Emergency Plumbing Fix

[Chuck52]

Saturday, the Fourth of July, with family coming soon. So of course the fifty eight year old copper drain pipe under the kitchen sink decides this is the perfect time to spring a leak. This section of pipe is about 1.5 inches diameter and maybe a foot long. Goes to the second sink and is soldered in. A two inch crack opened in the bottom of the pipe and you can feel that the whole bottom is thin. So.....how to do a quick temporary fix? Fortunately, the local Ace hardware is open until 5PM today, and they have a real plumber (or at least a knowledgeable guy) to answer my questions. He pointed me to an epoxy tape that I had never heard of. Properly applied, it will hold 100 psi of pressure, so I figured it would work at drain pressure. Just to be thorough, I also used some of that putty epoxy tp make a patch over the actual hole and to reinforce the bottom of the pipe for several inches. I then wrapped about eight inches of the pipe with the tape. This stuff may be the next duct tape! Assuming it holds anyway. It is a bit difficult to wrap really long stretch like I did, because you have to remove the backing and apply it with a good stretch to activate the epoxy, but it makes a nice patch. I then went to Wally World for some wine, in case the tape didn't work. They had another brand of the same tape for about $5-6 vs the $13 at Ace, but I would never have known about it without the Ace guy, so I'm happy....and I bought the WallyWorld tape just in case! It can also be used to make grips for tools and is good for some electrical repairs!

Chuck

 

[Therios Pendragon]

So, I am intrigued... what is the name of this stuff... I have never heard of it either. I have used the raw rubber stuff that sticks to itself permanently but nothing of epoxy tape.

 

[cowboy357]

That sounds interesting , and something that would be handy to have around just in case. I,d also like to know the name brand of it. Thanks for the info. Bob

 

[Egon]

What? ? You did not wrap it with electricians tape and then apply copious wraps of duct tape!!!

 

[Chuck52]

The WalMart brand is labeled SealWrap Repair Tape. The packaging for the brand I got at Ace is now buried below layers of rib bones, corn cobs, empty beer bottles, etc, and is beyond my power to recover. Surprisingly, the WalMart stuff is made in America! This stuff would be great to have around the house and the car. It's supposed to even be able to seal a radiator hose, though I think I'd high-tail it to a garage after using it for that.

Egon,

I was planning to use a blob of plumbers putty secured with some really good duct tape I have, but the Ace guy convinced me that would be unlikely to hold. This repair looks so good I figure it will hold until we remodel the kitchen and redo all the pluming. That's supposed to start happening this year. I bet it would cost me big bucks just to have a plumber fix this drain as it is.

Chuck

 

[2manyrocks]

I thought I was the only one whose plumbing acted up on a holiday when all the hardware stores are closed.

 

[Chuck52]

2Many,

I didn't go on with the rest of the story, but since you didn't ask.....

I got the leak under the sink taken care of with my new favorite tool, and was outside trying to smoke ribs in a grill not designed for the job when the DW shouted out the door to tell me I wasn't yet off the plumbing hook. She was using the dishwasher and when it drained the sink filled almost to the top. I'd seen that before and knew the cure, but it involved climbing on the roof and running my long spring snake down the vent to that section of the drain. There's basically no other way to get to that drain because of the garbage disposal under the sink. There is a clean-out in the basement, but apparently 58 year old cast iron fittings grow together and refuse to be parted. Anyway, all that would have been fine, except I was already celebrating my success with the leak and it was raining off and on and I no longer get all that much joy from climbing on the roof anyway. But up I went and dropped the snake down the hole. It usually works pretty easy because the plug is always at the bottom of the down pipe from the kitchen, and that's 20 feet or so from roof level. I can just drop the snake and get a nice hammer effect. This time it was a solid plug. Maybe some crud from the damaged drain pipe was involved....anyway, I poured a bottle of Liquid Plumber down the vent and then slammed the snake a few more times and whooppee! There she went! After that, all was well with the celebration of America's birthday. Good fireworks, especially with competition from some neighbors about a quarter mile away. Even the ribs came out OK, but I really need to get my smoker fixed.

Chuck

 

[schmism]

5min JB weld and ducktape.

but if its copper, i would have just busted out the torch, flux and solder.

 

[Chuck52]

Given my skill with a torch and solder, our house would probably have been the Fourth of July display!

Chuck

 

[jorgeglens]

Use duct tape or pipe sealing tape to pull together a crack in a pipe, reducing the leak as a temporary solution.