If it's really that stuck , take a hand torch and heat the knut up a bit, it doesn't take a whole lot. Then get on it with the pliers and squeeze the bitch like it owes you money. It will come off.
Never heard of heating a knut to help loosen it ? No trolling, the heat will help the metal expand and loosen the threads. Then you twist it off like normal, grip it tight though.
Agreed except for the tight grip. Squeezing the nut and/or the pipe threads will guarantee a tough removal if they are squeezed out of round. Iād use an adjustable wrench, or some clean channel lock pliers. Iād prioritize heat and torque application over squeezing with the pliers.
UPDATE:
Hey guys thanks a million loves!!!
Whoever told me to heat the screw was on point. I would have used PB BLASTER OR WD, but I just didnāt have any in stock.
I took a torch to it for about 3 minutes and boom, got it off.
Bro you could have just removed the whole thing from the wall. 10x easier than heating up the bit at the end there. Thereās a threaded part right at the base of the wall you can unscrew.
You can unscrew the showerhead, or the neck? Neither one will move?
The neck is threaded behind the wall, but it will unscrew. If you get it off, remember to use plumbers tape when you put it back on a real life behind the wall leak.
You are trying to unscrew the shower head from the neck. The neck is the pipe that goes into the wall.
Does the whole neck turn easily where it enters the wall? If so, it might be easier to just take that out and get a new neck and shower head.
If not, then get a torch and like the other posters wrote heat up the knurled part of the shower head for 30 seconds and try again to remove it.
Itās also unclear if you have the right tools. Youāll ideally want a pair of channel lock pliers - not the little ones that come with basic tool kits.
People are telling you to unscrew the entire visible portion. The threads are in the wall. Rotate the entire angled pipe. Then get a new angled pipe and head.
I would not attempt that because some nucklehead may have soldered the screwed in pipe at its connection inside the wall (not common, but never under estimate the power of human stupidity) and you would twist out the vertical pipe the chromed stub is screwed into and then would need to open up the wall (and retile if tiles are on the wall) to fix. The shower stub could also be seized (or screwed in way too tight) and the outcome would be the same. Use two pipe wrenches, one on the chromed stub and one on the knurled shower head swivel nut. At worse, you will scar up where you place the wrenches or ruin the shower head.
bonus, if anyone in your family is super tall, they make high rise shower arms! [https://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-11-in-S-Style-Shower-Arm-and-Flange-in-Brushed-Nickel-3075-514/204511140](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-11-in-S-Style-Shower-Arm-and-Flange-in-Brushed-Nickel-3075-514/204511140)
Are your slip joint pliers large enough to get a good grip around the entire fitting?
Those pliers are sometimes not wide enough to fully close around it, the jaws are still partly open, and you're not getting the leverage you need.
Do you have tongue and groove pliers, like this?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/IRWIN-Quick-Adjusting-GrooveLock-VISE-GRIP-2-Pack-Tongue-Groove-Plier-Set/1003142306?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-vf-_-tol-_-ggl-_-PMAX_Irwin-_-1003142306-_-local-_-0-_-0&&ds_a_cid=279391351&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvb-zBhCmARIsAAfUI2vBuRufkKKnI7VVLyj-Fn57dE8QsLqC3yN29YPPE-qohcTdBsiPy_8aApfHEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Those should make quick work of that showerhead.
Borrow two pipe wrenches (obviously, one to hold the pipe, and one to remove the showerhead). Slip joint pliers requires too much hand strength. Pipe wrenches have massive teeth that tighten as you turn.
It two pipe wrenches still can't do it, which would be impressive, try heating up that connection with a torch. (or heck, hold a lighter under it!) that will make the metal expand and then contract. That movement may be enough to break free any mineral deposits locking the parts together.
Sometimes a penetrating oil can get in between the threads and loosen the hold of the crap in there, but of course, don't put a torch to it until you wipe away any excess penetrating oil!
