Broken shower head extension (soldered joint) - please help!

Simon96Taco · 02-20-2012, 02:27 AM

Well, shamefully my first post here is a plea for help. I searched for a solution but all I came up with was solutions to the problem of the shower head stem itself breaking off inside the copper nipple. That is not quite my problem (please see attached pictures).

In my case, there is actually a short (about 2.5" long) copper extension coming off the main copper water line. piece has broken free at the soldered joint. This happened when I was trying to remove the shower head from the stem to install a new shower head.

My question is this - is there any way to fix this without soldering? I don't imagine it is possible to solder behind the wall, and fear that I now have to rip my shower wall apart to fix the problem I've created

Any and all help would be hugely appreciated!!

Simon

jammin06 · 02-20-2012, 03:46 AM

Are you sure that fitting won't just screw out?

It looks like there are six flats around a male fitting that is screwed into the brass elbow that has the two screws in it.

Looks like that piece that came out was not soldered in correctly. Looks like it was not inserted far enough.

Try a socket on that piece in the wall. Can you see the flats? I'll bet it just screws out.

Good luck

plummen · 02-20-2012, 07:40 AM

Time to learn to sweat copper

hammerlane · 02-20-2012, 09:20 AM

Jammin may be correct. In your first picture if that drop ear elbow has a male adaptor threaded into it you should be able to unthread the male adaptor.

Can you provide a clearer picture.

Also what is on the other side of the shower wall ? Is there a closet or is it the outside wall?

plummen · 02-20-2012, 09:32 AM

You might be able to get it out of there with a 1/2" drive ratchet with an extension and a deep socket

hammerlane · 02-20-2012, 09:32 AM

In other words if your setup is something like below. You should be able to unscrew #2 from #1

plummen · 02-20-2012, 09:34 AM

hammerlane · 02-20-2012, 09:46 AM

Then I would forget about soldering all back in there and buy a brass coupling(5) and a brass nipple(4) if you have the depth and put it all back like that

rrolleston · 02-20-2012, 10:05 AM

Don't even look like they had that pipe all the way in that male adapter when they soldered it.

Simon96Taco · 02-20-2012, 09:11 PM

You guys were right - I was able to unthread the piece behind the wall with a socket wrench. I got a brass coupling and a galvanized nipple to replace.

Now I'm dealing with widening the hole so I can get a 1" (or 23mm?) socket through....and having to buy a 1" (or 23mm?) socket

I can live with that though.

Thank you all so much for your help.

Simon

plummen · 02-20-2012, 09:25 PM

**TheEplumber** · 02-20-2012, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon96Taco

You guys were right - I was able to unthread the piece behind the wall with a socket wrench. I got a brass coupling and a galvanized nipple to replace.

Now I'm dealing with widening the hole so I can get a 1" (or 23mm?) socket through....and having to buy a 1" (or 23mm?) socket

I can live with that though.

Thank you all so much for your help.

Simon

Better to use a brass nipple.

ben's plumbing · 02-20-2012, 09:58 PM

take out that male adapter... get longer shower arm no other fittings needed

Simon96Taco · 02-20-2012, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheEplumber

Better to use a brass nipple.

I did try to find brass, but the HD store brass nipple selection were either too short or too long...so the sales guy advised me to use the galvanized piece.

Simon96Taco · 02-20-2012, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben's plumbing

take out that male adapter... get longer shower arm no other fittings needed

Great idea! I have to go back to HD tomorrow to buy a socket that fits that coupling, so maybe while I'm there I'll look for a longer shower arm instead

S