Neil.Steiner
Member
I set out to replace a shower head and realized I would have to also replace the shower arm, since the ball at the end of the existing arm doesn't unscrew. So I used a 1/2" tap to clean up the threads inside the wall, before putting 5-6 turns of teflon tape on the arm and screwing it in. I went hand tight, and then did I think two full turns with pliers. (It's really awkward because the ceiling is low.) I placed a 1/2" cap on the other end of the shower and turned on the water, and saw no leaks. So I took a shower and looked closely inside the wall afterward. I saw a tiny bead of water inside the wall right at the top of the arm, and evidence of at least one drip from the bottom of the arm, also inside the wall. I got the locking pliers back out, forced the arm to make another full turn, nicely scratching the arm in the process, and hoped for the best, but the next day I again saw a bead of water after taking a shower.
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to make another turn with the shower arm, at least not the way I did it, so I'm wondering what my options are. On one hand, even though I used a tap and thought I had done a good job, perhaps I need to tap the threads some more. I might possibly damage the female pipe head in the wall in the process, and that would be unfortunate. Or I might tap it too far, if such a thing is possible. Or if I'm willing to make this my forever-shower-arm, I could put some loctite on the threads when reinserting the arm. Or I could modify my technique and try to force the shower arm to make another turn by putting a screwdriver or a wrench handle into the arm, but I already deformed the outside of the arm a little out of round near the head just to get enough leverage to turn it as far as I did. I suspect that mineral deposits would eventually seal up whatever path that little bead of water has found, but I don't like leaving knowns leaks inside walls. Any suggestions for me?
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to make another turn with the shower arm, at least not the way I did it, so I'm wondering what my options are. On one hand, even though I used a tap and thought I had done a good job, perhaps I need to tap the threads some more. I might possibly damage the female pipe head in the wall in the process, and that would be unfortunate. Or I might tap it too far, if such a thing is possible. Or if I'm willing to make this my forever-shower-arm, I could put some loctite on the threads when reinserting the arm. Or I could modify my technique and try to force the shower arm to make another turn by putting a screwdriver or a wrench handle into the arm, but I already deformed the outside of the arm a little out of round near the head just to get enough leverage to turn it as far as I did. I suspect that mineral deposits would eventually seal up whatever path that little bead of water has found, but I don't like leaving knowns leaks inside walls. Any suggestions for me?