| I'm trying to replace the shower head and arm | | | | The arm is okay.It seems to me that there was |
| with a new one without having to do too much.I | | | | duct tape around the arm; I guess it was to keep |
| live in an apartment.I was trying to unscrew the | | | | the flange from falling off which I don't see |
| arm and it doesn't budge. The flange that goes | | | | happening and also there aren't any leaks in the |
| into the wall isn't spackled on tightly. | | | | arm itself. Oh well, I cleaned it, with vinegar too; |
| So, it was easy to lift the flange and see that the | | | | It's fine. I notice a tiny bit of corrosion but since |
| arm going into the wall is covered with white | | | | overall it's just dandy, I'm not going to mess with |
| spackle or something.I'm not sure what to do | | | | it. |
| about this. Should I remove the spackle or | | | | Any recommondations for how to make it stick |
| whatever it is and then unscrew the shower | | | | fully to the wall again? I notice some excess |
| arm? | | | | water-based "tub-caulk" at the edge of the flange |
| It may be a water-based 'tub caulk' that set up | | | | I may want to remove to make it look better. |
| and got brittle. They used that on the backside of | | | | But it seems to me that the reason there is |
| the flange to keep the flange from falling away | | | | some caulk at the edge is because there is some |
| from the wall. | | | | open space there that the flange itself can't hide. |
| Some of the more expensive flanges are thicker | | | | This shower is old and so I assume the reason |
| and have a set screw in them. The cheaper ones | | | | there's so much of the caulk is to prevent |
| are just friction fit, but often do not stay put. If | | | | leakage of any kind. It makes sense; until |
| that is the caulk I am thinking of, it has a reaction | | | | something needs to be replaced LOL. |
| with moisture and turns into concrete. It is so | | | | However, the new showerhead seems to have |
| tough to remove that if it is on a porcelain tub, it | | | | much better water pressure which is great |
| can actually take off the porcelain when you try | | | | because I had to alert the landlord that the |
| to scrape it off! Take a guess how I know. | | | | diverter wasn't working; the knob and flange |
| Try stabbing it with a sharp instrument or pointy | | | | came off (this is a three-knob shower; div being |
| nail and see if it is at all spongy. If not, you have | | | | the center knob)... the result was water came |
| some jackhammering to do, before you will be | | | | through the tub faucet and through the shower |
| able to unscrew that arm. | | | | as well when the knob was twisted one way; and |
| The strange thing is it's not just around the | | | | when it was twisted the other way, completely |
| flange; it's around the arm and the wall itself. The | | | | out of the faucet. |
| stuff around the flange was pretty goopy when I | | | | The plumber I think did something with the |
| by hand removed the flange. | | | | diverter and sealed it all and the knobs work |
| I just checked again. It's a little mushy but pretty | | | | okay. But the problem was the water was still |
| firm; it looks like it's wrapped. The problem is it | | | | leaking a little bit from the faucet when it should |
| seems to go way into the wall. Well far enough | | | | be coming completely through the showerhead. |
| that I can't see where the end goes! | | | | The showerhead had much less water pressure. |
| Maybe I should just forget about replacing the | | | | In the future I may reapply the flange though as |
| arm. I was doing it for cosmetic reasons. | | | | I loosened it to see what was behind it.The new |
| I've decided to leave it alone. Yep; I don't want to | | | | showerhead's pressure seems to be really an |
| have to ask the landlord to come up after | | | | improvement and the water coming out of the |
| damaging something. A great guy and I don't | | | | faucet is minimal. so I'm pleased with the way |
| want to put something else on his shoulders! | | | | things turned out. |
| Thank you for your response though. | | | | |