Bad pipes, help?

[JTattoos]

Hello all.

I'm a tattoo artist in Canada. I just joined the forums today to try and find some help with our pipe issue.

I'm somewhat handy, I just figured I'd get a professional to do this job.. well, I'm fairly certain he had no idea what he was doing, and I might have been better off trying to figure it out myself.

This might be a little long-winded; venting as well as explaining.

So, I have two flexible lines coming into our tattoo shop. The other day, I heard a sound like water running from the sink, and couldn't see what was wrong (I was in the middle of a tatttoo), so I left it. Later I realized the pipe was leaking slightly into the wall, and probably had been for a few hours. Called our plumber, left an urgent message. I had another tattoo to do that afternoon so I needed the sink, so I was working on that when I heard a thunk. Didn't realize what it was until halfway through the session, the floor had an inch of water on it. Shut everything down, and had the guy come fix it up as soon as he got the message.

I asked him if there was some kind of crimp or sealant that needed to go on, to make sure that wouldn't happen again, and he told me 'Nah, it should be fine'. I said.. "'Should' isn't really good enough, I can't really have that happening in my shop. Is there anything to make sure?" He fixed it up and went on his way... Well, this morning, I was making breakfast and I heard a sound more like a raging river... Ran downstairs to two inches of water in the ENTIRE basement, and this is on top of the fact that there's a drain down there. The entire fitting just popped right off and water had been running for hours I'm sure. Entire hot water tank was drained and the water had been running cold for hours, enough to fill two inches into the basement.

Needless to say, I am NOT impressed.. I wanted to get the opinion of people who actually have a clue what they're doing.. I have photos of how the fittings were installed -- to me, it looks like the flexible pipe was just placed into the metal part, and then the nut was tightened. (He said it may have been 'too tight' the first time, and that's why it was leaking, but obviously having them loosened , or whatever he did with them, made them come off completely last night.)

One other bit of information -- the leaking didn't start until I had been using more of the hot water instead of the cold. (He installed them backwards, being, I can only assume, an idiot, but this didn't bother us that much until we woke up to a swimming pool for a basement). Not sure if that makes any difference, I'd assume both should have been attached properly in the first place...

We're looking at $1200 worth of lost tattoo equipment alone, and I have no idea yet the extent of the water damage inside the walls --will be cutting into them shortly here to make sure the insulation isn't wet.. (I'm sure it's soaked, judging by how the walls are literally dripping..)

Anyways, it's been a long day... can anybody give me a hand to let me know what's wrong with these, and what, if anything, we can buy or do to connect them properly? We're in a small town with a limited number of plumbers, but this guy was supposed to be a professional..

Will post photos below.

 

[JTattoos]

Photos:

 

[havasu]

What does the white flexible tubing go to?

 

[plumb_bob_square_pants]

It looks to be a compression fitting that had no ferrule. Is there a brass or plastic ring somewhere close? If was there any work done on it before the initial leak?. Maybe the "plumber" forgot to install it?

 

[Matt30]

$1200 in damage over a 60 cent poly ferrule

 

[coolhandlg]

Is the water line PEX or CPVC
If pex that is the wrong fitting

 

[phishfood]

I don't use compression stops onto PEX supply piping. But those whom I know that do, have told me that it is important to use a stiffener insert inside of the pipe to prevent this from occurring.

It would probably be just fine if put back together correctly, but I prefer to use a supply stop valve that uses a standard crimp connection, the same as all of the fittings inside of the walls.

 

[Matt30]

I don't use compression stops onto PEX supply piping. But those whom I know that do, have told me that it is important to use a stiffener insert inside of the pipe to prevent this from occurring.

It would probably be just fine if put back together correctly, but I prefer to use a supply stop valve that uses a standard crimp connection, the same as all of the fittings inside of the walls.

I try to never use compression fittings, but you are correct, an insert should be used on most pex pipe. However, that looks like "super pex" and I'm pretty sure it's not a requirement, but it sure would be good practice.

 

[JTattoos]

What does the white flexible tubing go to?

Well, on the one end, it's attached to a faucet. (There are two, hot and cold.) On the other end, there's a T coming out of the main line.

 

[JTattoos]

Is the water line PEX or CPVC
If pex that is the wrong fitting

Would it say on the pipe itself? Sorry for the lack of knowledge -- like I say, I'm a tattoo artist, but I know very little about plumbing.

 

[JTattoos]

I don't use compression stops onto PEX supply piping. But those whom I know that do, have told me that it is important to use a stiffener insert inside of the pipe to prevent this from occurring.

It would probably be just fine if put back together correctly, but I prefer to use a supply stop valve that uses a standard crimp connection, the same as all of the fittings inside of the walls.

Yea, if I'm understanding correctly from what I learned today at the hardware store and through trial and error, there was no stiffener. The end pieces (to stop water flow) that I bought to just get our water back on do have them, so I think I understand what you mean.

Unfortunately, I'm not a plumber, nor do I have the right tools, so the main line is just off at this point, no water until we can get somebody in. If I turn it on, even with the stop on, it leaks. I assume I don't have it tight enough.

Anyways, thanks for the feedback. I'll just keep searching around here for an actual licenced plumber (which I thought this guy was, but I'm far too trusting) -- not an easy thing to find in such a small town apparently! My big mistake for not doing a thorough background check..

Yes, lots of damages.. it looks like I'll have to pull up the whole floor and take out some walls, too, since it was leaking inside the walls for at least a week before we knew something was wrong.. Don't want mold.

 

[plumb_bob_square_pants]

I am sorry to hear that. It is hard on business when repairs become a priority over actual work. Where are you located at least in what state? Check with the hardware store and see if you can rent a set of cripes for pex. Take a good picture of the pipe expecially if you can get a picture of the writing on the pipe. Have the hardware salesman get you the right fitting and crimprings. As long as you have the tool and the right material you can get your water back on. Would help if I was close because I know that is a big set back for a business.