Leaky Steam Pipe

Ellell

What would you do?

The first floor kitchen has steam leaking from the base cabinet area. When the cabinet doors under the sink are opened you can see the concentration of steam. The steam is condensing in drawers and causing puddles of water as well as wood swell and destruction. Tracing the steam pipe from the boiler in the basement, I see that the horizontal pipe takes a 90 degree upward turn and goes up at the point where the wood frame of the house sits on the cinder block foundation. The pipe then disappears between the first floor (basement ceiling) and the outside wall. I can not see any pipes upstairs at the cabinet location.

Would you rip out the cabinets?

Would you open up cabinet floors?

I need some ideas.

Paul48

I'd

remove the back of the cabinet first. It's easy to make cosmetic repair to it, if the pipe can be accessed that way.

Ellell

I see your logic

Thanks Paul. I can see why you would do that. Because I saw no leak in the horizontal pipe in the basement the leak would have to be in the vertical. Since I do not live at the property and it's not winter time, this project will probably move at a slow pace. My guess is going to be that the problem is a leak at a joint.

gerry gill

i would have the cabinets

removed and i would replace the branch pipe in its entirety. Around here the insurance companies cover the cost of 'gaining access' to the plumbing, but not the cost of the actual plumbing job. Sounds like the big cost of your job would also be gaining access.