Have A Damaged Water Pipe? Here is How To Repair A Damaged PVC Water Pipe Your self Like I Did
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Right here’s how a easy slip pipe lately saved me from shelling out a whole bunch of {dollars} for plumbing restore service to repair a damaged water pipe that was buried in my yard!…
Oh, my… The place do I start?
I used to be digging a gap to construct a brand new fence — I even referred to as 811 earlier than I dug to test for underground utilities.
In all probability no underground utility location service might’ve discovered the CPVC pipe that serves as the principle panorama irrigation sprinkler line for my yard. (Extra about CPVC pipe in a minute.)
However I definitely discovered that sprinkler primary — and I discovered it the exhausting means. I dug my shovel into the bottom and seconds later heard a protracted, loud hiiissssSSSSSSSSS and water began effervescent up from the opening! The water spurted up so rapidly from that damaged PVC water pipe — it was surreal.
Oh gosh… what did I do? Did I hit my home primary water service line?
Agh — A Damaged PVC Water Pipe! Subsequent Step: Flip Off The Water
I used to be panicking… I dashed inside to see if I nonetheless had water operating from my sink, bathe, and bathroom. Hmm… they had been nonetheless working. OK, so it wasn’t the home water service line. That’s good, proper?
I figured that I have to’ve hit the sprinkler line. (I later confirmed it was, certainly, the sprinkler line.)
However, wait — I’m going to pay by means of the nostril on my subsequent water invoice if I don’t cease this leak NOW!
I knew that my municipal water service had an emergency shutoff service, however fortunately I didn’t want it. My house, which was lately replumbed, had an emergency shutoff valve on the facet of the home.
I closed the water valve and, inside moments, the gush of water coming from the opening slowed to a trickle — then it stopped.
The water receded down into the opening, and a couple of foot down lay the wrongdoer: a half-inch PVC water pipe resulting in the sprinkler tools not too far-off.
Grateful I hadn’t hit one thing extra vital, I puzzled what it could price to rent a plumber to come back out to my house and repair the damaged buried pipe. I referred to as a few main plumbing restore providers. Being that it was late within the afternoon and close to the top of the week, they couldn’t come out till at the very least a day or two later. Oye veh…
What to do?
Enter The Slip Pipe For DIY PVC Pipe Restore!
I began researching PVC pipe leak restore hacks on-line, and I rapidly discovered a video hawking slip pipes and slip repair couplings.
What’s a slip pipe? Effectively, that’s precisely what I researched additional.
Right here’s what I discovered about slip pipes — that are often known as slip repair pipes or slip fixes:
Now, I’m no Norm Abram (you already know, the principle carpenter on the PBS house enchancment sequence This Outdated Home) — however I’m pretty helpful on the subject of gentle DIY house restore jobs.
Excited to be taught {that a} slip pipe might do the trick in fixing my damaged PVC water pipe, I rushed to the closest house enchancment retailer simply 10 minutes from my house.
Discovering slip pipes was fairly simple… I simply needed to get to the plumbing division and search for the pipe becoming show.
Two suggestions earlier than beginning a PVC pipe restore:
- Ensure you already know the distinction between CPVC vs PVC pipes! My home has CPVC pipes — which is a more recent sort of plastic plumbing pipe and requires a unique sort of slip pipe than PVC pipes do.
- Have copper pipe? There are slip repair pipes for copper pipes, too!
The fee for a half-inch CPVC pipe to do my very own PVC pipe leak restore: Solely $2.87! It even got here with slightly pipe thread seal tape to assist forestall leaks between the slip pipe and the prevailing surrounding pipe.
Okay… To date, I’m saving in all probability $100 in materials charges from what it could price to rent a plumber. However what about time and complications?
I drove house only a wee bit nervous concerning the job that lay forward. Was I going to create extra complications attempting to repair the damaged PVC water pipe with a slip pipe myself? On prime of that, the solar was setting quickly. I wished to repair my damaged water pipe earlier than it acquired darkish outdoors. Don’t neglect, my water was nonetheless turned off, and I wished to get a bathe that evening after a grimy day of digging holes for my new fence!
Right here’s what fixing my damaged PVC water pipe entailed…
How To Use A Slip Pipe For PVC Pipe Restore
In all probability much less – is dependent upon how a lot digging is required. 1 hour.
I rigorously learn the directions on the slip pipe carton and re-watched the YouTube video on the right way to repair a damaged PVC water pipe with a slip pipe — it regarded simple sufficient. Right here’s what I did:
- Get Out The Shovel
I rigorously dug a gap across the pipe sufficiently big and deep sufficient to make use of my handsaw on the pipe.
- Make A Reduce
I lower the jagged edges off of the prevailing pipe — utilizing the noticed to make clear, straight cuts on both finish of the restore.
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- Prep the Damaged Pipe
I sanded off any burs and sharp ends from the sides of the pipe and cleaned the prevailing pipe to take away dust, water, and different particles.
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- Prep the Slip Pipe
Subsequent, I unscrewed the couplings and their O rings from the slip pipe and positioned every set over both finish of the prevailing damaged pipe. The couplings went on first, then the O rings. (DON’T FORGET THE O RINGS — they assist seal the pipe and maintain it watertight!)
- Insert Slip Pipe For Restore
I then took the principle part of slip pipe with its threaded ends (onto which the couplings screw) and pushed it into place to bridge the hole on the damaged pipe that was created after I sawed off the jagged ends.
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- Tighten Each Ends
I screwed the couplings on both finish of the damaged buried pipe onto the principle slip pipe phase.
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- Activate the Water
I turned the home’s primary water provide line again on and stated slightly prayer. I rigorously watched the PVC pipe restore as water started coursing by means of — no leaks!
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The slip pipe labored in fixing my damaged PVC water pipe!
Fortunately, it was solely a cold-water irrigation line — nothing vital and actually one of many best forms of DIY pipe repairs to make.
Different Sorts Of Damaged Pipe Repairs
What do you do in case you have a damaged sizzling water pipe, home primary, or one other sort of damaged pipe?
You’ll have to assess the pipe restore individually.
Sure, there are DIY pipe repairs for warm water pipes, home primary provide pipes, drain pipes, and different forms of pipes. However beware these will contain extra difficult preparations to make sure the restore is made appropriately. And also you may have to shut off not simply the water provide, however maybe additionally your own home’s electrical provide, fuel traces, and different utilities.
While you begin getting concerned with electrical energy, fuel, and sewer traces, you is perhaps higher off (and safer!) calling the professionals.
Additionally… some damaged pipe repairs might require the service of an expert in order to not void your own home guarantee, warranties for sure home equipment and fixtures, and even your owners insurance coverage!
I do know this as a result of an in depth member of the family lately needed to name a licensed skilled plumber for what appeared like a easy drain pipe restore. In any other case, she risked dropping her home-owner’s insurance coverage.
The Backside Line…
In fact, you’re continuing at your personal threat with any and all DIY repairs for damaged pipes — even in case you’ve learn the guidelines right here on this article.
However in case you’re feeling assured and the pipe restore has comparatively low-risk penalties, maybe you may save your self a couple of bucks by fixing the damaged pipe your self.
Good luck!
Extra Data About DIY Pipe Repairs
Along with the hyperlinks I’ve included above, listed below are another useful sources with DIY pipe restore suggestions:
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