Fixing a water pipe in wall

[Arron]

Hi. Last night I was attempting to fix a laundry tub to a wall. I was drilling a hole near the cold water tap - but not particularly close. Water started coming out the hole so I guess I must have nicked a pipe buried under the rendering. I am not very proud of this.

The wall is a single skin brick wall rendered over. The pipe is just below the surface. I need to fix it now. Is it just a simple matter of removing the tiles, bashing the render off the wall around the pipe, cleaning up the pipe, cutting it and bending one part out slightly, fitting one of those copper joiner things with the solder already in, soldering the joint, and plastering sand and cement back over the mess ? Or is there some trick I should know to this ?

thanks
Arron

[barnsey]

Arron,

Isn't that a p@#$%

What you suggest is about right from my experience but one suggestion I'd try is use a compression joint and that will save you the hassle of trying to get the heat even on the joiner. It might mean chipping a bit of brick and mortar away to get it under the surface of the wall but using a torch in the tight confines you have may cause as much damage as it is capable of fixing. By the way copper hardens with age so if it's been in the wall a long time it will be more difficult to bend too much.

Anyway whatever your preference good luck - I've had to do it in a bathroom reno and once out in the garden!!!:D

Jamie

[journeyman Mick]

I would advise afainst using a compression fitting as they should really only be used where there is subsequent access in case of a leak developing. I would chip out the tiles and the render to expose the damage. Hopefully like you say, you've only nicked the pipe in which case it can be repaired with silver solder, however if you've totally mangled it you may need to replace a section of pipe. You will need to shut the water off and blow any water out of the pipe as silver soldering a pipe that has any water in it is totally impossible as the water robs the heat from the join plus the steam blowing out the hole tends to make life a bit difficult too. If you have an oxy set or a MAPP torch then silver soldering will be pretty easy, however if you don't have the above then I really would advise calling in a plumber as the last thing you want is to have to rip the wall open again further down the track. Good luck,

Mick

[Andrew Nicholls]

Mick's right: DO NOT use a compression fitting in the wall, if it is not openly accessable.

Try not to disturb the brickwork- you shouldn't need to.
If you have access to the gas torches and KNOW how to use them then go ahead. Anyway if you know how to use them you should know how much of a hole you can fill. (Answer = none).
Well alright I'll conceed a pinhole; but that's it.

Open the wall up and call a plumber. Whether they silver solder or cut a section out; and flare join the pipe. Their cost will be minimal- a service call at most. This is only a 6-7 minute repair- if the preparation is done by you.

Good Luck,

Andrew.

[Arron]

thanks guys. I will call a plumber on this one.

Arron

[soundman]

A cautious type like me wouldn't close the wall up for a week or so just to make sure the fix don't leak before you bury it.