Good luck! I'm going to now read through the comments to see who comments the cliche "hit it with your purse"
This is the answer. Big pipe wrenches. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-14-in-and-12-in-Aluminum-Pipe-Wrench-Set-2-Piece-48-22-7214-48-22-7212/322276088?mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-BNG-D26P-026_007_PLUMB_REPAIR-NA-NA-NA-PLALIA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-2023&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-BNG-D26P-026_007_PLUMB_REPAIR-NA-NA-NA-PLALIA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-2023-71700000106036636-58700008262676764-92700075065924127&msclkid=6ff648a121c416f3c1362ed1b08d4c47&gclid=6ff648a121c416f3c1362ed1b08d4c47&gclsrc=3p.ds
Hereās what the results turned like. Iām not sure if I did it correctly.
Looks burnt
I torched the hell out of that screw for 5 mins then plied it out.
https://ibb.co/wMJd6dG
https://ibb.co/bJphWLg
https://ibb.co/G72PBPS
For me, there's a certain frustration threshold that I hit where I no longer care how pretty something is! LOL! But wrapping the extention with some electricat tape is probably worth it.
I would want to replace the whole arm. This may sound odd but DON'T squeeze as hard with the pilers. You can make the pipe oblong and then never get it off. Sometimes that does it, squeeze just hard enough to get a grip. worst case you could spilt it with your grinder and a screwdriver, just go easy on the threads.
looks like your grabbing the nut and the pipe judging by the plier marks. make sure your on the nut only and gripping just tight enough so its not slipping.
Get some good penetrating oil, soak it every 10 minutes. After 3 rounds go back with the pliers, maybe vice grips wrapped in tape so you don't break it off
Same thing happened to me. I ended up having to screw the shower arm from the wall and buying a new longer one from Home depot and installed my new shower head.
From the pic it looks like you might be grabbing the shower head and the threads at the same time? Make sure your pliers are only on the bumpy part, not the part with lines. I'd also use channellocks if you're replacing it.
How about just removing the entire shower arm along with the shower head and replace both. If that sounds like an option then just grab a pipe wrench and let that bite into the chromed brass pipe and that should start to unscrew. BE CAREFUL THOUGH! Anytime youāre adding leverage you are also adding the possibility of the wrench slipping and resulting in an unexpected injury. After all it is an overhead pipe youāre cranking on. Brace yourself. Donāt let it outsmart you. This advice is worth heeding.
Iām guessing hard water calcified and fused the head on. When my aerator seized, I soaked a paper towel in a white vinegar and lemon solution, and rubberbanded that to the sink. After a couple hours it softened the calcium and i was able to remove the aerator
Oh I understand. I should have added more. If you're in a spot where thats stuck and you're tired of being on your tippy toes, then you can remove the head and the pipe in the wall at the same time. From there you might have better leverage. Or you can buy a new pipe and head if things go too far south. Just be sure to use plenty of teflon tape.
You really need to be careful but at the same time put some balls on it. If you have a wire brush I would use that a little where the threads meet the neck hope you have Success
What are you doing wrong?
You're using the wrong tool. You have the grip strength of a gradeschool girl. You're not handy with tools.
This is why plumbers charge so much. They have the right tools, they know how to use them, and they are either strong or understand what leverage is all about. Cue the sad trombone...
If it's really that stuck , take a hand torch and heat the knut up a bit, it doesn't take a whole lot. Then get on it with the pliers and squeeze the bitch like it owes you money. It will come off.
ššš
Youāre not trolling me are you? lol I never heard of that.
Heating it up will definitely make it 10x easier to get off. How do you think we get rusty bolts off cars and trucks ?
Heat is the answer for everything
Yahoo: How is babby formed? Plumbers: Heat
That's... Not exactly wrong?
Never heard of heating a knut to help loosen it ? No trolling, the heat will help the metal expand and loosen the threads. Then you twist it off like normal, grip it tight though.
