Install a Shower Arm

Shower arms fail in predictable ways. Corrosion eats through the chrome at the wall joint. Mineral deposits lock the threads solid. The arm itself bends under years of weight from heavy rainfall heads. When any of these happen, replacement is straightforward — the real work is breaking the seal on the old arm without damaging the elbow hidden behind your tile. The shower arm is the short pipe that projects from your bathroom wall and holds the showerhead. It threads into a drop-ear elbow buried in the wall framing. That elbow connects to your home's water supply. You're not touching plumbing beyond that threaded connection, which makes this a surface-level repair that feels more intimidating than it actually is. Get the old arm out clean, wrap the new threads properly, and you'll have a leak-free seal that lasts another decade.

1. Protect the shower floor and drain. Lay a towel across the shower pan to catch any parts you drop. Small washers and screws vanish down drains instantly. Place a bucket or container within reach for the old arm once removed — it will drip trapped water.
2. Remove the showerhead. Unscrew the showerhead from the existing arm by turning the coupling nut counterclockwise. Use an adjustable wrench on the nut if hand pressure isn't enough, but grip only the nut, never the arm itself. Hold the arm steady with your other hand to avoid torquing the wall connection. Set the showerhead aside.
3. Unscrew the old shower arm. Grip the old arm close to the wall with a pipe wrench or adjustable wrench, positioning the jaws on the flat surfaces if present. Turn counterclockwise. The arm should break free within a quarter turn. Once loose, unscrew it by hand the rest of the way. Expect trapped water to drip out as you remove it.
4. Clean the wall elbow threads. Look into the hole where the arm was — you'll see the threaded elbow recessed in the wall. Use a stiff brush or old toothbrush to clean debris, old plumber's tape, and corrosion from those threads. Wipe clean with a damp rag. The threads should be visible and relatively smooth.
5. Wrap the new arm threads with tape. Take the threaded end of the new shower arm — the end that goes into the wall, not the end that holds the showerhead. Wrap plumber's tape clockwise around the threads, starting at the base and overlapping as you work toward the tip. Use three full wraps. Smooth the tape down with your thumb so it seats into the thread grooves.
6. Thread the new arm into the wall. Push the taped end of the new arm into the wall elbow and turn clockwise by hand. Thread it in until hand-tight, which typically means the arm is oriented roughly where you want it but still slightly loose. Check that the arm angles downward at the end — most arms have a gentle curve.
7. Tighten and align the arm. Use your wrench to snug the arm a final quarter to half turn. Watch the escutcheon — the decorative flange that covers the wall hole. It should sit flush against the tile when you're done. The showerhead end of the arm should point straight down or slightly forward. Overtightening won't improve the seal and can crack the elbow behind the wall.
8. Reinstall the showerhead and test. Thread the showerhead onto the new arm and hand-tighten the coupling nut. Turn on the shower and check for leaks at both the wall connection and the showerhead connection. Look closely at the escutcheon joint while water is running. Any drip means you need to remove the arm, add another wrap of tape, and reinstall.