How to remove a corroded tub downspout
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- Do you have a stubborn tub downspout? Does the shower up button feel stuck or no longer move up and down? Then I show you how to safely remove the old one without damaging the internal pipe. You need a propane torch or a very hot heat gun. I even had a viewer use boiling water! Remember, all you need to do is let Physics do the work. Metal expands when heated. So we are trying to expand the outer metal body of the tub downspout more than the inner pipe connection. This will loosen that corroded connection and allow you to spin it off easily.
Any heat source will work. A propane torch just makes it work faster.
Here is a simple torch nozzle with trigger start: amzn.to/47O4r7w
We didn’t have a torch and my wife had the idea of pouring boiling water on the faucet. This worked perfectly and we were able to remove the faucet after!
Yes - all you need is to create a temperature difference between the outside downspout and the inner pipe connection. Metal expands as it is heated and you can take advantage of this. So add a little pasta to that boiling water and get cracking! Thank you for your comment and suggestion!
It worked just as described in the video. Saved me from wrecking the copper pipe.
I’m glad it worked out! Thank you for watching!
YOU'RE MY HERO THIS WORKED!!! I struggled removing our 20 year old spout. I spent an hour cutting slices off and still couldn't get it. I tried removing corrosion using CLR and letting it soak in WD40. NOTHING WORKED. I watched this video and used a small torch for a minute and it slipped right off. Seriously, thank you so much. I was losing my mind.
This really made my day! I’m so happy to have helped you out!
Great video! Used a heat gun on a high setting for about a minute. Used a grilling glove to twist it off. It worked like a charm. Thanks for the great video!
Woo hoo! I’m glad this video helped!
THANK YOU, I forgot I had grilling gloves but I'm going to try them after I heat mine
Thanks for the comment. I don't have a torch but I do have a heat gun. Gonna try it tomorrow.
@terrencecannon200 Let us know how it works out!
This worked when nothing else would. Came right off. Thank you for sharing this!
Whoa - I’m so happy this worked!! Thank you for watching and be sure you subscribe and hit the like button. This helps others find this video.
Thank you so much. I literally just got done putting on a new one. I went to Home Depot and bought a torch and it actually worked thanks.
I’m glad it worked for you! Now you can help your neighbors!
@@checkinwithageek1673 I definitely will because I know if I would have called a plumber out they probably would have charged me $200
Skip everything else and do this very step here. This was my exact issue and this worked in minutes !
This is great to hear! I’m glad this video was helpful and saved you valuable time :)
CZcams to the rescue once again. Thank you guys so much for this video!
Our pleasure!
Oh man, this is probably what my problem is. I don't have a torch but I'm also renting this apt. Not a lot of faith in our new maintenance guy either. I will suggest watching this video if he can't fix it and having the property manager call an actual plumber. Thanks for this video!
Good luck! We have learned not to twist too hard or the pipe in the wall will get damaged. So this high heat really helps. A torch kit at Home Depot is about $30 and a down spout is $25. So you could nudge the Apartment managers to buy this for their maintenance team and that it’s only $50 for the repair instead of $300-500 for a plumber!
Wish I had watched this before applying too much torque and wrecking the pipe...
But hey, now I get to learn how to fix damaged pipes!
Ah snap! I’m sorry you had to experience this. But yes now you know how to fix a pipe!
@@checkinwithageek1673 Snap! Yep that's what happened 😂
As soon as I saw the torch instantly made sense great thinking guys it instantly worked on mine thanks for the help
I’m glad this worked for you! Please subscribe so I can send you more great time saving content!
Thank you so much! I initially thought that the nut may have shifted but no, this was my exact problem. Didn't have a mini blow torch and just used a chimney lighter which work all the same. Cheers
Woo hoo! I love it when I can save others valuable time and frustration! Great job improvising!
Thank you soooooo much. Was having so much trouble. Used the torch and it twisted off. Bless you and this video.
I’m super happy I could help you! This helps make more content to help others!
Excellent video! I live in southwest Texas and our water is very hard. calcium deposits are horrible. I used a torch and plumbers wrench and spout screwed right off. I have a 6 inch Moen Oxby IPS front faucet.
I’m super happy this helped you remove that stubborn tub spout! Hopefully I can produce some more content to help you!
Thanks. I got a torch and it worked for me. Very valuable video.
I'm happy this worked out for you! Isn't Science just fun!
Worked perfectly, thanks!
Great to hear!
Dude! This worked a treat!
I’m glad I could help! Thank you for watching!
This was exactly what I needed!
Thank you for your comment! I hope I can deliver more helpful content in the future!
