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BoxerLover55 · Feb 9, 2009, 02:40 PM

The shower arm on my shower broke and I had to replace the shower arm and flange. I put pipe thread seal tape on the end of the new pipe before putting it in. I tighten the arm on the pipe and turned on the water to check for leaks. It still leaks. I tried to tighten it more but ended up breaking the new shower arm. I got a new shower arm and tried again. It still leaks, I tighten it again but I'm afraid to tighten it too much or it will break again. What else can I do to stop the new shower arm from leaking?

Thanks,
Gina

massplumber2008 · Feb 9, 2009, 03:13 PM

How many wraps of teflon tape?

BoxerLover55 · Feb 9, 2009, 04:07 PM

The first time I only wrapped it once around overlapping slightly. The second time I wrapped it at least 3 times around.

mygirlsdad77 · Feb 9, 2009, 04:17 PM

Do you have a plastic shower arm? Are you sure you got the old threads completely out before installing the new arm? Im a little confused as to whether you are talking about the shower head, or arm. You say you put teflon on pipe and then installed arm onto pipe

I provided a pic of the shower arm and flange. Let me know if we are on the same page.

BoxerLover55 · Feb 9, 2009, 04:30 PM

Yes, I thought I got all the old shower arm out. The old one was plastic, the new one is chrome.

BoxerLover55 · Feb 9, 2009, 04:33 PM

It is the shower arm I am replacing. It doesn't seem hard and should be straight forward. I just don't understand why it still leaks. I will have to remove the new one again and check to be sure I got all the old one out first. Also will put more tape on it this time.

Thanks,

mygirlsdad77 · Feb 9, 2009, 04:37 PM

So it is leaking in the wall, where the arm threads into the female adapter? You may have a crack in the female thread that arm threads into. I would try wrapping the arm 5 to 6 times and see what happens. If it still leaks, it really sounds like a split drop L(the part the arm threads into). Take a good flashlight and shine in this part, see if you can see any signs of a crack or split.

mygirlsdad77 · Feb 9, 2009, 04:39 PM

Are you sure its leaking at the threads? Or is it possible that the pipe supplying the shower head isn't leaking. Sorry I ask so many questions, but it's the only way for me to help.

BoxerLover55 · Feb 10, 2009, 06:51 AM

I will be looking at it again this morning. Hopefully wrapping it 5 or 6 times will help and I can then repair the wall. Thanks for all your help. Much appreciated.

mygirlsdad77 · Feb 10, 2009, 04:44 PM

Please let us know how things turn out. Take care,

Lee

BoxerLover55 · Feb 10, 2009, 06:04 PM

Hi Lee, I worked on the shower arm today and checked the pipe in the wall which turned out to be OK. I rewrapped the arm 5 or 6 times with the tape and it worked. I was so happy to see it wasn't leaking. This has been a year of challenges for me. Since I'm on my own (recently lost my husband) and can't afford to hire a handy man. I give most of my thanks to my father who taught me so much. I want to thank you for your assistance with this problem and checking back with me to see if I was able to fix it. I was truly at my wits end after 5 hours of working on it yesterday. Thanks a million.

Gina

mygirlsdad77 · Feb 11, 2009, 04:42 PM

Just happy you got it fixed. Good job by the way. Take care,

Lee