How to Change a Shower Arm 

This tutorial was a life saver. My husband passed away last year and was Mr. Fix It. I've been determined to do these household projects on my own and your video helped me do just that. Thank you so much!

Mike did a great job explaining how to change the shower arm. The only thing I would have liked to see was the inside of the wall with a flash light before the new arm was attached. I do not know why I am so paranoid about this... I think it is because I understand how much new damage can be done if this leaks. I may bite the bullet and give it a shot. Earlier in the day so I can call for help if need. Thanks Mike! I'll be sure to check out ur other videos.

Thanks you so much. I wanted to change my shower arm and head to a gold tone set, but was afraid to attempt it. After watching your video I gathered what I needed and did it in 15 minutes.

Great video! I watched the video because the replacement was leaking inside the wall. I saw from your video that I did not use enough tape. (I only wrapped it around once.) Now it looks like it's working fine!

I would think it probably wise to turn on the water before placing the decorative plate and using a flashlight or finger to inspect the fitting for leaks. Otherwise, you might have a small leak that can grow mold and destroy the framing in the coming months. There is no guarantee the leak will run down the arm and become apparent.

Thank you Dave for showing both the removal and replacing of the parts.

We've had a few questions lately about what to do with a stubborn shower arm. We recommend using a good pipe wrench (and maybe a little WD-40) - which, under normal circumstances, should help you get the shower arm out. However, there are some factors (rust, inappropriately used sealing agents, etc.) that may mean you simply won't be able to budge the shower arm without going into the wall. In these situations, we strongly recommend calling in a plumber to help you avoid the possibility of costly damage to the pipes behind the wall or the wall itself.

Thanks for the video. Feeling pretty accomplished here I just replaced the shower arm and shower head in my bathroom!

Thanks Mike for showing the entire process (removal to install). Right to the point!

HI Mike, Thank you so very much for your great video. I have been without the shower in my master bedroom for over a month due to a leak coming from my shower arm. I watched your video this morning, went to Home Depot to get parts and I fixed the arm with no problem. I appreciate your step by step instructions that make it easy for people who are not plumbers to fix their problems. THANK YOU!

I know how to do this, but the new shower arm directions called for 2-3 wraps of PTFE tape, which I feel is not enough. I think it is always good to see a refresher video b-4 doing this task. btw, my old shower arm has some of the thread broken off when I moved in. Putting on new arm b-4 installing a new shower head and filter. My old one only needed a nudge with my small pipe wrench to get it loose. There was old pipe dope on the old arm, I used the pipe cleaning brushes you use b-4 sweating copper, to clean the threads in the fitting in the wall as much as I could b-4 installing the new arm. They showed a narrow PTFE tape, on the video, but their thread may have been different. I always use Pipe dope with TFE in it best of both worlds. For a 2 valve shower, turn off the water supply outside, open a hose bib, then water pressure will drain out. Before you put the shower arm escutcheon, you can shine a flashlight inside the wall to see if it leaks. Always flush the shower arm by turning on the water to clear any debris before putting on the shower head. What ever you do, do not buy the Glacier Bay shower head arm, the threads are not true NPT standards, its made in China. Hope this helps anyone who watches in 2018 :)

Very helpful. Thanks, it was easy with your step by step guide.

It's a GOOD IDEA to cover any vulnerable areas of the tub's surface below with something like cardboard or bubblewrap to protect the tub's finish were a tool or metal part dropped by accident .

Great job! Thanks for posting!

Hi +dave smith, if you have a CPVC female connection behind your wall, we recommend using TU-555 pipe compound or a similar pipe dope to help create your seal instead of PTFE (aka Teflon) tape. Using PTFE tape could make the shower arm too big to fit properly into the female CPVC outlet and potentially cause cracking in your pipe if tightened too much. Hope this helps and as always, thanks for watching!

Very helpful, thanks from Australia

Thanks for the video. Simple task!!

Thanks for the video, just as I was looking for.

thanks for this - really helped me!

Good video. Easy to follow.

Thank you! I had an idea of how it could be, and ya, this really gave me a peace of mind. Haha. Thanks again!

