Does a Shower Pipe Have a Reverse Thread?

Wall Threading

• Whether you are installing or removing the shower arm or gooseneck pipe, you need to know which way to turn it, otherwise you may damage the pipe as well as the water pipe in the wall. Like screws and other non-reverse-thread pipes, you must turn the shower’s pipe counterclockwise to unthread it from the pipe in the wall and clockwise to thread it into the other pipe. In other words, you turn the pipe right to tighten it and left to loosen it.

Shower Head Threading

• You also must know which way to turn the shower head on the other end of the pipe, both to install and remove the shower head. Turning the shower head the wrong way to remove it from the pipe can damage the pipe’s connection in the wall, allowing water to trickle inside the wall. You must turn the shower head counterclockwise to remove it from the pipe, and clockwise to tighten it, just as you turn the pipe to install and uninstall it from the wall.

Pipe Tape

• Wrapping pipe tape around the shower pipe’s threads helps prevent leaks at both ends of the pipe. The pipe tape fills up any space that would exist between the threads of the two pipes, or the shower pipe and the shower head, blocking water from leaking out of the connection. For the pipe tape to work properly, you must wrap it clockwise around the pipe’s threads. If you wrap the tape counterclockwise, the tape may peel up and loosen as you thread the pipe into the wall connection or thread the shower head onto it.

Protection

• Whenever you need to remove the shower head from the shower’s pipe or the pipe from the shower wall, you need to take steps to protect the shower head and the pipe. You must use an adjustable wrench to remove the shower head, clamping it to the nut on the back of the shower head. Adjustable pliers allow you to grip the pipe and turn it the correct way to either install or remove the pipe. To protect the shower head or pipe from damage from the tools, either wrap a thick hand towel around the parts before you clamp on the tool, or wrap duct tape around the pliers’ or wrench’s jaws.