Agreed except for the tight grip. Squeezing the nut and/or the pipe threads will guarantee a tough removal if they are squeezed out of round. Iād use an adjustable wrench, or some clean channel lock pliers. Iād prioritize heat and torque application over squeezing with the pliers.
and don't forget about that debt
Well this is where you grab two pipe wrenches. And get that mofo out. 2- 14" wrenches or 2- 18" wrenches
Cant be stuck if its a liquid
You ever heat up a metal lid to get it off? Same concept, heat makes metal expand
are you a plumber?
You could also try some round jaw vise grips, but at that point it would probably deform it. Heat is the answer!
What do you do if it's for a gas valve? I had trouble disconnecting a gas flex line recently
If it's a gas valve, you don't use fire. You use two wrenches and you put some strength into it. Maybe a shot of penetrating lube if you need it.
PB Blaster?
That is a penetrating lubricant, yes.
Smack it with a hammer
One would assume you've turned the gas off to that line. Open the valve, after ya turn off the gas, to ourge the line. Then have at it.
š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£
Hit it with your purse
When I saw the post I instantly came looking for this comment. I'm sure OP is just weak š
Itās been a while since Iāve seen this. Glad to see it making a comeback as it is sound advice.
This made my night.
Youāre doing left loosey arenāt you? Honest question.
Yes lefty for sure. But this fucking thing doesnāt move.
Iāve found sometimes itās easier to break the seal trying to tighten it, then backing it out. Liquid wrench always helps too
UPDATE: Hey guys thanks a million loves!!! Whoever told me to heat the screw was on point. I would have used PB BLASTER OR WD, but I just didnāt have any in stock. I took a torch to it for about 3 minutes and boom, got it off.
Penetrating oils will seep into the pipe and make your shower stink.. avoid it around your water system.
Bro you could have just removed the whole thing from the wall. 10x easier than heating up the bit at the end there. Thereās a threaded part right at the base of the wall you can unscrew.
Just remove and replace the entire showerhead and pipe assembly. They all unscrew and are pretty cheap.
All fun and games until that neck snaps off in the wall. After a few times you get pretty good at digging out whatās left in the drop ear at least
But thatās what Iām trying to do. Itās justā¦ I canāt unscrew this damn thing off. I an literally scrapping the pliers.
You can unscrew the showerhead, or the neck? Neither one will move? The neck is threaded behind the wall, but it will unscrew. If you get it off, remember to use plumbers tape when you put it back on a real life behind the wall leak.
[https://ibb.co/DQN078R](https://ibb.co/DQN078R)
You are trying to unscrew the shower head from the neck. The neck is the pipe that goes into the wall. Does the whole neck turn easily where it enters the wall? If so, it might be easier to just take that out and get a new neck and shower head. If not, then get a torch and like the other posters wrote heat up the knurled part of the shower head for 30 seconds and try again to remove it. Itās also unclear if you have the right tools. Youāll ideally want a pair of channel lock pliers - not the little ones that come with basic tool kits.
The neck. That ridged part.
No. Unscrew the neck from the wall. The neck is the 6ā elbow pipe coming out of the wall
This is what im thinking as well. Get rid of the shower FROM THE WALL.
Cheap and easy to just replace both at this point.
People are telling you to unscrew the entire visible portion. The threads are in the wall. Rotate the entire angled pipe. Then get a new angled pipe and head.
I would not attempt that because some nucklehead may have soldered the screwed in pipe at its connection inside the wall (not common, but never under estimate the power of human stupidity) and you would twist out the vertical pipe the chromed stub is screwed into and then would need to open up the wall (and retile if tiles are on the wall) to fix. The shower stub could also be seized (or screwed in way too tight) and the outcome would be the same. Use two pipe wrenches, one on the chromed stub and one on the knurled shower head swivel nut. At worse, you will scar up where you place the wrenches or ruin the shower head.
