Pipes?

[Deleted]

Hello.

Does anyone know, please, what the blue/purple substance on pvc pipes is called? If they were metal, it would be solder.

Thank you in advance!

Best,

Kathy

[here to stay]

Primer? But that goes on then solvent type glue. So the glue is more like solder.

[Deleted]

Nov 15, 2015 21:16:28 GMT here to stay said:

Primer? But that goes on then solvent type glue. So the glue is more like solder.

Thank you. I'm not really sure. I'm still learning my way around a new house. (Not New new, but new to me )

I was in the cellar today and saw a tiny splotch on the floor under the pipe. I thought that maybe I could try to put something on the joint to see if I could correct the beginning of a problem without calling in a plumber.

Thanks again!

Kathy

[Deleted]

Essentially there are two types of preparation for joining PVC pipes. One is the "cleaner" solvent and the other is the "primer" solvent, but they are exactly the same thing except for the fact that the "primer" solvent is colored (purple dye)and the "cleaner" is clear.

The "primer" (dye colored) has to be used by plumbers, especially when an inspector will be following up afterwards to inspect the plumber's work. The purple dye is the only way for the inspector to know that the PVC pipe was properly prepped before being cemented together. The plumber is actually obligated to extend the purple primer beyond the point of the joint just so the inspector can see it.

The clear "cleaner" is for when someone is doing something with PVC pipe that does not need to be inspected. Like when I made a PVC manifold out of PVC pipe for linking my four rainwater tanks together. The clear "cleaner" just makes for a more aesthetically appealing finished product without the purple smears.

[Deleted]

Nov 15, 2015 21:25:50 GMT @illini said:

Nov 15, 2015 21:16:28 GMT here to stay said:

Primer? But that goes on then solvent type glue. So the glue is more like solder.

Thank you. I'm not really sure. I'm still learning my way around a new house. (Not New new, but new to me )

I was in the cellar today and saw a tiny splotch on the floor under the pipe. I thought that maybe I could try to put something on the joint to see if I could correct the beginning of a problem without calling in a plumber.

Thanks again!

Kathy

If you are at all ambitious, plastic PVC pipe is CRAZY EASY to work with.

Just cut out the bad areas, go to a local plumbing store, buy the parts, and re-install them using the glue.

I'd bet there are 10,000 videos on YouTube showing how to glue the parts together. 

Just remember that if you are working on a drain pipe, you have to get the right angle so the water will move correctly.

You can pay a plumber if you wish, the the parts are cheap, and it is crazy easy to do.
 

[Deleted]

@franklin, @trellis,
Thank you both!
TRellis, that was a really clear explanation. I appreciate your taking the time to post.
Franklin, you make it sound as though I might be able to do it! I will take your advice and look at some videos first, then go to the store. Worst case, I still need a plumber. But, who knows? I might just pull it off!

You're both awesome!

[Deleted]

Nov 16, 2015 0:21:22 GMT @illini said:

@franklin, @trellis,
Thank you both!
TRellis, that was a really clear explanation. I appreciate your taking the time to post.
Franklin, you make it sound as though I might be able to do it! I will take your advice and look at some videos first, then go to the store. Worst case, I still need a plumber. But, who knows? I might just pull it off!

You're both awesome!

You are going to need a hack saw or something to cut the pipe. I use a Sawzall, but other tools will work.

Make sure you make straight cuts when cutting the PVC. Straight cuts make for good joints.

Again, get your angle right when installing new plumbing.

Don't forget to buy the two types of glue, or use some that a friend might have.

Always remember that a plumbing store employee can generally answer every question you have.

BTW, what is this? A drain? Is it broken? Where is it leaking, and why?

PVC is easy!


 

[copperkid3]

One thing that hasn't been covered yet, although frankin was heading in that direction,

is you need to KNOW whether the pipe/joint in question is a feeder or a drain type.

Not as much of a problem if it's the latter, but if the former, than BEFORE doing anything

else, (like cutting into the pipe) you need to locate the closest shut-off valve and use it properly by turning OFF the H2O. 

After the repair has been made, don't forget to turn the valve back ON so that the appliances downstream will operate properly.

BTW: Just how tiny is this "splotch" on the floor?  Sometimes, it's better to not mess with things if they aren't bad enough to 'fix'.

Could it just be condensation that is dripping along the pipe and not an actual "leak"?  In which case, rather than cut up any pipe,

buy some of that foam pipe insulation that fits that size pipe, install it properly and that should take care of your 'splotching' problem.

[Deleted]

@franklin, I have a hacksaw, and I'll get the other items needed.
copperkid3, I believe it's a drain, as it's just below the shower area. I only noticed it because I was getting cords from the cellar and felt something on my hair. (And, yes, I thought it was a spider, but, no, I didn't squeal. )
When I stepped back, there was only one more drop, and that was my splotch.
Fix, observe, or use a different shower?

[Deleted]

Initially I thought that the splotch on the floor was the purple primer and thought that the plumber was just a little overzealous with the primer when putting things together and dropped some on the floor.

I see now that you actually have a water leak.

