Shower arms can loosen up over time, especially if you’re not using them a lot. It can be challenging to get your showerhead to sit snugly in its holder, but it’s important to maintain the seal so water doesn’t leak out into unintended places. Tightening the shower arm is fairly simple and only takes a few minutes. Here’s how:
How to tighten a shower arm
Turn off the water. Before you start any plumbing repair or maintenance, turn off the water at the valve, and turn off the main water supply at the meter. This will prevent any water damage that could occur if you start working with water still flowing through the pipes. Remove your old nut and bolt. You’ll need to remove the nut and bolt securing your old shower arm bracket to the wall. Once you have the old bolt removed, you can use a hex key to remove the old nut.
Tighten your new nut and bolt. Use the new hex screw that came with your new shower arm bracket to secure the new nut to the wall. Make sure it’s snug, but not so tight that it damages the wall. Test your shower arm and make sure it’s tight. Now that you have your new nut and bolt in place, turn on the water and test your new shower arm. Make sure it’s tight, but you can also use a finger to see if water is leaking through or around the shower arm.
Step 1: Turn off the water
Before you start any plumbing repair or maintenance, turn off the water at the valve, and turn off the main water supply at the meter. This will prevent any water damage that could occur if you start working with water still flowing through the pipes.
Step 2: Remove your old nut and bolt
You’ll need to remove the nut and bolt securing your old shower arm bracket to the wall. Once you have the old bolt removed, you can use a hex key to remove the old nut.
Step 3: Tighten your new nut and bolt
Use the new hex screw that came with your new shower arm bracket to secure the new nut to the wall. Make sure it’s snug, but not so tight that it damages the wall.
Step 4: Test your shower arm and make sure it’s tight
Now that you have your new nut and bolt in place, turn on the water and test your new shower arm. Make sure it’s tight, but you can also use a finger to see if water is leaking through or around the shower arm.
Wrap a rubber band around the neck of the shower arm
If you wrap a rubber band around the end of your shower arm, you can easily tighten it. Wrap it around the neck of the arm, then put the end through the loop to form a handle. Pick up the shower arm from that point, and use the rubber band like a wrench to tighten the shower head. The rubber band allows you to easily adjust the shower head, without having to get under the wall mount to use tools.
Tighten with a wrench
Use a wrench to tighten your shower arm. You may need to use a larger wrench than what came with your shower head. Some shower heads have wrench settings that are meant to fit different types of wall mounts, so you may need a larger wrench than you’re used to. If the wrench that came with your shower head is too small, you can pick up a longer wrench at the hardware store or home centre.
Finish with pliers
If you’re not comfortable using a wrench, or you don’t have a wrench available, you can finish tightening the shower arm with a pair of pliers. Wrap the rubber band around the end of the shower arm, then place the end of the pliers between the rubber band and the wall mount. Squeeze the handles of the pliers together, then bend the metal back and forth until the rubber band is tight again.
Don’t tighten too much or too little
It’s important when tightening your shower arm to do it right. Too little and your water flow will be compromised, while too much can damage the wall mount. You want to tighten the shower head just enough so it doesn’t fall out of the wall.
Store your tightened shower arm in a dry place
Once you’ve finished tightening your shower arm, store it in a dry place where the resin won’t get wet. This could be a cabinet or a closet with high humidity. Don’t leave the rubber band on the end of the shower arm, or on the wall mount, as these can get damp and loosen. If the rubber band is on the end, wrap it in a clean cloth or paper towel.
Keep an eye out for signs of loosening
As long as your shower head is securely mounted in the wall mount, you shouldn’t have any problems. However, be sure to regularly check the seal on your shower arm and tighten any that has loosened. If you notice that the seal is no longer tight, you can easily tighten it again. Once you’re comfortable tightening your shower arm, you may also want to consider replacing your shower head. New shower heads are designed so you can adjust the pressure and volume depending on your preferences. New models are also designed with less water pressure, which helps save water and money.