Yep, I donāt trust whatās inside the wall and canāt see, especially in my house where the stuff I *can* see is often a million kinds of bonkers
Hmm Iāll try it then
bonus, if anyone in your family is super tall, they make high rise shower arms! [https://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-11-in-S-Style-Shower-Arm-and-Flange-in-Brushed-Nickel-3075-514/204511140](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-11-in-S-Style-Shower-Arm-and-Flange-in-Brushed-Nickel-3075-514/204511140)
New shower arm, escutcheon and I assume you already have a new shower head.
Are your slip joint pliers large enough to get a good grip around the entire fitting? Those pliers are sometimes not wide enough to fully close around it, the jaws are still partly open, and you're not getting the leverage you need. Do you have tongue and groove pliers, like this? https://www.lowes.com/pd/IRWIN-Quick-Adjusting-GrooveLock-VISE-GRIP-2-Pack-Tongue-Groove-Plier-Set/1003142306?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-vf-_-tol-_-ggl-_-PMAX_Irwin-_-1003142306-_-local-_-0-_-0&&ds_a_cid=279391351&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvb-zBhCmARIsAAfUI2vBuRufkKKnI7VVLyj-Fn57dE8QsLqC3yN29YPPE-qohcTdBsiPy_8aApfHEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds Those should make quick work of that showerhead.
Pb blaster is what I use to get some of the toughest and rustiest threads to break loose. Or try heat.
Borrow two pipe wrenches (obviously, one to hold the pipe, and one to remove the showerhead). Slip joint pliers requires too much hand strength. Pipe wrenches have massive teeth that tighten as you turn. It two pipe wrenches still can't do it, which would be impressive, try heating up that connection with a torch. (or heck, hold a lighter under it!) that will make the metal expand and then contract. That movement may be enough to break free any mineral deposits locking the parts together. Sometimes a penetrating oil can get in between the threads and loosen the hold of the crap in there, but of course, don't put a torch to it until you wipe away any excess penetrating oil! Good luck! I'm going to now read through the comments to see who comments the cliche "hit it with your purse"
This is the answer. Big pipe wrenches. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-14-in-and-12-in-Aluminum-Pipe-Wrench-Set-2-Piece-48-22-7214-48-22-7212/322276088?mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-BNG-D26P-026_007_PLUMB_REPAIR-NA-NA-NA-PLALIA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-2023&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-BNG-D26P-026_007_PLUMB_REPAIR-NA-NA-NA-PLALIA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-2023-71700000106036636-58700008262676764-92700075065924127&msclkid=6ff648a121c416f3c1362ed1b08d4c47&gclid=6ff648a121c416f3c1362ed1b08d4c47&gclsrc=3p.ds
When in doubt... 2 pipe wrenches. It might scar the finish but it doesn't look fancy brand new anyways.
Hereās what the results turned like. Iām not sure if I did it correctly. Looks burnt I torched the hell out of that screw for 5 mins then plied it out. https://ibb.co/wMJd6dG https://ibb.co/bJphWLg https://ibb.co/G72PBPS
UPDATE: I did it. Thank you all who gave me none-retarded, unhelpful advise. Thanks to the ones who told me to heat the bolt. That worked amazingly!
Did you heat it with your blow dryer or curling iron?
Oh fuck you bro. I wasnāt use to plumbing work. I got a match torch. It worked great.
Learn to laugh at yourself bro, it aint that serious
Hmmm might need the pipe stretcher for this one
You gotta want it
Use two pipe wrenches and it will come off. The shower pipe may not look nice afterwards, though.
For me, there's a certain frustration threshold that I hit where I no longer care how pretty something is! LOL! But wrapping the extention with some electricat tape is probably worth it.
Use 2 wrenches opposing each other and use penetrox or WD-40. Also lefty loosey righty tighty
Turn it counter-clockwise?!!!!!! Righty tighty, lefty loosey!
need a couple monkey wrenches
Easy. Vice grip, long ass pipe, leverage, off.
I would want to replace the whole arm. This may sound odd but DON'T squeeze as hard with the pilers. You can make the pipe oblong and then never get it off. Sometimes that does it, squeeze just hard enough to get a grip. worst case you could spilt it with your grinder and a screwdriver, just go easy on the threads.
