OK, i have a shower pipe in my bathroom that i cant find any type of adapter for. Instead of it being a regular pipe with grooves on it for a normal shower head, it has a sorta ball joint on the end. I have pictures but i dont know if i can post them on here. Can anyone help me figure out how to change it or find a new head that will attach on?
2007-07-25 03:16:14 · 4 answers · asked by Domestic Spy 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
ok, i figure out it is screwed into an elbow behind the wall, but the pipe wont budge, it has that stuff in the groves to keep it tight. Is there anything you can buy to loosen it up, or is it just brute strength to twist it off? Thanks
2007-07-25 04:18:55 · update #1
believe it or not, the "ball joint" is probably threaded on. Some slip joint pliers or a plumbers wrench should answer that question quickly.
I'm generally in agreement with everybody else but just because the 'licensed plumber' hasn't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Here's a picture of one that screws off - i've seen tons of them; perhaps its a regional thing.
http://www.shower-spare-parts.com/uploads/N42d77bb1a2fa3.jpg
2007-07-25 03:25:07 · answer #1 · answered by College Guy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the ball is not removable, you will need to change the whole shower arm. It is screwed into an elbow in the wall. You can find the arms at Home Centers. Use teflon tape on the threads. Some shower arms were made with the ball type being the actual showerhead. These were mostly used in apartments to prevent theft of the heads when tenants moved out.
2007-07-25 04:08:05 · answer #2 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The ball is not going to screw off. I know exactly the type of shower arm you are talking about and I've never seen one where the "ball" screws off. The stuff you say that is on the threads that makes it tight doesn't actually make it tight. It's there to prevent leaking and although it does harden it will budge. Youre gonna have to replace the shower arm anyway to install a new shower head so take a pair of channel locks (better than pliers) and put them as close to the wall as you can while gripping the shower arm with them. Be patient...it will come out. You may just have to apply more pressure but it will come out. I've never seen one that didnt come out. You may have to tell the shower arm that it's not going to win. Show it whose boss!!
2007-07-25 17:57:23 · answer #3 · answered by Tripping Billies 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always called the bent nipple the shower head is screwed on to a goose neck. If the job was done correctly they are screwed in to a flanged elbow. The flanged elbow is screwed to a piece of wood behind the wall so you can take it out with out causing damage. If you cant budge it with a pipe wrench you better call a plumber.
2007-07-25 05:28:36 · answer #4 · answered by petethen2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