I removed my old water softener today. When our town switched to Lake Michigan water, many people discontinued using them.
Well now I’m trying to resolder the splice. I did the best I could (I’m no plumber). I started the water up and there’s a pinhole leak.
The problem I’m having is that with all the water off and faucets open around the house, I can’t get the water to stop dripping and the solder won’t stick. I’m in the basement, of course, and I’m guessing I’m going to get residual dripping for a while.
What can I do!!
Replies
Cut out the boo-boo area, stuff the pipe ends with white bread, no crust, and resolder ina repair coupling. The bread will dissolve, but take out the faucet strainers when you flush out the lines.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Thanks, but me being the cheapskate I am, I only bought parts for one try. I'll have to go back to Lowes for more elbows.
Any other way?
You can reuse the elbows. Heat them up good and wipe with a damp rag to get the loose solder out.And, if you have to make a trip to Lowes, take a look at the SharkBite fittings.
The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel
Cheapskate and plumbing are diametrically opposed, I ALWAYS buy a handful of everything I can possibly think I'll need, and chuck the extras into my stash of goodies.
And STILL it almost always takes another trip out.
You can get sharkbite fittings, double ended compression fittings, and all sorts of emergency type fix-its. My personal best was auto heater hose and clamps. A red heater hose has a 5/8" I.D. and works well on 1/2" copper. Even HOT water won't affect it.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Like some of the others said, get a sharkbite fitting and be done with it. They are 4.00 or 5.00 a pc. and worth every bit of it. This is the kind of situations they were made for.
Just cut the pipe and insert the ends in the fitting. It really is that easy.
dug....never had one fail
I'm not sure of the brand but I bought the fittings I needed like the sharkbite.
Much easier than soldering. Thanks everyone for the help.
I actually posted a pic of this area a few months ago asking if it could be done. see attached.
Is it possible that I could see an increase in water flow after this fix? (I should have put a pressure guage on it before I started)
yep thats the way i do it, learned the hard way not to use whole wheat when plumbing in softner.
Several tricks. First, make sure the highest and lowest faucets in the house are open, to let the pipe drain. Next, ream the cut pipe, so there's no ridge at the end to hold a pool of water back in the pipe. Third, before even bothering to assemble the pieces, play the torch along the bottom of the pipe, to boil off the water inside.
If you still have a persistent drip-drip, the old plumber's trick is to get a wad of Wonder bread (ie, nice, gummy white bread) and stuff it in the pipe to hold back the water. Then, after the joint is soldered, remove the strainer on the nearest faucet and open it full to flush out the bread.
I tried boiling the water out, but it keeps coming. I think I need some new parts and a loaf of bread ( we only eat whole wheat, I like to keep my pipes clean but I'm guessing that's not good for plumbing pipes )
If the problem is a slow drip from somewhere above, I've had success opening the faucet just above the repair (height-wise) and tapeing a vacuum hose to it so the water doesn't make it to the repair area.
You're gonna drive yerself nutz trying to resolder the old fittings. Even guys who do this all the time hate that. Go get some new fittings, a can of Goldcrest self-cleaning flux paste, and a MAPP gas torch instead of propane. The newer lead-free solder you have to use on potable water pipes just barely melts at propane temps; with a MAPP torch you'll be amazed how much easier it is.
The Wonderbread trick is supposed to work; I've never used it but have come close a couple of times when facing a real stubborn drip. Usually I just open up all the faucets, then go do something else for a couple of hours while I let the lines drip dry. I also shake the pipe every time I pass it to help things along....
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
foolish men call Justice....