Tub spout is calcified onto pipe and will not twist. i don't want to ruin pipes , how do i get it off?

Hi,
The spout can easily be replaced...
Check for a set screw underneath back at the wall...
If no set screw then simply twist the spout of by turning CCW...
Then find a replacement spout at your local HD, Lowes< or hardware and reinstall the new one...
The replacement spouts are so cheap that it is not worth trying to fix the old one..

heatman101

Most tub spout are pretty covers for the generic ugly pipes that deliver the water from the wall water plumbing into the tub area. Speaking for this water pipe it's either going to be copper or galvanized iron pipe. The pipe that you see sticking out of the wall is rather short. It ends just inside the wall usually at a 90 degree elbow which in turn is connected to a pipe and other things inside the wall cavity. If this short pipe stub is loose so you can move it in and out of the wall hole some, the reason is that the plumbing pipes inside the wall are not tied down to the wall studs properly.
If the backside of the wall can be opened by cutting out a section of sheetrock in the same location as where the spout pipe is located, you can expose the inside wall plumbing and tie in the wall pipes securely to the wall framing. Afterwards, you need to seal up the sheetrock hole you created.
In some cases this is not possible. When that is the case, your fix is spotty at best. You can use a caulking that becomes rock hard when cured around the pipe nipple as it comes through the wall hole. Hopefully the hard caulking will provide enough tightness tying the pipe to the wall material to help stop the movement. Install the caulking so it is underneath the pretty tub spout when you reinstall it over the generic pipe. Make sure you do not have this caulking involved with the pretty spout so if you need to remove it again, it won't be locked in by the hardening caulk.
Nimsgame

Tub spout threads onto end of pipe. The diverter does not play a role.

Sometimes these things get rusted in place, and you have to bend them getting it off.
When all else fails, get a big pipe wrench and muscle it until it bends up and comes off.
Sounds like you might need a new tub spout ... and might need a new pipe ... be sure to match length of pipe to depth of threads on new spout.

Photos from google-image search for "tub spout removal tool"
http://www.justingermino.com/replacing-bath-tub-spout/

You need to replace the tub diverter/spout. There are two kinds, I hope you have the kind with
an allen head set screw on the bottom side of the spout near the shower wall. These are super
easy to replace ! Loosen the set screw, twist the spout a little and it should slide off. When installing
the new spout, smear some vaseline on the copper pipe sticking out, this will help seal the new O rings in the spout.

The other kind of spout has pipe threads in it. They can be a little more tricky. I got called to a
house one time. The plastic female threads on the spout cracked when the plumber installed it.
The water ran down the inside of the wall and did damage down stairs. The leak could not be seen
until the sheet rock down stairs fell down from being soaked. You need to put some pipe dope on the threads, then tighten the spout on by hand, so as not to scratch it with a pump pliers.

I hope this helps !

The faucet was installed upside down.
The shower riser pipe in the wall is to short( the distance between the faucet and shower head).
One of the biggest problems is if your shower faucet was installed with Pex pipe to the tub spout. Pex pipe will restrict the flow and force the water back up and out of the shower head.
The tub spout must be piped with at least 1/2 brass pipe nipples and fittings, or 5/8 OD. copper pipe and fittings.
Hope this helps, if you further questions please let us know.

Hi,
If it was me... I would replace that spout...
the spout either is threaded on or it has a set screw on the bottom at the back that you loosen and then pull the spout off by pulling straight away from the wall...
Check and see if the spout has the hole for the set screw...if not then twist it counter clockwise and it will turn off...
then repalce the spout with a new one with out the diverter...

heatman101

Tub spout has an o ring that pipe goes through for seal. So it should go by it.

twist it to the left like you would a screw. If there is no allen or set screw, it is threaded on a piece of copper.

Good luck

Normally, tub spouts are screwed onto 1/2" NPT galvanized pipe. I was unable to pull the spec for your particular tub filler, but I haven't found one yet that doesn't. I don't know why the builder didn't rough it in this way, but it will have to be fixed because there isn't any way to use anything but a threaded fixture (your other options are really only compression or soldered/sweated and you don't have the space behind the tub filler to do either of these). There should be a fitting in the wall (attached to a stud) that converts from the 1/2" copper pipe to 1/2" NPT galvanized. This piece needs to be added behind the wall so that you can attach your tub filler.

About the gap, it's generally a good idea to leave space around the pipe anyway so that minor temperature or humidity changes in the wall don't put stress on your plumbing and cause it to crack over time. That's one of the reasons why tub fillers are flared at the back (so that it covers the gap).

Hi handie Man,

I'm Harvey the Master Plumber.

Your problem is: Just bought a new tube spout to repalce my old one. The new spout same as the old, very common spout.. the inside of the spout has a (white) PVC threaded pipe in it with a smaller tube inside that as a O-ring in it.. You tried to unscrew annoying pipe but it wont budge.. and you dont want to ruin it incase you end up returning it. You think its just a reciver for a 1/2 inch copper pipe (which will fit).

That is exactly what it is. You've purchased a universal spout which requires a 1/2" copper pipe coming out of the wall. If you're not up to changing to that, take the old one to a plumbing supply. If you're lucky they might have a direct replacement.

Feel free contact me again!
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Thank you,
Harvey your Master Plumber