Repairing a Dripping Shower Arm

Aaron Stickley is a certified plumber boasting 15 years of expertise in commercial plumbing, new residential installations, and residential service and repairs. He has established his own plumbing business focused on residential service and repairs. Over the past four years, Aaron has contributed numerous articles on plumbing.

If your shower is dripping from the shower arm, the solution could range from a minor adjustment to a more significant repair, depending on the leak’s location and your plumbing configuration. To clarify, the shower arm is the short pipe segment that extends from the wall and connects to the showerhead. Typically, shower arms feature a slight curve in the middle and have threaded ends. One end connects to a fitting known as a drop-ear elbow within the wall, while the other end is designed to attach the showerhead, which screws onto the arm’s exposed end. The initial step in addressing a leak from the shower arm is to pinpoint the exact source of the leak.

Potential Leak Points in Shower Arms

Excessive force applied while removing the showerhead or shower arm can lead to the shower arm breaking within the wall or even causing the vertical pipe to fracture. It’s not uncommon for the shower arm to sustain damage during the replacement of the showerhead. Additionally, the shower arm can deteriorate over time due to the constant pressure from adjusting the showerhead. Often, the damage occurs at the threaded end connected to the showerhead, but the more serious issue arises when the pressure affects the connection within the wall. There is also the possibility that one of the threaded joints is not sealing correctly.

Dripping from the Showerhead

If you notice that your shower is leaking from the bottom of the showerhead, inspect both the showerhead and the shower arm for any cracks. While many showerheads may appear to be made of metal, they are often plastic coated with a chrome finish. Plastic is more prone to cracking compared to metal, although metal can also be susceptible to damage. If you don’t see any obvious cracks, consider trying these solutions:

1. Remove the showerhead by unscrewing it. If needed, use pliers to grip the shower arm to prevent it from rotating. A helpful hint is to cover the pliers’ jaws with masking tape to avoid damaging the shower arm. Ideally, employ two pipe wrenches: this technique, known as a scissor bite, allows plumbers to stabilize the fixed pipe while managing the tension on the pipe that stays in place.
2. Remove any old plumber’s tape, pipe joint compound, and mineral buildup from the threads of the shower arm.
3. Apply plumber’s tape to the threads of the shower arm, ensuring to wrap it in the same direction that the showerhead will be reattached.
4. Reattach the showerhead, ensuring it is securely fastened but not overly tight. There’s no need to use pliers for this, but if you find it challenging to tighten, you can use one pair of pliers to grip the shower arm while using another pair to tighten the showerhead.
5. Check the connection for any leaks. If leaks persist, try tightening the showerhead further. If the leak continues, consider replacing the shower arm (refer to the instructions below).

Water Seeping Through the Wall

It’s now important to address the drop-ear elbow. Similar to the showerhead, the threaded joint between the shower arm and the elbow can be prone to leaks. The solution mirrors the showerhead repair: detach the shower arm, clean the threads, and either reinstall the arm or replace it if it shows signs of cracking or corrosion, applying fresh plumber’s tape. The arm screws into the elbow much like a bolt into a nut. Take care to avoid cross-threading the connection as you begin to turn it. Additionally, be cautious not to over-tighten the arm, as this could potentially damage the elbow or the pipe.

Warning

Often, an aging or fragile shower arm may snap at the threads when you try to take it off. Repairing this issue can be complicated and is best handled by an expert who can remove the threads without damaging the wall.

Dripping Outside the Shower Arm

If replacing or reinstalling the arm doesn’t resolve the leak in your shower, the issue might lie with the drop-ear elbow or the vertical shower pipe. There are various methods to address this, but they all necessitate accessing the shower’s plumbing. If an access panel was installed on the opposite side of the shower wall, you’re fortunate. Otherwise, you may need to create an opening in the back of the wall to reach the plumbing.

Once the plumbing is exposed, you can identify the source of the leak and the type of pipes you have. If the pipes are galvanized, the drop-ear elbow is likely screwed onto the vertical pipe, allowing you to easily unscrew the old one and attach a new one. In the case of copper pipes, the joints are likely soldered, which presents a choice. Soldered copper is considered the best option for plumbing connections; if you wish to maintain that quality, it’s advisable to hire a plumber for the repair. They can cut the vertical pipe and install a new section, along with a new drop-ear elbow, using a soldered coupling. Alternatively, you may decide that it’s the perfect opportunity to replace the entire shower faucet.

A Do-It-Yourself Option

You can insert a new segment of shower piping along with a drop ear elbow by utilizing push-in fittings, such as those offered by SharkBite. This method is perfectly acceptable as long as the fittings are installed correctly. The simplest approach is to cut the shower pipe above the faucet, attach a new piece of pipe with a push-in coupling, and then add a push-in drop ear elbow to the upper end of the pipe. Make sure to fasten the elbow to the wall framing and then attach a new shower arm to finalize the repair.