Water feed pipes will usually be 3/4" diameter at the most and smaller in a house. Drain pipes will be substantially bigger and usually start at about 1" diameter at the very smallest, but usually are 1-1/4" or 1-1/2" diameter. That is not to say that those are steadfast, unbreakable rules of thumb, but they usually work.

When cutting the PVC with a hacksaw try to make sure that the cut is as perpendicular to the pipe as possible. A wavy end could be a bad thing depending on how wavy you make it and hack saws are really good for making wavy cuts in PVC. Try to use a saw that has the most distance between the cutting edge and the non-cutting edge as will fit in the area that you have to work in. Or, better yet, use a pipe cutter if you have one.

That will be the hardest part. The rest is easy to figure out. Just try to get as much pipe sunk into a union or elbow at each end as possible. The more pipe in a joint, the better it is. You do not want a pipe hanging in a joint by the skin of its teeth.

[Deleted]

Nov 16, 2015 3:01:19 GMT @illini said:

@franklin, I have a hacksaw, and I'll get the other items needed.
copperkid3, I believe it's a drain, as it's just below the shower area. I only noticed it because I was getting cords from the cellar and felt something on my hair. (And, yes, I thought it was a spider, but, no, I didn't squeal. )
When I stepped back, there was only one more drop, and that was my splotch.
Fix, observe, or use a different shower?

Is the pipe itself actually leaking, or could it be leaking between the floor of the shower and the chrome/brass drain fitting?? 

Is there a crack in the floor of the shower that you can see?

Can you run the water, and then run downstairs to see where it is leaking? 

[Deleted]

Nov 16, 2015 3:01:19 GMT @illini said:

@franklin, I have a hacksaw, and I'll get the other items needed.
copperkid3, I believe it's a drain, as it's just below the shower area. I only noticed it because I was getting cords from the cellar and felt something on my hair. (And, yes, I thought it was a spider, but, no, I didn't squeal. )
When I stepped back, there was only one more drop, and that was my splotch.
Fix, observe, or use a different shower?

How big is the pipe??? 

Is it the single pipe running from where the center of the shower floor would be? 

[Deleted]

Nov 16, 2015 3:38:42 GMT @franklin said:

Nov 16, 2015 3:01:19 GMT @illini said:

@franklin, I have a hacksaw, and I'll get the other items needed.
copperkid3, I believe it's a drain, as it's just below the shower area. I only noticed it because I was getting cords from the cellar and felt something on my hair. (And, yes, I thought it was a spider, but, no, I didn't squeal. )
When I stepped back, there was only one more drop, and that was my splotch.
Fix, observe, or use a different shower?

Is the pipe itself actually leaking, or could it be leaking between the floor of the shower and the chrome/brass drain fitting?? 

Is there a crack in the floor of the shower that you can see?

Can you run the water, and then run downstairs to see where it is leaking? 

You may have something there...

More often than not the sealant (plumber's putty?) that is underneath the fitting (between the fitting and the floor of the tub/shower) gets old and cracks or rots away.  If  it seems to be coming from there just unscrew the fitting, clean out what is left of the old sealant, replace with some new sealant and screw down the fitting nice and snug squeezing out the excess sealant.

What sometimes has happened to me though, is that the fitting gets buggered up trying to unscrew it and I just replace it also.

[copperkid3]

We're all just throwing out possibilities now... is it possible to post a pic or 2?

Might help a lot and save having to cut out, or replace something that may or may not need doing.

[Deleted]

I will confess that I chickened out and called a plumber:(

I was right that it was the drain, and TRellis was correct that the sealant had worn out. I was able to watch the plumber as he worked, and, perhaps, I will be brave enough to try fixing it myself if another area has the same problem, as seems likely in an older house that sat unoccupied for quite a while after the owners died.

I so appreciate all of your input. I will learn and, when I feel that I can do a repair without potentially really bad cosequences, I will test myself. Thank you, all!

Kathy

[Deleted]

Nov 17, 2015 1:40:44 GMT @illini said:

I will confess that I chickened out and called a plumber:(

I was right that it was the drain, and TRellis was correct that the sealant had worn out. I was able to watch the plumber as he worked, and, perhaps, I will be brave enough to try fixing it myself if another area has the same problem, as seems likely in an older house that sat unoccupied for quite a while after the owners died.

I so appreciate all of your input. I will learn and, when I feel that I can do a repair without potentially really bad cosequences, I will test myself. Thank you, all!

Kathy

You Wuss!!!! LOL...

So what could have been a $5.00 (for the plumber's putty) fix, cost you how much? If it was less than $75 the plumber showed pity upon you.

I assume that the drain fitting came out fairly easily and you did see how it was done?  So the next time you should be able to do it yourself, right?

[Deleted]

@trellis,
Yes, I made sure that I saw how it was done.

And, yes, I paid, but I'm a champion worrier, and I thought that I might cause a disaster even more expensive, so calling in the cavalry seemed wiser. I never learned the repair things. Dad didn't want the questions but, more especially, he didn't want anyone touching his tools. He could build/fix anything. sigh.

Best,

Kathy