View Full Version : Some Days....
Some days it don't pay to get out of bed.
Our toilet sprung a small leak so I set out to make repairs. The pipes are PVC and I had to cut them to get the toilet out. The leak was at the water inlet. Removed the fitting, sealed with thread tape and reinstalled. Got some PVC glue to splice the pipes back together and let it setup up before turning the water back on. Check for leaks- Leak Check Good!
Next morning there's an even bigger puddle of water. It's still leaking at the inlet and, because of my superior plumbing skills, it's leaking at the splice.
Went online and ordered a new toilet. The old one is old and I figure it's false economy to try to repair the water inlet. Cut the splice out and installed a valve so we can cut the water off until we need to use the toilet. Should be a good plan until the replacement arrives, right? We even went our for awhile to give the glue a chance to set before turning the water back on. Came back, turned the water on and-
Water spraying out of the back of the toilet worse than before. No problem, we'll just turn the valve off. Valve was already off but it doesn't shut off the water flow. Turned it a bit tighter until it cut the water off completely only to discover now the valve is leaking. At least my joints aren't leaking this time.
Ihttp://bg.battletech.com/forums/Smileys/alive/banghead.gifreallyhttp://bg.battletech.com/forums/Smileys/alive/banghead.gifhatehttp://bg.battletech.com/forums/Smileys/alive/banghead.gifPLUMBING!http://bg.battletech.com/forums/Smileys/alive/banghead.gif
Oh well. After dinner, I'm gonna go cut the line and cap it off until I can come up with something better. I guess we'll just have to pour water in the bowl when we need to flush
You, sir, are a better man than me...because this is why I own a phone, and have a very good friend who is a contractor
Belmont31R
02-08-14, 23:04
Main water supply?
I only capped the line to the toilet. I'm waiting for the glue to set real good before turning the water back on. When the new toilet arrives, I'll take a closer look at the old PVC pipes and see what I need to do to replace them with PEX. Last winter I had to replace much of the old brittle PVC going to the kitchen one frozen pipe at a time. Quite the learning experience when the furnace goes out during below zero temps
My favorite thing is new "replacement parts" that leak as soon as you install them. And as often as not, there is no alternative to "cheap plastic crap" at the local home improvement store.
Nothing like "Made in China" to make sure that drip never stops...ever.
You hit the nail on the head, Steyr
You hit the nail on the head, Steyr
There have been a few times that I have fabricated a connection so that I could use copper pipe where I was supposed to use plastic crap. Nothing pisses me off more than having to buy 6 different "adapters" just so I can make a connection that is leak proof and won't "pop" after a few months.
I only wish I was more talented with a torch, the entire inside of my toilets would be made from copper fittings.
steyrman13
02-09-14, 09:44
Are your lines CPVC? A kinda tannish color? Make sure you use the correct PVC glue designed for CPVC. Also you could use Sharkbite connections. http://www.sharkbiteplumbing.com
They will connect CPVC, PEX, to copper without leaks and they can spin in any direction after connecting. Just follow the instructions and it will work fine. I have used them in tight spaces where I didn't feel like dragging the torch and tools; although more expensive than a traditional fitting, they work and are great for inexperienced plumbers/do it yourselfers.
Try glue from a different store. We got a can or 2 that wasn't worth a shit! It had froze at some point or something. Dad never has pvc leaks and he has basically re-plumbed where he works twice over the years.
I don't pretend to be any kind of expert here. I'm in a situation where I don't know what I don't know. The old pipes are made of PVC which get brittle over time. I've had some that broke because I looked at the wrong. The are being replaced with a more flexible type of tubing they call "PEX". The PVC requires glue. The stuff I bought is supposed to be resistant to water, but what do I know?
The old glue was pretty aggressive and melted the PVC and fused the parts together. I'm not sure if this new stuff is working the same way, or if it's simply an adhesive.
The PEX uses swaged collars or some kind of compression fitting that can be disconnected and reconnected to make installation & repairs easier. Problem with the compression fittings is they are expensive and kinda big. For the PEX, I got the swaging tool & collars. The fittings & collars are made by Shark Bite and so far, work well. When the new toilet comes, I'll just have to rip out the old PVC pipes and replace them with PEX. It will also give me a chance to simplify the plumbing at the same time. It's a real Rube Goldberg contraption in there!
Just so you guys know- our place has no copper plumbing. When we got it, it was all old & brittle PVC which I'm replacing with PEX
Some days it don't pay to get out of bed.
Our toilet sprung a small leak so I set out to make repairs. The pipes are PVC and I had to cut them to get the toilet out. The leak was at the water inlet. Removed the fitting, sealed with thread tape and reinstalled. Got some PVC glue to splice the pipes back together and let it setup up before turning the water back on. Check for leaks- Leak Check Good!
Next morning there's an even bigger puddle of water. It's still leaking at the inlet and, because of my superior plumbing skills, it's leaking at the splice.
Went online and ordered a new toilet. The old one is old and I figure it's false economy to try to repair the water inlet. Cut the splice out and installed a valve so we can cut the water off until we need to use the toilet. Should be a good plan until the replacement arrives, right? We even went our for awhile to give the glue a chance to set before turning the water back on. Came back, turned the water on and-
Water spraying out of the back of the toilet worse than before. No problem, we'll just turn the valve off. Valve was already off but it doesn't shut off the water flow. Turned it a bit tighter until it cut the water off completely only to discover now the valve is leaking. At least my joints aren't leaking this time.
Ihttp://bg.battletech.com/forums/Smileys/alive/banghead.gifreallyhttp://bg.battletech.com/forums/Smileys/alive/banghead.gifhatehttp://bg.battletech.com/forums/Smileys/alive/banghead.gifPLUMBING!http://bg.battletech.com/forums/Smileys/alive/banghead.gif
Oh well. After dinner, I'm gonna go cut the line and cap it off until I can come up with something better. I guess we'll just have to pour water in the bowl when we need to flush
I'm assuming this is older plumbing? That's a common problem when you start mucking with it, each fix just exposes a weakness down the chain and hilarity ensues, if it's happening to the other guy!
It's also why, unless it's a serious leak or has to be attended to, I don't fix it as the front part of my house was built 1945, and is a mixture of metal, PVC of various ages, and duct tape. I never mess with it if I can avoided, and my plumbing skills (having worked as a plumbers assistant as a kid) are nor half bad. BTW, old metal pipes = bad. Old PVC = bad. mixing old metal pipes with PVC = the ultimate FUBAR in the plumbing world.
Had a small leak in the guest bathroom shower. GF wanted me to "fix it." I did by shutting off the water to the shower (unless guests are visiting) and putting a 5g bucket under the leak in the basement. Done.
Your experience, BTDT. No thanx.
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