The shower elbow in the shower broke off at the copper pipe in the wall, leaving some of the plastic inside the copper pipe's threading. There seems to be some sort of sealant. How might you go about removing the remaining plastic from the pipe? Is replacing and resealing the shower elbow something a homeowner could do, or is a plumber required? How might you go about doing that?
Plumbing – How to fix a broken shower elbow
plumbingshower
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I have used a strap-wrench to undo that type of connector.
In your case there is very limited access but it would be worth an attempt.
It can be difficult if some people have previously applied a sealant - which are not normally needed as there is usually a rubber gasket.
You need to remove the sprayers and soak them in vinegar or some other liquid that will soften the calcium/lime/minerals. Put them in a coffee can filled with the liquid overnight, then use tools to scrub and pick away the mineral deposits. Some people fill a plastic baggie with the liquid and tape it over the sprayer heads to soak them in place without removal, but I like to take them apart for a thorough internal and external cleaning. I use drill bits by hand, to clear out the spray nozzles.
Most shower heads that utilize a shower arm (the pipe sticking out) with a swivel ball are 2 pieces. You can disassemble the shower head such that the main part (the sprayer) can be removed without unscrewing the shower arm from the wall. Kinda like the attached picture.
If you end up having to remove the pipes, you should remove those trim bonnets (escutcheons/flanges) first so you can assess and hopefully apply some penetrating spray to the threaded connection in the wall. Sometimes the pipes (shower arm) are made of rather thin material, which can break off flush with the wall fitting. This can be a real PITA to fix, so help free it up before taking a wrench to it.
Most shower arms thread directly to an elbow or fitting in the wall, yours even seem to have flat spots machined into them where you can use a wrench/spanner.
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Best Answer
By shower elbow, you mean this part, right?
If so, then to remove any remaining part left in the copper, get yourself some LONG needle nose pliars
Use those to remove any remaining plastic from the copper.
You can buy a replacement at pretty much any Home Depot or Lowe's - so buy one AND some teflon tape
IMPORTANT DO not buy the yellow package - that is for GAS, not water. Blue and white or red and white packaging only!!!
Wrap 2 or 3 layers of tape around the wall end of the elbow. Wrap it so that the tape follows the threading - so hold the pipe with the threads near you, start near you and wrap CLOCKWISE around the pipe. That way as you screw in the pipe it won't peel off the tape. Not too much tape or you won't get the pipe to fit!
Insert the elbow and turn it COUNTER CLOCKWISE slowly at first, until you feel the threads kind of click into place (avoid cross threading) and then turn it clockwise. Hand tighten only but make sure it's nice and snug and vertical.
Then reinstall your shower head per mfg instructions.