Emergency water line repair

[TRR]

Here's the tape mudfarmer is refering to and is also available at the big box stores (if you can find it):

Harbor Freight link:

10 FT. X-Treme Tape

 

[tommu56]

Product Listing PVC-Compression-Couples

I didn't see what pipe size you need but they are made fro 1/2" up.

These work but you have to restrain the pipe from expanding some times
the Orange box store has them some times.

tom

 

[LarryD]

We just made some repairs to fuel lines from UST's to a couple generators using a tape like the one in the link. I can't remember the exact name (info in on my work puter) but it was a resin impregnated fiberglass tape. The cut sheet indicated it was being used in the petroleum fields and the repairs were great.

 

[EddieWalker]

All good advice, but what I'd do before anything else is to find the leak, and make sure it really is a leak. Being that it's in a location that you can't see it, I'm curious if it's coming from the pipe, or something else in there. Ice, snow, condensation all get into places that you wouldn't expect.

In my experience, when you have a small leak, it leads to a bigger one in a short amount of time. If you broke or cracked the pipe or fitting, its just a matter of time for it to fail completely. Do it now, and not when it's broken wide open. Usually that happens when you are not home, sound asleep or in the middle of a misserable, freezing storm!!!!!

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[lhfarm]

All good advice, but what I'd do before anything else is to find the leak, and make sure it really is a leak. Being that it's in a location that you can't see it, I'm curious if it's coming from the pipe, or something else in there. Ice, snow, condensation all get into places that you wouldn't expect.

In my experience, when you have a small leak, it leads to a bigger one in a short amount of time. If you broke or cracked the pipe or fitting, its just a matter of time for it to fail completely. Do it now, and not when it's broken wide open. Usually that happens when you are not home, sound asleep or in the middle of a misserable, freezing storm!!!!!

Good luck,
Eddie

I used a mirror, but could only see two drips coming from the bottom of two couplers. I found some "repair" tape a a box store, but it didn't work. Tried some epoxy and that didn't work, so I'm left with doing the repair.

I couldn't see a crack, just the drips, but I believe I damaged that short section by moving the pipe side-to-side while trying to hook up the pump. I need to figure out how to prevent that from happening again.

Since the cut will have to be against the wall, where the line comes into the pump house, I'll have one shot to get it right. Otherwise, I'm digging down outside the block wall to make another cut. I'm still debating calling a plumber. We have rain and freezing rain coming in this afternoon and single digit temperatures later in the week. I want to get it done now.

I don't have a plumber and it is a holiday. Gone tomorrow, but may make some calls to see if anyone is willing to tackle this.

On a side note, I couldn't get the main shut-off to work. It was hard to turn and there is no indicator of "Off" so I assumed just a quarter-turn. It may have been user error, but I need to let the water company know. Or I may just let a plumber take care of it.

Not a fun weekend.

 

[Egon]

Sounds like a good time for one of the Vibratory Tools to use for the cutting.:thumbsup:

Be patient and take your time. You'll get it done properly that way.

If room is really tight can you use two elbows on the existing pipe and put in a flexible piece with threaded fittings on one side to connect the two. Might save future problems. Thinking of copper tubing wrapped into a pig tail.

 

[SandburRanch]

I've made temporary repairs by going to the farmers co-op and buying a stick of radiator hose the appropriate diameter and worm screw clamps.

The one I repaired 10 years ago for a neighbor when the PVC froze and cracked probably wasn't so temporary because I'd bet it's still there.

 

[JB4310]

I'm still hoping for that to happen. The roof of the pump house must weigh 100#. I prop up one end with an old sway bar off an 8-N. Then I have to ease myself down in the small area between the pressure tank and the pump, plus the pipes. Very little room to work and I could barely move after spending hours in there yesterday. So my hope is that I can open it up today and it will be dry. Otherwise, I'll have with me something stop the drip.



The drip is on the bottom of the pipe, between two couplings. It may be two drips and I'm going to have to take a mirror with me. The pipe is barely off the floor, so I can't do there to see for a direct view. I may pick up a couple of clamps while I'm in town.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll let you know what I'm able to accomplish.

Couple of things, first, sounds like a mouse trap the way that heavy roof is propped up. Be careful and make sure someone knows you're in there, that thing comes down on your legs and it's gonna be alot worse than the pipe dripping.

Second because of how you described the location being close to the wall it could be broken in the wall or just outside or just inside due to movement caused by frost in the ground. This would be worst case and not a simple fix.

If the leak is in the straight pipe, if your that lucky then a split clamped coupling would work.
If it's in the coupling I don't think the clamp would work, and you would have to try that super tape. I bought a roll of it awhile ago and was not that impressed with it just fooling around with it in the shop, but I never put it to a real test like a pipe leak.

How much pressure in that part of the system? As far as preventing it from happening again if you did break it inside then one of those slip couplings in Tom's reply would be ideal to allow for some movement. Or a flex line like we all use for sink and toilet supply.

I also like the simple repair idea from sandburranch using hose and hose clamps, if it's accessable. With this way even if it was broken halfway through a coupling you could just cut out the broken part and find a HD hose that would slip over the coupling and clamp a splice in there.

Good Luck, JB.

 

[mjfox6]

Product Listing PVC-Compression-Couples

I didn't see what pipe size you need but they are made fro 1/2" up.

These work but you have to restrain the pipe from expanding some times
the Orange box store has them some times.

tom

I spent my Saturday (two weeks ago) digging up my main water line, which runs under my driveway. This fitting is what I found, apparently the previous owners used it to fix a leak they had. I tried tightening it, which stopped one side from leaking, but did not cure the other side. I cut it out and glued in two straight couplings and a short piece of pipe.

I'm just saying, I won't be using one of these to fix any future leaks that I have.

 

[tommu56]

I spent my Saturday (two weeks ago) digging up my main water line, which runs under my driveway. This fitting is what I found, apparently the previous owners used it to fix a leak they had. I tried tightening it, which stopped one side from leaking, but did not cure the other side. I cut it out and glued in two straight couplings and a short piece of pipe.

I'm just saying, I won't be using one of these to fix any future leaks that I have.

There isn't any way I would be burying one but in the basement or crawl space.
I don't see a problem as long as it is rated for the pressure.
The other thing most people don't lube them up to screw them together and the threads stick and don't tighten up