A shower arm might look like nothing essential to you while you have your bath, but it has a function to perform, and once hindered, your bath time will surely be affected.
A shower arm is nothing but a pipe that connects the showerhead to the water supply. In short, it is an extension. But, since a shower arm extends out of the wall, it makes it easier to mount a showerhead. It also offers convenience and flexibility, so you will not have a hard time adjusting the height of your shower head.
So, there is no reason for anyone to dislike it. If you are thinking about how to have it installed, well, you are not alone. A lot of people are asking how to install a wall mounted shower arm, and if you want to know the answer, continue reading below.
Types of Shower Arm
Before you start your shower arm installation, you first need to identify which kind of shower arm you will use. If you are clueless about this, check the list below.
- Standard shower arm. This one is the simplest and most basic type of shower arm. It can be made of brass, stainless steel, or chrome. It is bent at an angle, and it is where the showerhead is connected.
- Straight shower arm. Not the most basic but probably the simplest out of all the three types of shower arm; that is what a straight shower arm is. It protrudes right from the wall and can be partnered with any showerhead, with the rain showerhead type being the best. A popular example of this is the 400mm Square shower arm wall mounted stainless steel matt black from MyHomeware.
- Gooseneck shower arm (S-shaped). A gooseneck shower arm is like the letter S and is highly popular with modern bathrooms. If the standard and straight shower arms do not suit you because of the height, then S-shaped will be different as it would let you raise your showerhead at your ideal height. For better visualization, you can check MyHomeware shower arms like the Square Gooseneck Wall Shower Arm Chrome.
Installation Process
Once you have decided on what type of arm to go to, you can start the shower arm installation. So how to install a shower head extension arm?
Preparation before the installation
- Prepare the materials. Before you start your shower arm mount project, make sure that you have with you the tools you will need. Some of these are plumber’s tape, a step stool, rubber gloves, an adjustable wrench, towels, paper towels, etc.
- Turn the water off. It is necessary to turn the water off before any pipework, and shower arm installation is no exception. Why? Because not doing so will let the water run right where you remove the existing shower head mount. Hence, you must turn that valve off.
- Prepare your workplace. Preparing your work area is a standard you should not disregard. In this case, try to lessen hazards by removing things that shouldn’t be there. You also need to place towels in places where you think you will need them.
- Removal. This preparatory step is only for those who previously had a shower arm installed. Removing the old shower arm is necessary so you can have the new one installed.
Install the Shower Arm: Step-by-step Guide
- Locate the female fittings. When it comes to plumbing, there are male and female fittings. Those with threads on the outside are the males, while those who have them inside the hole are the females. If you are just installing a new one, then the female fittings where the old shower arm was attached can be reused. On the other hand, if this is your first time, you need to cut through the drywall and find the vertical water supply line (you will see a female fitting here.)
- Wrap the plumber’s tape to the male fittings. A plumber’s tape makes things snug fit. Hence, you need to wrap it around the thread of the male fittings in a clockwise direction. Doing so prevents the shower arm from coming loose.
- Install the shower arm. Get the shower arm, locate its connector, then insert it into the female fittings. Afterward, tighten it by hand. Your hand may be damaged during the tightening process. To avoid this, you can wrap a towel around the shower arm before tightening it.
- Mount the shower head. On the recently installed shower arm, mount the shower head. Once you’ve located the fittings, turn the shower head clockwise to secure it, and the task is finished.
Reminders
- Open the valves. Once you are finished, make sure to open all valves after the shower arm installation process.
- Check for leaks. Once you open the valves, test your new shower arm and shower head by running water through them. If there are leaks between ten connections, tighten them
- Clean the area. If you conclude that there are no leaks, then proceed with cleaning the area. This includes putting back the things you removed and packing up all of the materials you used.
Conclusion
This article surely answered your question about how to install a wall mounted shower arm. And as you have read, replacing and installing a new shower arm is not difficult. The more complicated thing is probably choosing the shower arm you are going to install, as it does not simply boil down to preference. You need to consider the space of your bathroom, its overall design or theme, or the fixtures you plan to include. Given this, you might want to first have a look at MyHomeware shower arms and those available in others.
FAQ about Wall Mounted Shower Arm Installation
Tighten your shower arm by hand by two to three revolutions and then follow it with another two to three revolutions using a wrench. Remember not to tighten it over six revolutions.
A handheld showerhead with a hose is not exactly attached to the shower arm, so you can proceed with its installation regardless of whether you have a good shower arm or not. To start, you need to install the mounting bracket and then connect the hose to it. Afterward, you just have to connect the hose to the wand and start trying it.
Yes. A plumber’s tape is specifically designed for plumbing work, so using it is the best option. A plumber’s tape which is also known as Teflon tape is a thread sealant used as a watertight seal on pipe joints. It also keeps in keeping the connections between pipes lubricated making disassembling easier when needed. If you will be using it, do not overuse it, two to three wraps will suffice, but if it’s thin, four to five will be ideal.