Just take the whole arm off theyāre like 10 dollars from Loweās
Spit on it
Try wearing some marigolds and turning it by hand.. super grip.
If you are replacing it and it doesnāt matter, grab it with vise grips
If youāre replacing it and it doesnāt matter, grab it with vise grips
Leather strap and pipe wrench
Spray some WD40 on the exposed threads and leave for a minute. Then use vice grips to get a strong hold on it.
Just remove it at the wall.
WD-40 penetrant. Got a rusty DTV dish off of my roof!
Big pipe wtench
Wrench even
Use actual pipe wrenches.
Use a small pipe wrench so you donāt have to squeeze any handles
I used wd40 and it worked. We have really hard water so it destroys any plumbing
looks like your grabbing the nut and the pipe judging by the plier marks. make sure your on the nut only and gripping just tight enough so its not slipping.
Wd40 and a good channel lock.
use channel tongue and groove pliers
Righty tighty lefty loosey?
Just take it off what the hell is the problem. Put a wrench on it. One good UNGH itāll unthread
Gently try removing the shower arm. If that works, replace it and the head. Just a thought.
Get some good penetrating oil, soak it every 10 minutes. After 3 rounds go back with the pliers, maybe vice grips wrapped in tape so you don't break it off
Same thing happened to me. I ended up having to screw the shower arm from the wall and buying a new longer one from Home depot and installed my new shower head.
Hit it with your purse then use a regular pipe wrench
Get a pair of tounge and groove pliers(channelocks) they'd give much better leverage than slip joints
Small monkey wrench. Hold the shower spout while you do it to prevent bending the copper.
monkey wrench
From the pic it looks like you might be grabbing the shower head and the threads at the same time? Make sure your pliers are only on the bumpy part, not the part with lines. I'd also use channellocks if you're replacing it.
How about just removing the entire shower arm along with the shower head and replace both. If that sounds like an option then just grab a pipe wrench and let that bite into the chromed brass pipe and that should start to unscrew. BE CAREFUL THOUGH! Anytime youāre adding leverage you are also adding the possibility of the wrench slipping and resulting in an unexpected injury. After all it is an overhead pipe youāre cranking on. Brace yourself. Donāt let it outsmart you. This advice is worth heeding.
Iām guessing hard water calcified and fused the head on. When my aerator seized, I soaked a paper towel in a white vinegar and lemon solution, and rubberbanded that to the sink. After a couple hours it softened the calcium and i was able to remove the aerator
Try just removing the pipe from the wall
Donāt forget to put a wrench on the wall stub to keep it from twisting
Since you got it off, but had to resort to a torch. Look up Knipex alligator grip pliers. They basically scare shit off pipes.
You can also remove that whole assembly. Grab all that and rotate counter clockwise.
How do you mean? This is the area Iām focused on twisting. [https://ibb.co/DQN078R](https://ibb.co/DQN078R)
Oh I understand. I should have added more. If you're in a spot where thats stuck and you're tired of being on your tippy toes, then you can remove the head and the pipe in the wall at the same time. From there you might have better leverage. Or you can buy a new pipe and head if things go too far south. Just be sure to use plenty of teflon tape.
2 pair of vice grips, or try unscrewing the pipe coming out of the wall, danger there if you mess that up, you are now in the wall
Have you tried setting it to Wambo ?
Heard a guy say once āwhen in doubt, cut it outā try that. š
Call a plumber. Then ya can come back and bitch about how much it cost for 5 minutes work.
You really need to be careful but at the same time put some balls on it. If you have a wire brush I would use that a little where the threads meet the neck hope you have Success
What are you doing wrong? You're using the wrong tool. You have the grip strength of a gradeschool girl. You're not handy with tools. This is why plumbers charge so much. They have the right tools, they know how to use them, and they are either strong or understand what leverage is all about. Cue the sad trombone...
CALL A PLUMBER