I was adjusting the shower head and the shower pipe snapped off (see attached) .

Is there a tool i can inert into the pipe that will allow me to remove the broken section inside ?

thanks

 

Try a few simple things first. Find a piece of square or round wood and that you can jam into the broken pipe and see if you can turn it (lefty loosey, righty tighty). They do make tools just for that purpose, but it would be expensive. You could also file a groove into the pipe being careful not to file into the mating threads. Using a flat end of a screwdriver or similar you could try loosening it little by little.

 

I just had this happen to me on a bathroom remodel. I just replaced the 1/2" drop ear 90 degree elbow. Course I was doing drywall and new plumbing anyway.

 

There are tools available. The tools work well but it may not be easy.
That piece could be stuck and difficult to remove.

This is an amazon link. There are several different extractor links on the page.
Superior extractor

Gooseneck gripper

 

For the minor cost of a threaded elbow and some drywall repair vs buying a tool that will probably never be used again I thing a quick un-solder / re-solder would be my choice, you can see the fitting so you have easy access.

 

I have to agree with Marq. Unless you have a tiled wall.

 

Only $8.00! Heck that's worth the cost. I thought they were a lot more expensive.

 

Replacing the fitting is ideal if you have a torch or can get a torch and are willing to use it in the wall.

You need to weigh the price of a tool vs hiring a plumber or handyman to do the work.

 

...vs burning the house down if you don't know what your doing with the torch.

 

Would this work?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBit...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Maybe but there are two minor issues.

First, as I always like to point out, it's a shark bite fitting, something that contains a mechanical seal and anything mechanical can fail. I personally would never put something like that inside a wall.

Second. if you remove the current fitting there is a chance that the end of the pipe would be contaminated with solder so that mechanical seal will be compromised. If you cut it off then the joint will be a bit lower which may or may not be an issue depending on how it's plumbed.

IMO a quick solder repair would be best, as noted your will need to open up the wall no matter what option you go with and sure fire can be bad but to burn down the house your going to have to work pretty long and hard for that to happen.

 

I agree. I would not be totally comfortable with a SharkBite in an enclosed wall.
So far, no response from the OP.
Before anything I would try my first suggestion. Those gooseneck shower pipes should not be so tight that a little persuasion should not be able to handle.

 

Thanks for all the info.

there are tiles on the wall which start about 6 inched below the hole.

I am not a plumber and don't have a torch.

My brother-in-law does a lot of this type of work but he is out of state and most likely won't visit until July.

If I try a tool, which i would give to my brother-in-law since i don't need it, and get the old piece out, can I install a new shower head arm and then have him the elbow when he visits?

 

If you use the tool and get the pipe out the thread should be ok, assuming it will come out with the tool!

 

Yes, to your question. But if you get it out, there will be no need to replace the elbow. Just install a new goose neck.

 

Had same thing happen and found the tapered tang end of a steel ******* file fit into the end on the pipe and gripped the end on the broken pipe. Then you hit the opposite end of the file just a bit on the end to drive it just a little into the pipe. Then twist the file counter clock wise with a crescent wrench to remove the broken pipe. There are videos on YouTube showing this.

obviously you need to measure the inside of the broken pipe and find a file with the right size tang. Worked great.


The tapered end or tang is what goes into pipe