How to repair a "pin hole" leak in a return (on New Years Eve)

mattm

Hi there, after spending lots of effort to get my old steam system running quietly and efficiently with many thanks to the contributors here... I moved and have a new one pipe steam system, and with it lots of "deferred maintenance."

We've only been here a week, but the return line sprung a substantial leak - the hole was just over 9/16 in size. It looks like the pipe had been repaired in the past and the patch finally came loose. In addition, the return does not look like it is pitched correctly. My primary concern is patching this leak in a semipermanent way. No one is willing to come out and fix it. I'm reasonably competent, but not a plumber. No matter what I'm going to have to make a trip to a plumbing store (if any are open) to try and plug it myself as it is emptying the whole system and having a ton of makeup water in.

Any suggestions? I tried to use a 9/16 stainless screw to plug the hole. I got the screw in, but the hole is bigger. If necessary, I could try drilling gently and tapping it, but then what would I fill it with? It would have to be 5/8, or 11/16 and the pipe is only 1 3/8 OD (I think). I'm in Newton, MA.

jhewings

Something fast to get through the New Year weekend try a pipe repair clamp from a home depot. Figure out your pipe size. Hopefully it is in stock

SlamDunk

Two belt clamps and a piece of rubber would work too. It isnt pressurized. Then you can replace the pipe.

mattmia2

electrical tape. hose clamp and a little piece of rubber

HVACNUT

Split a Furnco or "no hub" coupling, slip it over, and tighten.

Jamie Hall

This stuff works wonders: https://www.amazon.com/Rescue-Tape-RT01019-BRK-RT1000201201USCO/dp/B00AEBKYPG/ref=sr_1_4?crid=CKKQLA6HYG9Z&keywords=leak+seal+tape&qid=1640919546&sprefix=leak+se,aps,71&sr=8-4

You should have a roll on hand anyway...

mattmia2

btw, this is much more than a pinhole.

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

Two-part epoxy from a hardware store works wonders. Make enough to wrap all the way around the pipe and feather the edges with a wet finger before it hardens.

An English plumber that used to work for me turned me on to Denso tape. It's a fibrous tape impregnated and coated with a petroleum compound. It's a mess to use, but works wonders. Available from Amazon.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Guess the home inspector missed that

Hap_Hazzard

Jamie Hall said:

This stuff works wonders: https://www.amazon.com/Rescue-Tape-RT01019-BRK-RT1000201201USCO/dp/B00AEBKYPG/ref=sr_1_4?crid=CKKQLA6HYG9Z&keywords=leak+seal+tape&qid=1640919546&sprefix=leak+se,aps,71&sr=8-4

You should have a roll on hand anyway...

Darn it, Jamie. Now I'm going to have to order some of that, in all eight colors!

mattm

Thanks all! I'm definitely going to order some of that tape! Got it under control so I'm not losing so much water and can run until I get the pipe run replaced.

pecmsg

Electrical tape with several wraps does work in a pinch. 

ethicalpaul

These tape and rubber wrap/clamp ideas all sound good. Don't try any more with putting something in the hole because it's likely that there is a lot of rot around the hole. Those efforts will just make the hole bigger.

BobC

Be careful when tightening the clap over rubber on a pinhole pipe because if the pipe is really rotten it can collapse. I find silicone rubber sheet works best because it's so supple.

Bob