I have a 19 year old home with antique brass finish fixtures that I'd like to update to chrome. I have tried to change out the ancient, yellowed plastic handheld shower (broken handle and hose not long enough) however the shower arm has a ball at the end which will not release to allow me to remove the plastic "female" end of the handheld shower bracket assembly.

I was wondering if I'd be able to remove the shower arm (and how without damage to the other pipes) without cutting a hole in the back side of the wall for access.

Thanks for any helpful tips.

Shower arms are cheap and easy to replace. It's secured by a threaded drop eared ell, (see image) and to remove, grip it with a pipe wrench and turn it out counterclockwise. Regaqrds. Tom

I have a 19 year old home with antique brass finish fixtures that I'd like to update to chrome. I have tried to change out the ancient, yellowed plastic handheld shower (broken handle and hose not long enough) however the shower arm has a ball at the end which will not release to allow me to remove the plastic "female" end of the handheld shower bracket assembly.

I was wondering if I'd be able to remove the shower arm (and how without damage to the other pipes) without cutting a hole in the back side of the wall for access.

Thanks for any helpful tips.
If you are going to replace the shower arm anyway, then go for broke and use a pipe wrench.

If it were me, I'd cut the ball off and then stick the handle of my channel-locks inside the half inch opening and twist it off -- If I met too much resistance, I'd try tightening it a bit to loosen up the petrified pipe dope, and then I'd go for broke in loosening it.

Do I have to turn off the water to the house to remove the old shower arm? Man at Lowe's said no but I'm afraid

The man at Lowe's was correct... no reason to shut off the water if you are only unscrewing the shower arm/head and installing a new one... ;)

Mark