my shower's gone rogue and sprays everywhere but down

Had a similar thing happen after I tried to “fix” a leaky shower head with some duct tape - total mess, water everywhere but where it should be.

“Once the plastic’s gone brittle, you’re better off swapping in a new head.”

- Ran into this exact thing last month - replaced the shower head, but the leak kept coming from the joint.
- Turns out, pipe threads were rusted and half-stripped.
- Quick tip: I always run a finger around the threads and check for rough spots or gunk before putting on a new head.
- Sometimes old teflon tape hides damage, so I’ll clean it off first.
- Honestly, sometimes it’s not just the head… those pipes can be sneaky.

That’s a good point about the old teflon tape hiding trouble. I’ve found that sometimes folks just keep wrapping more tape on, thinking it’ll fix any leak, but if the threads are shot, it’s just a band-aid. I’m always a bit paranoid about water damage and mold, so I tend to err on the side of replacing questionable pipes altogether. Has anyone tried switching to brass fittings or even PEX for these kinds of repairs? I wonder if that’s any better for long-term durability and avoiding leaks down the road…

- Totally agree, just piling on more tape is like putting a band-aid on a busted dam.
- I’ve switched a couple of leaky spots to brass fittings - zero regrets so far. They feel way sturdier than the old plastic ones, and I haven’t had to re-tighten anything yet.
- PEX is super tempting because it’s so easy to work with (and you don’t need to arm-wrestle the pipes into place), but I still get a little nervous about those crimp rings over time… maybe I’m just old school.
- For my own peace of mind, if the threads look sketchy, I just replace the part. Cheaper than drywall repair after a hidden leak, right?

Brass fittings are definitely more reliable in my experience - less plastic waste, too. I’m with you on swapping out sketchy parts before they become a bigger headache. PEX is handy, but I still trust a solid threaded brass connection, especially for anything behind a wall. Had a crimp ring fail once and it was a mess... not worth the risk if you ask me. Sometimes old school just works better, even if it takes a bit more effort upfront.