Plumbing Problem!

[skypilot]

My showerhead's water connection is having a problem... Please reference this picture:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/skypilot/PICT4400.JPG


I was in the shower, and the showerhead was leaking a bit. So, I was playing with the connection between the pipe which goes into the wall and the showerhead itself. While I was doing this, the wall pipe seemed to come loose (it, and its washer or whatever you call that circular mounting peice were not solidly nestled in the wall any more).

When this happened, I also saw a small amount of water in a revealed space between the wall and the wall pipe washer/mounting. I still had pretty good water pressure through the showerhead.

This worries me, so I turned off the water to the house and am awaiting the valuable input of AT!

I have no idea what is going on, does anyone have any advice/input? I'm fairly well versed in woodworking and electrical stuff, but I really don't know much about how houses are plumbed. If it helps any, this is a house in WA, built in 1987, on a cement slab foundation.


Cliffs:
1) Run
2) Shower
3) Jerk showerhead wall piping loose
4) OMGWTFBBQ I see water!!!!11111oneoneeleveneleven
5) ...
6) Profit?
7) UPDATE!

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Edit
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I pulled off the "tailpiece" and it had corroded. However, I did break off the male thread on the "tailpiece" inside of the female thread of the pipe in the wall. Is there any best practice as to how to get that male thread out and clean the female thread? I'd hate to have to replace the pipe in the wall.

 

[bctbct]

sounds like your tailpiece had corroded and is now broke. dont use it until you have replaced it. hopefully you didnt break the male thread off inside of the female. pipe is readily avail at any hardware store

 

[alocurto]

You are probably going to have to open that wall up to see what the damage is. :-/ Is this a new house for you? It looks like whoever put that shower in was a do it yourself kinda person. I don't believe there is supposed to be that much silicon... especially around the base like that.... I hope there ain't water damage inside the walls.

 

[alocurto]

oh and...

6) Profit?

For the hardware store and possibly a plumber... yes. For you.. not so much :-(

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

if it's a drip, it just sounds like you need to redo the threading with teflon. Shower heads are just screwed into a threaded copper fitting inside of the wall.

When you were playing with the head, you probably just twisted the shower head assembly slightly breaking the threaded seal. Once a threaded fitting is borken, it's best to re-assemble it with new teflon.

If it's jsut a drip this is all true.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Oh, if you are renting, just call the landlord. SOLVED!!!!

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/ba_remode...ticle/0,2037,DIY_13711_2275142,00.html

What you are probably having prolbems with is the step shown in figure A. The article forgets to mention that you need to use teflon tape for this step.

 

[skypilot]

Originally posted by: alocurto
You are probably going to have to open that wall up to see what the damage is. :-/ Is this a new house for you? It looks like whoever put that shower in was a do it yourself kinda person. I don't believe there is supposed to be that much silicon... especially around the base like that.... I hope there ain't water damage inside the walls.

This is a new house for me, and we've been working on correcting some of the previous owner's DIY tomfoolery for the last two months. I've been avoiding the bathrooms until now, just because, like I said, I don't know much about plumbing.

Tailpiece here I come!

 

[Greenman]

Prolly lose/rusted off. Replace the shower arm. Also, you don't need to shut of the water to the house, that pipe isn't under pressure when the shower valve isn't on.

 

[skypilot]

Updated in the OP

 

[skypilot]

Going to bed, best practice for removing remaining male threads required when I wake. Godspeed!

 

[shadowplay]

Nipple-Extractor

 

[Greenman]

You might get it out with a nipple remover, but the shower arm is pretty thin material so the reomver might just jam in the fitting. That arm is so close to the top of the shower that I'm certin you could open the drywall above the shower wall and be able to replace the fitting, which is prolly a winged ell. Move it a couple inches up while you're at it.

 

[Old Hippie]

Is there any best practice as to how to get that male thread out and clean the female thread?

Easy out (pipe extractor) and tap (thread chaser). Your local hardware/Home Depot will fix ya up. I have used small chisels to back-out broken pieces, but you asked for the best way.

 

[bctbct]

I have never used an extractor, it might work. The shower arm( thanks greenman) is pretty thin and you might be able to pry the chunks out with a screwdriver.

The wall material seen in the pic is FRP and its glued to the wall so you can scrape off the caulking and peel it out of your way.

If you had access to the back side of that wall I would just open that and sweat off the threaded fitting and replace it. As someone mentioned you will need some teflon tape.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

i had a similar problem with a air compressor fitting once. i borrowed a bigass 5/8s inch easy out.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Get a roll of Teflon Tape, or Pipe Dope at the local HW store, and a pair of chanel lock Channellock Plier. Then wrap a rag over the pipe to prevent marking from the plier when you wind it into the drop-ear/wing-back elbow (make sure pipe dope and/or teflon tape is apply on the thread of the pipe).

[add]oops! I didn't see the post that indicated rust off tail piece. Nipple remover is not going to do it on thin brass, therefore it is best to cut out the drywall and replace the drop-ear elbow. Find out what cause the rust (soft water?) & fix it before you close up the drywall.