Is this shower arm leaking around inside the wall?

[elektrei]

Based on the pictures I am posting, would you say this shower arm is leaking? The area feels a bit wet to the touch. I also noticed that there is a bit of gravel at the base of the hole.

I changed the shower arm about a week ago. Is it possible that I did not tighten it enough? I used enough teflon tape, and twisted it beyond the point of resistance by hand.

https://ibb.co/rfF9WycS
https://ibb.co/CKYz4pH7

Thank you!

 

[CENTRALFL]

Maybe try using Teflon and some pipe dope? Also clean out the area as much as possible, to minimize risk of some debris going into the threads.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[elektrei]

Maybe try using Teflon and some pipe dope? Also clean out the area as much as possible, to minimize risk of some debris going into the threads.

Do you recommend vacuuming some of that cement debris then?

Are you able to tell me what the materials are surrounding the elbow drop? From back to front:

- Green circle. Is that some old tape? There is some of that old debris more at the front as well.
- Brown material: Is that wood or backerboard for showers?
- Purple and brown materials: Is that drywall, special for showers?
- Last is the cement from the tile.

Thank you!

 

[John Gayewski]

If your stick your pinky in the hole and the bottom of it feels mushy or wet then it's probably leaking.

Teflon tape 4 wraps leaving the first two threads untaped. Then using the plastic edge of the roll of teflon tape work the teflon into the base of the threads all the way up the spiral. Then dope the taped threads. The dope let's the tape slide with the threads instead of coming off when you tighten it.

When you get hand tight use a screwdriver inside of the shower arm to make it longer and give you leverage to go another turn or 1.5 turns.

Your welcome.

 

[CENTRALFL]

Do you recommend vacuuming some of that cement debris then?

Are you able to tell me what the materials are surrounding the elbow drop? From back to front:

- Green circle. Is that some old tape? There is some of that old debris more at the front as well.
- Brown material: Is that wood or backerboard for showers?
- Purple and brown materials: Is that drywall, special for showers?
- Last is the cement from the tile.

Thank you!

Honestly I'm not sure as it doesn't seem to make sense. I'm just a DIYer, but it almost looks like you have:
- some plywood
- Then purple drywall (moisture resistant) but it almost looks like the purple is touching the wood, and the white side is facing the tile? If that's the case then that sounds backwards...
-then it looks like some cement layer, likely thinset. It could be the camera angle but this layer looks really thick. At least compared to the thickness of the drywall
-then the tile

I'm not sure what waterproofing it being used under the tile, if any. Purple drywall by itself isn't meant for direct shower use, unless they have some waterproofing further down.

I'm also unsure what is the green liquid around the elbow.

I usually see drop elbows look like this, with the mounting ears on the elbow part.

But in your picture, it almost looks like the wood is flush with the face of the screw face. So, not sure how your elbow is mounted.

But for your main issue of the leaking, John's expert advice will likely solve your issue.

 

[elektrei]

If your stick your pinky in the hole and the bottom of it feels mushy or wet then it's probably leaking.

Teflon tape 4 wraps leaving the first two threads untaped. Then using the plastic edge of the roll of teflon tape work the teflon into the base of the threads all the way up the spiral. Then dope the taped threads. The dope let's the tape slide with the threads instead of coming off when you tighten it.

When you get hand tight use a screwdriver inside of the shower arm to make it longer and give you leverage to go another turn or 1.5 turns.

Your welcome.

Thanks for the advice. Looking at the picture, do you see any issues with the threads of the elbow drop?

 

[John Gayewski]

Thanks for the advice. Looking at the picture, do you see any issues with the threads of the elbow drop?

I think they are fine.