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Instructions for Fixing Pipe Leak

J. Oxford
J. Oxford Member Posts: 5
in THE MAIN WALL
Yep. :) I live in a great 1878 home with a fieldstone foundation. The pipe break is outside the original foundation with NO exterior access. So you have to crawl through a 2x2.5 opening in the fieldstone to the "new" construction. This opening is currently used for AC ductwork and the blower is 1 foot in front of the opening! Yikes! Needless to say you need to be a slim guy to make it through this opening: I happen to be skinny and my heating guy is decidedly NOT.

Comments

  • J. Oxford
    J. Oxford Member Posts: 5
    Pipe Leak in Chicago

    I live in Chicago, and this winter was amazingly cold. I had a pipe break under my enclosed porch, so as a temporary solution I shut the valve sending water to the broken pipe and kept a space heater out there to keep it warm/prevent freezing until it warmed up outside. My heating guy said that he thought I could fix the pipe properly on my own so now that it's warm out I'd like to get some confirmation that what I'm planning to do (set-by-step) is correct.

    1. Valve isolating the water in the "porch circuit" is already closed. It's summer so the pipes are cool.
    2. Use pipe cutter to remove break. Use bucket to catch water that drains out of remaining pipe.
    3. Braze coupler to attach pipe ends. Allow pipe to cool.
    4. Open valve and allow system to refill circuit.

    Is this correct? What am I missing?
  • bob young
    bob young Member Posts: 2,177
    brazing copper possible overkill

    SOLDERING with 95-5 may be more suitable for circumstances. skill level is big factor for non professional. how is original system configured ?
  • J. Oxford
    J. Oxford Member Posts: 5


    The pipe is all copper but I don't know how to visually distinguish solder from brazing. I do know that my heating guy did recommend brazing. As for my skill level, I have done simple soldering on plumbing hot water lines using a butane torch but thats it. Do you think soldering would be a better option then?
  • bob young
    bob young Member Posts: 2,177
    designating work

    Brazing is definitely the superior method & if you feel you are capable then have at it. it will be interesting to see how this plays out. sometimes it is worth your while to hire someone experienced for the chore at hand & earn the money to pay them by doing what you excel at . it has worked well for me over the years. no man is an island.
  • Techman
    Techman Member Posts: 2,144
    Pipe repair

    You might need a "SLIP" coupling{no stops},if you don't have enough play in copper pipe.
  • Steve M_2
    Steve M_2 Member Posts: 121
    Sharkbite fittings

    As a professional and being kinda old fashioned, I hate to recommend them but Sharkbites might be a good option for you. They're easy and fast but you'll need about an inch of play to use two of them to replace the pipe you cut out.

    Steve
  • bob young
    bob young Member Posts: 2,177
    the easy way

    or he could compression fittings & a washing machine hose
  • Ron Gillen
    Ron Gillen Member Posts: 124
    Compression??

    How do you hook a compression fitting to a washing machine hose? Garden hose and gear clamps maybe!
  • Plumdog_2
    Plumdog_2 Member Posts: 873
    CompressionXhose thread

    Or, get a long repair coupling and solder it in with your Bernz-O-Matic. If you did it before you can do it again. Clean real good first, get rid of the water, don't catch the house on fire!
  • J. Oxford
    J. Oxford Member Posts: 5


    Thanks for the insights! I plan to work on it tomorrow morning and I'll let you know how it goes.

  • Leo_13
    Leo_13 Member Posts: 38
    Why

    Why did your heating guy shy away from it? We bring heat back to areas in cold weather. Is this a terrible spot he just didn't want to go into?

    Leo
  • Lyle C
    Lyle C Member Posts: 96
    Fixing pipe leak

    Call your heating man ask hin to snake a piece of heating PEX through there . If it freezes again the odds are good it won't split.
  • bob young
    bob young Member Posts: 2,177
    ANY SUCCESS ?

  • J. Oxford
    J. Oxford Member Posts: 5


    I went with the Sharkbytes and they worked like a charm! Ended up that there were 2 different breaks in the pipes: both at elbows in opposite corners of the exterior walls. I'll likely need to insulate these pipes better to prevent these in the future.

    Thanks all for the input! I appreciate it.
  • Leo_13
    Leo_13 Member Posts: 38
    You sure will

    J. Oxford wrote, "I'll likely need to insulate these pipes better to prevent these in the future."

    If they froze once they will freeze again unless something is done. As someone else said use pex it tends to not burst if frozen.

    Leo
  • bob young
    bob young Member Posts: 2,177
    DRAFT

    I THINK YOU SHOULD CHECK THE OUTSIDE WALL FOR CRACKS OR SEPARATION WHERE A DRAFT FROM A STILL BREEZE CAUSED THE FREEZE UP.
  • Derheatmeister
    Derheatmeister Member Posts: 1,579
    Glycol

    I am not a big fan of Glycol, But maybe in your case you should install some to prevent a freeze up again.
This discussion has been closed.

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