Thank you for the help! It worked great for me!
Glad it helped!
Thank you. This works very well.
Thank you @haroldcheeseburger!
Very nice. Thank you.
Most welcome
Thank you just what i needed
I’m glad this helped!
This worked! Thanks!!!
I’m glad this worked for you! Good luck with rest of your project :)
The spout I have is plastic. When I removed it, it separated from the copper collar it came with. The collar is stuck to the cast iron pipe, and the pipe has rust on the threads. I put WD-40 on it a few times, but the collar is still frozen. Should I try using the torch on it or is there another way to approach this?
Copper has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than steel/iron. So heating both will mean copper will expand more than the steel/iron pipe. So this should work in your scenario too. Let us know if it does!
Did you have to shut off the water?
No you don’t need to turn off water as that pipe isn’t under water pressure. You also aren’t touching any portion that does have water pressure. But it’s always a good idea to turn off water in the event you do accidentally damage a pressurized pipe. Some people can easily turn off water while others it’s very difficult. So I would make a judgement call based on your level of comfort.
I don't have a torch. Would a blow dryer or a heat gun also work? I scared that I'll twist the copper pipe inside the wall and require a really expensive fix because I can't get my old, corroded bathtub spout off.
Your fear is real! I can tell you I’ve done this exact thing - of twisting the copper pipe inside the wall many times! I’ve learned that you need the high heat of a torch. You could use a heat gun but definitely not a hair dryer. Here is why: you need to heat the outside of the downspout faster than the copper threaded connection. You are wanting to get the outside downspout to expand due to heat more than the copper threaded connection. If you heat slowly, then both heat up together - which means both expand together. I hope this helps. HomeDepot has propane torch kits for $26. So a whole lot cheaper than fixing a twisted copper pipe inside a wall!
@@checkinwithageek1673 Thank you for the quick and thorough reply.
Damn might try this 😅
I can’t wait to hear about your results!
@@checkinwithageek1673 well didn't work out for me, my torch ran out of fluid so I just cut a slit to get the panel off 😁
Important part is you fixed it!
Is it normal for the copper pipe to have some play when trying to remove old spout?
Yes a little play in the copper pipe is normal as it depends on if the pipe was strapped down to the wall. Sometimes these pipes are not strapped to the wall allowing them to move slightly in the wall.
Thank you
Tried this with a lighter... didn't work for us and there's no screw. IDK
Sorry - a lighter won’t get the temperature differential high enough for this trick to work.
But this trick also assumes that your downspout has a threaded connection. There are multiple connection types. So best to research your specific connection.
Use a torch.
Best video !! Nice.
Glad I could be of help! Let us know if this worked for you :)
I can’t get mine off …..
I think it would be pretty hard to crack the elbow……. But …
Well it’s not the elbow you need to worry about… it’s the short length of pipe between the elbow and tub spout. That section will twist. Be sure your model doesn’t have any set screws. Good luck!
don't forget pipe dope or teflon tape.
Great call out!
Oh that’s the problem I have the copper pipe has a leak. Can I hear that copper pipe up to me and it?
You may need to call a plumber and have them assess this. Water leaks can lead to expensive damage.
I am having the same issue but the pipe coming from the wall is PVC. I believe the guy who installed it used glue I'm not sure but it's a Moen and no screw but won't turn to take off the spout. Can I use a torch as well. 😢
PVC - Hmmm.... well I would research that particular downspout from Moen. Some of their newer downspouts are held in with a set screw (access just below the downspout), but their older ones are threaded connections. So you could use heat to break the connection, but perhaps use something less intense like a heat gun/hair dryer instead of a propane torch. My fear would be that the heat would melt the PVC pipe threads. So just be careful. By the way, PVC connections for a tub downspout isn't that common. At least from what I've seen.
@@checkinwithageek1673 I just found the same thing. Twisted the downspout, it fought me every inch of the way, when it finally came off, I have a twisted bit of soft black pipe inside, and an equivalent twisted soft black part sticking out of the wall. When I unscrewed that, I found damaged external 3/4 threads sticking out. I have no idea what I'm looking at or how to fix this. And family arrives in 3 days!
Why can’t you just have the other guy hold the camera 🤷♂️
lol!
No tools just a torch and and a towel 😂
Good callout! Lol
JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE .............HE KNOWS ,YOU DON'T .
way too much
Oh horseshit🤣
Sorry - I don’t understand - you can see others who have had success replicating this process. It’s basic physics- metal expands when it heats up. So if you can expand the outer part faster than the inner threaded connection you can free the corroded connection. Try it!