Dresser Coupling for inaccessible water line

[ralfdog]

I have an outside faucet that comes out of the base of my house by about 4". I couldn't take the faucet apart due to about 40 years of corrosion. I decided to cut the pipe which is a 1/2" iron pipe. I tried to re-thread it, but the pipe was no longer round, probably crushed by a previous pipe wrench. The threader wouldn't go on the crushed end. I know the best thing to do is to go under the house and re-dress a good section of pipe. However, it runs through an inaccessible portion of the floor and would probably require ripping up the interior floor to reach it. At the moment, I am using a dresser coupling for a temporary repair. It works fine, with no leaks, so do you think this could be a permanent repair or should I think about tearing out my floor to do this right, or maybe this requires the services of a pro? One other thought, is it possible to un-crush the end of the pipe so the threader goes over it.

 

[Kaufman790]

It's is not possible to uncrush the pipe it will just become worse and the dresser coupling is a good permanent fix you don't want to vibrate that pipe too much in anyway due too it's age and any loose particles will become lodged elsewhere and you will have a whole other set of problems to deal with if its unfinished and it's not leaking I'd say leave it the way it is

 

[frodo]

dressor coupling will come off around 2 am.

a dressor is a repair fitting that normally, is installed in the middle of a run of pipe.

the 2 pipes are inmobile and the dressor will stay put.

if you use it on the end of a pipe run, sooner or later, it WILL pop off the end of the pipe.

this always happens either, when your not home, in the middle of the night, or, after you just put a tux on to go to your brothers wedding

 

[KULTULZ]

No truer words have been posted here.

Ask me how I know...

 

[ralfdog]

This is going to be one of those projects that one day someone will stare in awe and say WTF. I've attached a diagram what I think I'll do. I plan to encase the coupling in a concrete slab. I know this is a cobbled job, but the house was built in 1917 and I just don't want to tear into it too much. Let me know if you think this will work as a reasonably permanent fix.

 

[frodo]

does your house have a crawl space ? is the pipe under the house in the crawl space ?

if yes, go under the house, trace the line to the first fitting, remove and repipe from that point


the lime in the concrete will eat the pipe up., what your doing is a lot of work that will have to be redone , later



kudos, nice drawing ,

 

[ralfdog]

I believe the pipe goes through a section of the house where the joists are laying on timber beams, so there is no crawl space there. the only way to access it is to rip up some hardwood flooring from the inside. Some years ago a termite inspector said that he couldn't access that part of the house for that reason.

It's not the best fix, but I was thinking of encapsulating the entire connection in a thick block of acrylic casting resin and covering it over with pea gravel. Do you think that would keep the thing from popping open in the middle of the night?

 

[Matt30]

The only thing that is going to be guaranteed not to give you problems, is the proper repair. If it's not accessible, make it accessible. Anything else is just delaying the inevitable.

 

[ralfdog]

Yeah, I think you are right. I might be able to cut a neat hole in the floor and reach the pipe that way.