How to Remove a PVC Drop Eared Elbow From a Shower

Turn off the supply of water to the shower from the water valve located in the cubbyhole in the wall behind the shower. You may have to remove several screws holding a panel over the cubby opening -- use a Phillips-head screwdriver to do so. Turn on the shower and leave it running for few minutes until it empties the water in its pipes and stops running.

Unscrew the shower pipe from the elbow by twisting the shower pipe from the threads in the elbow and pulling it free, leaving the empty pipe hole in the wall.

Remove the wall covering surrounding the shower pipe hole in about a 1-foot square area, with the shower pipe hole centered in the square. Use a utility knife to cut through the wall covering to expose the elbow. If the area is surrounded by tile, fiberglass or plastic, then drill a hole at the corner of the foot-square area, and use a reciprocating saw to remove the foot-wide panel.

Locate the screws on the rear of the elbow. Remove them with the Phillips-head screwdriver.

Examine the pipe leading to the elbow for signs of PVC cement. The cement is the solvent glue used to adhere the PVC elbow to the pipe and will appear purple in color, for easy identification. Look for the first section beneath the elbow past the cement. Mark a line around that section with the black marker.

Cut the PVC pipe along the marked line using the handsaw while holding the elbow steady until you cut through completely, freeing the elbow. You want to cut below the cement line, as the adhesive softens the pipe before adhering it to another surface. Remove the elbow from the wall recess.

Deburr the ends of the pipe still within the wall by scraping the blade of the utility knife over the inside and outside edges at a 45-degree angle.