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So I was trying to move my shower head and it has snapped off, so I need to change it. Is it possible to do this myself, and if so what do I need to buy? I have looked online at shower arms, and they mention a standard BSP fitting? Please see photos below as to what is on the wall when I unscrew the current shower arm. Is this standard BSP? Or can I get an adapter for it? It just looks like a pipe to me I’d also ideally like the current holes to be hidden too. Also, is the white thing attached to the wall, or would this also be changed? Many thanks for any help, I really am lost!

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Emily Butcher
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I'm not sure you did break anything off.

What's bugging me about your top picture is the pipe looks awfully thin-wall... too thin-wall to hold a thread. So I don't believe that is iron pipe.

What clinched it for me was seeing the video you linked, which plainly shows a COPPER pipe, with use of an O-ring to establish seal to the shower head.

So I recommend you pull that remaining plastic piece off. Then, get a kitchen scrub-sponge (such as 3M Scotchbrite), and working wet, clean/polish the metal parts of the pipe coming out of the wall. I bet it cleans up to a nice copper color. Now you'll know what you are looking at. Copper pipe is not threaded.*

All that cleaning isn't just for discovery or show. The pipe needs to be pretty clean for the O-ring seal to work.

* Except for a very thick-wall variant which is iron (BSP) pipe that happens to be made out of copper or brass, but that's rare.

Harper - Reinstate Monica
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Generally what you have with a showerhead installation looks like this:

From: https://lda.lowes.com/is/image/Lowes/DP18-174556_NPC_HT_Install_A_RainShowerHead_SCI_1_1?scl=1

So the pipe that you broke the threads off should be threaded into the shower elbow that is attached to the wall behind the tile.

Using a pipe wrench you should be able to unscrew the pipe nipple that is sticking out. You probably want to remove the piece that appears to be plastic before doing this so you don't break it.

There is the possibility that the pipe will break off in the wall and there is probably not much you can do if it's corroded into place but generally it should unscrew if it's been properly installed.

jwh20
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So I have found a direct replacement for this sort of pipe fitting - it’s an Aqualisa easy fit shower arm. The only problem I have now is the old parts are ever so slightly too big, I assume because they’re old and more modern = more compact. I just need to remove the one piece of plastic around the copper pipe. From looking at the new fittings, it has teeth inside - I have asked a question on this, on a different thread to keep it tidy. Thank you so much for everyone’s help!!

If anyone is interested: Remove plastic fitting with teeth from copper pipe

Emily Butcher
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