New member & copper drain pipe hole

[JoshB]

Hi Plumbing Forums,

Thanks for adding me, this site looks like great resource for the DIY'r and providing professionals opinions. I'm a homeowner and DIY'r and would like to further my experiance in plumbing.

I have an issue with our copper drain pipe leaking recently. The pipe has developed a small split I found in an awkward spot of course and im looking for reccomendations on how to fix. The pipe section itself is 10-12" long with ~60degree elbows on each end to come inside of the foundation in the basement from the walls above.

Would adding solder over the hole be advisable? Is there another good copper pipe sealant?

Replacing would be the best option, Is 3-4" copper drain pipe still available or its all ABS now?

Thanks for reading!
Josh

 

[breplum]

Properly soldered would be fine.
Urethane caulk could work.
Even good epoxy should be pretty good, depending on temperature differentials you have.
We rarely use 3" or 4" copper but it is made.

 

[dmmsr]

Breplum is right, soldering would be fine. I've solder patched split copper lines. But how comfortable would you be soldering?

 

[JoshB]

I could try adding solder to seal it. I cant actually see the split, it is behind the pipe when facing it so torching it isn't a great option.

Epoxy is a good option, the drain runs inside an exterior wall but there is full brick exterior beyond the sheeting. It gets cold but maybe not freezing.
Would WaterWeld or SteelStik be best? They are both Putty type epoxy, looking at JB Weld products available at local stores.

 

[Twowaxhack]

Hi Plumbing Forums,

Thanks for adding me, this site looks like great resource for the DIY'r and providing professionals opinions. I'm a homeowner and DIY'r and would like to further my experiance in plumbing.

I have an issue with our copper drain pipe leaking recently. The pipe has developed a small split I found in an awkward spot of course and im looking for reccomendations on how to fix. The pipe section itself is 10-12" long with ~60degree elbows on each end to come inside of the foundation in the basement from the walls above.

Would adding solder over the hole be advisable? Is there another good copper pipe sealant?

Replacing would be the best option, Is 3-4" copper drain pipe still available or its all ABS now?

Thanks for reading!
Josh

That split is most likely caused by the pipe becoming very thin from use. I see it on a regular basis.

In other words it’s worn out.

Replace it all until you find good thick copper or replace all the copper.

 

[CT18]

I have seen copper dwv have issues when people had used caustic drain cleaners. Some little pockets of cleaner would settle and eat thru the thin wall.

 

[TomFOhio]

Blue monster compression tape. Works really good and gives you time to decide about replacing it all.