Thank you for the video. My husband and I just replaced (an hour ago) the shower arm in our master bath. We live in a very nice modular home so, replacing the shower arm was slightly different but same concept. I love doing home improvement project (anything that will "beautify" the home) I am down for! Love how the shower arm looks now!! Again thanks for the video!!!

Thankyou, very helpful.

Will you come fix mine! Thanks for the video Mike!

Thanks this help a lot!

Vey helpful thank you!!

While tightening the shower head back, I reach the final tight position where the shower arm is facing sideways. Any clue on how to get it to together either a little sooner or a little later so finally the arm aligns where it needs to.

Thanks! This was incredibly simple to follow.

So much help lol thanks

well done.......thanks !

Thank you! I can't wait to put my new shower head in!!!!!!!

thanks!!

great video, id like the S style shower arm, mines low, and the one in my shower hits me right in the neck, would like a taller one, so the water would hit me above my head. This helps, Thx

I wanted to this but when I tried to put the shower arm in it knocked down the threaded part into the wall. now I don't know what to do

Do you still use teflon tape if the female fitting behind the wall is CPVC?

thanks

what if it shoots out where the new showerhead is attached?

Hello.... Your vid makes it look easy(As it should..) but what kind of wrench are you using here? I tried to use a locking plier and a Soft Jaw HDX plier and no luck. Thanks for any tip you may share.

great video, just wanted to confirm if the water supply had to be turned off? We just had our shower retiled and a new trim kit installed, so the valve should be in perfect working order.

crazy question is there different size Threads for Shower arm? or is there just one Standard? basically have to buy a specific brand part?

I have a question about the possibility of a leak happening behind the wall. If I do thread the arm on wrong (to the part just inside the wall) and it leaks, will it happen behind the wall or is it readily apparent from my side of the wall? I would hate to replace this thing, have everything look ok, then discover years later that i'ts been leaking the entire time back there. Makes me shudder just to think about it!

can you explain why had a bracket at the end in the pipe, star liking and try to replace but yours doesen't have it.

I live in an old (pre 1970s) apartment. I want to replace my arm because the 45 degree that is on it ends in a rounded end. Does the water supply need to be turned off, or will I see any other problems?

my shower arm keeps on stopping with the 45 facing up. How can i make it stop in the down position without it being loose?

This may be a dumb question, but do I have to turn off the water at the main water level or just in the shower?

how do u determine there is no leak between wall and shower arm?

What brand of channel lock are you using please

How do you get the flange to fix to the wall?

What if the shower head is stuck on? Looks like an adhesive was used like liquid or paste that hardened.

How do you know the shower arm is in tight enough ... mine is only turning 3 times

Hi, can you help me please? I have been trying to remove my shower arm but its very stuck. It has grouting ontop of the arm which is then stuck to the tile. I have been using wd40 to loosen up any grouting and it has worked but hasn't helped much. Iv managed to get quite abit off but due to the fact its ontop of the pipe, its taking forever to take off. I have tried to move the shower arm to see if it has loosened up after I removed the grouting but its still stuck. My house was built in 1945 and whoever put this shower in place did not want this shower arm to be de-tatched 😢. I am worried that I wont be ablw to remove the shower arm at all. Can you please advise what I could do to remove this grout and make this task abit easier?

can plumbers dope be a substitute for tape

You should be careful , you are putting your teflon on the wrong side, lol

My shower arm doesn't want to budge. Is there any chance that it cannot come off or is it just very tight?

My problem is that there is a free-spinning, round, metal ring around the shower head threads. How do I remove the ring in order to get to the threads of the shower head? I need to replace that shower head.

You just present a simple scenario, what happens if the arm cannot screw to the down position, my problem is that I can screw tight the arm to the up position, there is a 180 degree to go!

What do I do if the shower arm is SMOKED down on the threads? This thing won't even BUDGE.

Funny how at 1:46 he had tape on both ends of Arm but at 3:00 he is applying tape LOL

hand tighten??? good luck and cross your fingers!!! what about the part where you get some channel locks cover the arm and tighten it??

You completely skipped the tightening of the shower arm.