Leaking 15mm pipe repair in floor?

[JOEPRO]

Was late home from work but broke out the kango and found the pipe then the leak:



The pipe is direct buried in concrete

I am going to pick up a 15mm solder on cap repair tomorrow and have a go. Whats the worst can happen. I can suck the water out with wet vac and pre heat before soldering..

If it doesnt work then im down a whole £5 and I can start breaking out a much larger hole for enough access for compression fittings (x2) + a pipe section.

As this whole lot will end up tumbled within the next 5 - 10 years a patch will do.

 

[JOEPRO]

I am amazed how well sealed this temp repair is

I need to keep this pipe live for washing machine.



Not a drip 20 mins later. Full pressure. Its tigar seal hose repair tape + clamps.

 

[DanZac]

I am amazed how well sealed this temp repair is

Job done, get the concrete back in and deny all knowledge of ever having been there.

 

[JOEPRO]

Job done, get the concrete back in and deny all knowledge of ever having been there.

What pipe?

 

[MetalMonkey]

I would say your best bet is going to be to run a new MDPE feed in, possibly via a different route if you can find one.
Copper in concrete like that had its card marked from the day it went in.

 

[JOEPRO]

I would say your best bet is going to be to run a new MDPE feed in, possibly via a different route if you can find one.
Copper in concrete like that had its card marked from the day it went in.

So proactively cut up my kitchen, hallway and utility floors?

Not an option at all sadly. Nice thought though for sure.

Ill patch it and fill it back in. If it leaks somewhere else again, so be it.

Guys, as already said this building will be demolished in future.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Wonder if you could mix something into the cement at the bottom just in case it needs fixing again. Basically to make it deliberately weaker.

 

[reb78]

So proactively cut up my kitchen, hallway and utility floors?

Not an option at all sadly. Nice thought though for sure.

Ill patch it and fill it back in. If it leaks somewhere else again, so be it.

Guys, as already said this building will be demolished in future.

Do you know where it comes in and can you join it there and do an MDPE run somewhere else (if this is the centre of your house, not possible but if on the outside it might be easier). If its being demolished fairly soon, probably no point worrying as you say.

If you leave it, i would be tempted to put some fine ballast in around the pipe perhaps and then fill over the top, but doubt it will leak again there, its more likely to go somewhere else i guess.

 

[MetalMonkey]

So proactively cut up my kitchen, hallway and utility floors?

Not an option at all sadly. Nice thought though for sure.

Ill patch it and fill it back in. If it leaks somewhere else again, so be it.

Guys, as already said this building will be demolished in future.

Sorry I didn't see that mentioned in the original post.
By another route I meant something that wasn't under the original floor - for example a trench around the outside of the building, or boxed in somewhere.

If you are after a short term fix then just cut out the damaged part, clean up the copper for a couple of inches back at each cut end and stick in a couple of push fits and a piece of plastic pipe.
You’ll need to take out a chunk in order to get the plastic pipe to fit.
No point in messing around trying to solder it. Push fit is more forgiving and will last a while, longer than the rest of the pipe I would imagine.

 

[JOEPRO]

Wonder if you could mix something into the cement at the bottom just in case it needs fixing again. Basically to make it deliberately weaker.

Do you know where it comes in and can you join it there and do an MDPE run somewhere else (if this is the centre of your house, not possible but if on the outside it might be easier). If its being demolished fairly soon, probably no point worrying as you say.

If you leave it, i would be tempted to put some fine ballast in around the pipe perhaps and then fill over the top, but doubt it will leak again there, its more likely to go somewhere else i guess.

Good ideas yes - I will insulate around the pipe, some pea gravel / sand mix to take up the bottom couple of inches and just a couple inches of concrete over it will be fine and will let me back at it again if problems persist.

 

[JOEPRO]

Sorry I didn't see that mentioned in the original post.
By another route I meant something that wasn't under the original floor - for example a trench around the outside of the building, or boxed in somewhere.

If you are after a short term fix then just cut out the damaged part, clean up the copper for a couple of inches back at each cut end and stick in a couple of push fits and a piece of plastic pipe.
You’ll need to take out a chunk in order to get the plastic pipe to fit.
No point in messing around trying to solder it. Push fit is more forgiving and will last a while, longer than the rest of the pipe I would imagine.

Yes fair points - the existing copper pipe is quite corroded. To the point I dont think plastic will seal to it.

I picked this up just now:



I think I will clear the water out of the pipe, leave the taps open to vent pressure during soldering.

Clean the pipe well, flux it well and pre heat until water is gone. Then apply the repair patch, solder it and add more solder when hot. I think if it works, this will be the ideal repair aproach given this situation with very limited access and further breaking up of concrete could damage the hot pipe here which should be beside it too.

 

[JOEPRO]

Plan B will be to break a larger opening, cut the existing pipe and add 2no 15mm compression fittings modded so they slip on to allow a new copper pipe portion to be inserted.

I am working and doing evening classes for Passivhaus designer certification the next 2 weeks. So no time to mess with it further until Friday week. The temp repair is looking more permanent by the second - its perfect not a drip. It should hold out until I get a permanent repair next weekend. I will report back when I get to it if this patch works for me etc or plan B.

 

[dobbslc]

The difference between temporary and permanent is just a state of mind

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Sometimes if you've had a good win it's best to just take the winnings and walk I reckon.

 

[gaz1]

So proactively cut up my kitchen, hallway and utility floors?

Not an option at all sadly. Nice thought though for sure.

Ill patch it and fill it back in. If it leaks somewhere else again, so be it.

Guys, as already said this building will be demolished in future.

general questions here

how long in the future when it will be demolished ?

any chance of a photo of the area that is ?

 

[Misterg]

Clean the pipe well, flux it well and pre heat until water is gone. Then apply the repair patch, solder it and add more solder when hot. [...]

Do the bread thing that @Dapph2 mentioned above. Even the merest hint of water will stop it soldering properly. You may think it's dry, but more water will appear when you start heating the pipe.

It's going to need a damn good clean to have any chance of soldering, anyway.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I'm not keen on the whole patch concept to be honest....if you are soldering the pipe then I'd be cutting the pipe and adding new pipe...using a couple of slip straight joints.

 

[JOEPRO]

I'm not keen on the whole patch concept to be honest....if you are soldering the pipe then I'd be cutting the pipe and adding new pipe...using a couple of slip straight joints.

But but

To get a new pipe section in - in the first place means alot more digging.

The patch is a method for restricted space. Which is why im going to try a patch first.

If I end up having to break a larger hole then it will be compression fittings and not solder. Im only perusing soldering in this instance as that is how the repair section is applied.

 

[JOEPRO]

general questions here

how long in the future when it will be demolished ?

any chance of a photo of the area that is ?

About 5 - 10 years time frame is when this washhouse will be knocked down and I can re consider and re do service routes including water.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Good luck with it...hard to tell but in the pics the pipe doesn't look great. I'd be tempted to just fill it back in with sand or foam...then a thin layer on top. If it leaks again then you can easily get back in.