an interior wall with the rest of the plumbing components.
This is key when you are asking “Can shower head be on an exterior wall?”
The wrong installation can lead to serious issues that are only going to get worse with time before needing replacement.

2. Damages the Wall
It is the wall that tends to get damaged when you have a setup such as this.
The exterior wall is going to be exposed to more than the interior walls. This means you are going to have the likelihood of the wall itself getting damaged too due to moisture.
It is better to make sure you are not damaging the exterior wall by placing the showerhead in the right spot.
When asking “Can shower head be on an exterior wall?” you have to make sure the wall itself is robust.
This is the only way you can keep the showerhead safe along with the remaining plumbing components. However, even in the best-case scenario, you are not going to see appropriate results nor is it going to be optimized.

3. Limited Insulation
The insulation factor is why most plumbing codes don’t recommend installing a showerhead or most plumbing components along the exterior wall.
It is not going to offer enough insulation for the valve and everything else.
You want to optimize the setup and that is only going to happen when the showerhead is set on an interior wall.
The insulation is only going to get worse as the showerhead ages.
Keep things simple and make sure you are installing the plumbing fixtures in alignment with each other.
Related Questions
1. Why Would a Designer Avoid Putting Plumbing in an Exterior Wall?
It is recommended to avoid putting plumbing fixtures in an exterior wall as it doesn’t provide enough insulation to protect the components along with the moisture.
2. Can You Put A Sink On An Outside Wall?
Yes, it is possible to put a sink on an outside wall as long as the pipes are run through a warmly insulated part of the room rather than the outside wall itself.
Final Thoughts
“Can shower head be on an exterior wall?”
The exterior wall is never recommended for plumbing fixtures due to the drop in temperature. Fluctuating temperature is not good for something like this.
It is better to make sure you are setting it along an interior wall with the rest of the plumbing components to keep things safe.
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