When your shower arm becomes stuck or tight, it can be a huge pain to try and remove it from the wall.
Luckily, there are a few methods that you can use to loosen it up.
We’ll share with you five tips that should do the trick!
Related: How to Replace a Shower Arm
Before Starting
Before you try to loosen the shower arm, keep the following in mind:
- Turn off the water supply: This will prevent any water damage from happening while you are working.
- Use a cloth: If you plan on keeping the shower arm, you will want to avoid scratching it. Use a cloth to help grip and protect the surface.
1. WD-40
Start by removing the flange and spraying WD-40 onto the threads. Once liberally coated, let it sit for a few minutes. This should provide some lubrication to the treads making it easier to turn. Once set for a few minutes, use a wrench to try and loosen the shower arm.
2. Apply Leverage
Assuming the showerhead has been removed, put a long screwdriver into the opening of the shower arm. Then, apply force in a counter-clockwise direction to try and loosen the shower arm. The extra leverage should help break it free. If you don’t have a long screwdriver, you can try using a pair of pliers.
3. Cold Water to Contract Solid Brass
Remember 9th-grade physics where certain solids expand when heated and contract when cooled? The same concept applies here. If your shower arm is made of solid brass, try running cold water through it for a few minutes. The sudden temperature change should help to contract the brass and threads a tiny amount, making it easier to loosen (source).
4. Elbow Grease
Sometimes you need to apply a little elbow grease. Grab a wrench, attach it to the base close to the wall, and start turning the shower arm in a counter-clockwise direction. It might take some time, but eventually, it should start to loosen.
If you aren’t having luck here, try having a friend who is stronger than you give it a go.
Related: Best Adjustable Shower Arm
5. Call a Plumber
While shower arms are straightforward to fix most of the time, there are instances where you might need to call a professional. If you’ve tried all of the tips above and aren’t making any progress in loosening the shower arm, it might be time to give your local plumber a call.
We hope that these tips helped loosen your stuck or tight shower arm! Thanks for reading!
