Stuck plumbing in general; tub spout in particular

Madison, WI · Member since 2020 · 20 posts · 2 votes

Hello! Can you share any tips to remove a tub spout? I don’t think there’s a set screw. But to lube the threads behind the spout so I can twist this beast off? Other tips? Stumped. 😞. Shower diverter knob stuck UP (showering direction of the diverter-no tub filling taking place, in case that further complicates getting the spout off?)

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Joyce Tavares

Real Estate Investor · Hayward, CA · Member since 2015 · 134 posts · 88 votes

Or, you could call a handyman to do it. :0) Sounds like something I would not want to tackle...you could make it worse. Just sayin' (experience)

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Joyce Tavares
Real Estate Investor · Hayward, CA · Member since 2015 · 134 posts · 88 votes
6y
I always check YOUTUBE....works every time. I even send to tenants when they have easy fix plumbing...
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Matthew Paul
Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
6y
If you cant unscrew the spout , usually you can turn it and unscrew the nipple that goes into the wall . BUT if its CPVC it could possibly break .
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Kyle J.
Rental Property Investor · Northern, CA · Member since 2012 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
6y
Once you're sure there's no set screw, try using a large pipe wrench to unscrew it. (You can add a longer piece of a pipe to the pipe wrench handle to give you more torque/leverage.)
I've also heard of people recommending using a heat gun to heat up the metal and help loosen it (the theory being that the slight expanding/contracting of the metal will help loosen it up).
Ultimately, if you still can't get it, before you break anything I would probably just cut it with a reciprocating saw (i.e. Sawzall), basically like they described doing in this blog post:
https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/81500/how-do-you-remove-a-really-stuck-shower-diverter-spout
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Peter M.
Rental Property Investor · DFW, TX · Member since 2013 · 953 posts · 910 votes
6y
@Karla Temple It should just rotate CCW to come off. Use vice grips or a pipe wrench. Worst case scenario cut it off with a sawzall then resweat a new male nipple. Just make sure it is the same distance from the wall
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OP
Madison, WI · Member since 2020 · 20 posts · 2 votes
6y
@Matthew Paul - I’m sorry if this seems dense. But isn’t the nipple the plumbing connection that is still COVERED by the tub spout? I can’t get the tub spout to twist. That’s step one of the many YouTube’s I’ve been trying to learn from. :( Did I misunderstand your answer or the terminology of the parts? (Thanks)
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OP
Madison, WI · Member since 2020 · 20 posts · 2 votes
6y
@Peter M. Ok. I’ll try again. Thanks.
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OP
Madison, WI · Member since 2020 · 20 posts · 2 votes
6y
@Kyle J. I wondered about cutting it off because I was worried if I forced it too much I WOULD it could break pipes. (Yikes!). Glad to see this blog post. Thanks much!!
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Wade Kulesa
Member since 2020 · 22 posts · 82 votes
6y
@Karla Temple. I agree with @Kyle J. A combination of pipe wrench, a little heat, and i would add tapping the spout with a hammer as you try to rotate it.
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Joyce Tavares
Real Estate Investor · Hayward, CA · Member since 2015 · 134 posts · 88 votes
6y
Or, you could call a handyman to do it. :0) Sounds like something I would not want to tackle...you could make it worse. Just sayin' (experience)
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Matt Devincenzo
Investor · Clairemont, CA · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
6y
Originally posted by @Account Closed:
@Matthew Paul - I’m sorry if this seems dense. But isn’t the nipple the plumbing connection that is still COVERED by the tub spout? I can’t get the tub spout to twist. That’s step one of the many YouTube’s I’ve been trying to learn from. :( Did I misunderstand your answer or the terminology of the parts? (Thanks)

The nipple is threaded into the elbow inside the wall coming from the valve body. Sometimes they are soldered or glued depending on the material, but sometimes the nipple is simply threaded and you can twist the entire thing out of the wall. From there you can try to separate the two, or buy a new nipple to replace the one you've removed.

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John Teachout
Rental Property Investor · Concord, GA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y
The primary thing to remember in this situation is that there are multiple types of tub spout attachment systems and various styles of spouts. the two most common scenarios are that the spout has threads inside it and screws onto a stub pipe (galvanized or cpvc) Another common attachment type is where the spout slips over a copper pipe. These seal with an o-ring and are secured by a set screw on the bottom. On either type, if you cut the spout off with a saw it will either release the spout or remove enough of it so you can fight the battle from a different hilltop. Note, be very careful sawing this off as a Sawzall can shake the bejeebers out of the plumbing and may bust something in a place you don't want busted stuff. A better option may be a whiz wheel on a die grinder. If you do that, make sure to tape up protection on the walls, etc so sparks and flying metal dust don't damage your tub/walls. Many of these spouts are just diecast so you may be able to just crush it into pieces with a big Channellock like a 460 size.
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Account Closed
Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6y
Stick your phone under, hold it steady, snap a pic. I bet there’s a set screw you’re missing.
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Matthew Paul
Severna Park, MD · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
6y
Originally posted by @Account Closed:
@Matthew Paul - I’m sorry if this seems dense. But isn’t the nipple the plumbing connection that is still COVERED by the tub spout? I can’t get the tub spout to twist. That’s step one of the many YouTube’s I’ve been trying to learn from. :( Did I misunderstand your answer or the terminology of the parts? (Thanks)

It could be a galvanized nipple thats threaded into a 90 that in the wall . But it could be a piece of copper sweated into a 90 clamped into the wall . You wont really know until you get it out . What i do when they are stuck like that i take a sawzall and cut right behind the shower diverter to remove it , then fix it however necessary . But I am also a contractor and things like that are my every day .

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OP
Madison, WI · Member since 2020 · 20 posts · 2 votes
6y
—— OMG-I’m so embarrassed to admit all I *did* end up needing was a pipe wrench, and while a bit embarrassed I’m also very relieved to have found straightforward success after my little shopping trip. (I’ve never used/owned a pipe wrench before-I just figured my other wrenches would have been tool enough and figured it was me/my technique.) Worked like a charm where my other wrenches failed. -blush- Thank you to everyone who piped in and helping me keep on learning and trying to figure stuff out. I like to tell myself, I may be ignorant, but I think I’m trainable. :)
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Jim K.
Handyman · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
6y
@Account Closed
Just keep at it, Karla. Nobody starts off knowing everything, and it's the ones who think they know more than they actually do that get into the biggest trouble.
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