I'm putting in an elbow supply for a handshower option in a shower installation, and realized I don't quite follow the installation procedure. I have roughed-in a 1/2" male pipe nipple, but the elbow supply itself only goes on after the finish wall is complete. At that time, I will not have access to the wrench flats on the pipe nipple since that is behind the finish wall, so I will be turning the elbow supply onto the nipple without any backup wrench to relieve the torque on the piping inside the wall.
All the other threaded rough-in connections for the shower valve (and a bathtub too) were done with a backup wrench, this seems to be the lone exception.
I did a test and was unable to eliminate leakage with hand-tightening only, so I know I'm going to need a wrench to get one more turn onto the nipple.
Am I missing something, or can I just torque away on the elbow supply and expect the 1/2" copper pipe inside the wall to withstand it? I haven't started the finish wall yet so there is still time to make some modifications if I have something backwards.
Any thoughts appreciated!
P.S. I need a good seal on this connection because the way my main shower valve is arranged, the full 60 psi water pressure remains in the elbow supply (it has its own little stop valve) even when the main shower flow valve is closed.
All the other threaded rough-in connections for the shower valve (and a bathtub too) were done with a backup wrench, this seems to be the lone exception.
I did a test and was unable to eliminate leakage with hand-tightening only, so I know I'm going to need a wrench to get one more turn onto the nipple.
Am I missing something, or can I just torque away on the elbow supply and expect the 1/2" copper pipe inside the wall to withstand it? I haven't started the finish wall yet so there is still time to make some modifications if I have something backwards.
Any thoughts appreciated!
P.S. I need a good seal on this connection because the way my main shower valve is arranged, the full 60 psi water pressure remains in the elbow supply (it has its own little stop valve) even when the main shower flow valve is closed.