P
pipefittingproblems
Hi, in order to replace the solenoid on my shower I need to take it off the wall (bad shower design).
I've got all the electrics disconnected, it's detached from the wall itself and I've unscrewed where the water pipe from the wall connects to the shower inlet (I'm sorry I don't know the right terminology for any of this), but I can't get the inlet out of the pipe.
It should just lift off, I've seen videos of this exact shower being removed and put back, but it's really solidly connected, and anything I do moves the pipe where it comes out the wall and nothing else budges.
There appears to be some sort of sealant or tape between the inlet and the pipe, and confusingly when I cut some of that with a penknife I see copper behind which makes no sense when everything on the shower side should be plastic. It would not be the first thing in this house where someone's done something stupid to make something fit.
Does anyone have any idea what's going on and how to proceed?
The relevant bit of pipe is an elbow, but the other end is right up against the hole in the wall so I'm reluctant to disconnect that and risk not being able to put it back. I'd rather not have to get a professional to come out but I'm not experienced enough to deal with anything going wrong. Especially since the only way to shut the water off for the shower is at the stopcock.
I've got all the electrics disconnected, it's detached from the wall itself and I've unscrewed where the water pipe from the wall connects to the shower inlet (I'm sorry I don't know the right terminology for any of this), but I can't get the inlet out of the pipe.
It should just lift off, I've seen videos of this exact shower being removed and put back, but it's really solidly connected, and anything I do moves the pipe where it comes out the wall and nothing else budges.
There appears to be some sort of sealant or tape between the inlet and the pipe, and confusingly when I cut some of that with a penknife I see copper behind which makes no sense when everything on the shower side should be plastic. It would not be the first thing in this house where someone's done something stupid to make something fit.
Does anyone have any idea what's going on and how to proceed?
The relevant bit of pipe is an elbow, but the other end is right up against the hole in the wall so I'm reluctant to disconnect that and risk not being able to put it back. I'd rather not have to get a professional to come out but I'm not experienced enough to deal with anything going wrong. Especially since the only way to shut the water off for the shower is at the stopcock.