what is this fitting called??

[Sweatyeddie]

This fitting connects the copper service line, to my houses water system. Its old and rusty, and makes me nervous. Any idea what it is called? And how far into this fitting do you think the service line goes? I'm trying to figure out if there is enough service line coming through the foundation to change the fitting...

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[Sweatyeddie]

forgot to upload photo in original post...

 

[johnjh2o]

Need a picture. There are many fittings that can be used depending what the piping is in your home.

John

 

[johnjh2o]

OK got the picture. It looks like what you have is a galvanized water main that was repaired with a mechanical coupling. Being that the line was repaired once already, I would say it's time to replace the service line.

John

 

[Sweatyeddie]

Thank, John.

According to the city records, the water service was replaced with a copper line in the 1950's (I checked the short piece coming through the foundation wall with a little emory cloth sanding to confirm). So I'm guessing this fitting was used at the time to make the reconnection.

Why would they go to the trouble of replacing a galvanized service line, with a copper one, and then use a galvanized coupling to make the connection?? And, does knowing that the service was replaced in the 50's with copper change your opinion on the situation? Do you think there is enough copper in the fitting to replace it with a new one?

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[johnjh2o]

That doesn't make any sense. If the line coming through the foundation is copper there would have been no need for the coupling. But if your sure the line inside the foundation wall is copper there should be enough to make a connection to. (check it very closely it could be brass) The copper would have to extend into the coupling at least a 1-1/2". If you decide to remove the coupling be sure you have a good valve to turn the water off at the street. Just because there is a valve, being it's from the 50's it may not work.

John

 

[Sweatyeddie]

I'm not 100% sure it's copper, not brass. But it did have green oxidation and an orangish shiny color when polished. Not sure how else to tell?
Maybe the fitting was put on years after the service line was replaced to copper, as a repair?? I don't know. I agree, it doesn't make any sense.

Thanks for your help.

 

[desertwater]

Im gonna say its brass or galvanized, I have not seen a mechanical fitting like that one that goes to copper size only iron pipe size.

 

[johnjh2o]

My guess is it's brass, that is the only thing that makes sense as to why the coupling is there in the first place. The nipple on the street side of the valve is brass. You may be better off calling in a qualified plumber to make this repair there is to much that can go very wrong. It may require digging the line up outside the foundation wall.

John

 

[desertwater]

It looks like its 1" iron pipe size coming out of the wall then hits the mechanical coupling then reduces to 3/4" iron pipe size, then hits the threaded iron pipe gate valve then goes to copper.

 

[johnjh2o]

One of the things that I have doubts about is the line being replaced in the 50's with copper. Copper was being used but it wasn't all that common on water service lines.

John

 

[IFIXH20]

That fitting is called a Thrust Block(Mechanical Thrust). You mite have galvanize coming through the foundation.

 

[speedbump]

I was taught to call them Dresser Couplings. I believe Dresser was one of the original manufacturers of that slip coupling. They were handy when working 4' under ground in a shovel dug hole where the original driller didn't bother to put unions on the pipes leading to the house from the well. In order to make repairs, we had to hack saw the galvanized pipes and use Dressers to put them back together.

 

[Sweatyeddie]

Thanks for everyone's input. When I'm home later, I'll post another picture of the polished little piece coming through the foundation. It definitely isn't galvanized. Im pretty sure its either copper or brass. Stay tuned for the picture...

Do people agree with John, that whatever kind of metal that piece is coming through the foundation, that it extends at least 1.5" into that fitting? I just want to have an idea if there's enough workable pipe in there to make replacing the rusty mechanical fitting possible (assuming its copper, with no intention of replacing the whole service)

 

[desertwater]

You will never know how much is really in there untill you take it apart, but good practice says you'll have workable pipe but newton may think differently.

 

[desertwater]

I will also say this. The pipe inside the mechanical coupling is probably in worst shape then outside the fitting because water is exposed to both inside and outside of the pipe. But I'm not sure exactly how that particular fitting is designed.

 

[IFIXH20]

Thanks for everyone's input. When I'm home later, I'll post another picture of the polished little piece coming through the foundation. It definitely isn't galvanized. Im pretty sure its either copper or brass. Stay tuned for the picture...

Do people agree with John, that whatever kind of metal that piece is coming through the foundation, that it extends at least 1.5" into that fitting? I just want to have an idea if there's enough workable pipe in there to make replacing the rusty mechanical fitting possible (assuming its copper, with no intention of replacing the whole service)

Yes I agree with John -- I also agree with John that you should dig up your water service outside by the foundation before you get to physical with the piping inside. I would strongly advise you to start outside first. good luck

 

[Sweatyeddie]

Here are close up pictures of the pipe on both sides of the mechanical fitting, after a little polishing. Do people still think the pipe coming through the foundation is galvanized? Can I believe the city record that it was changed to copper in the 50's? Does seeing these pictures, make any more sense of why this mechanical fitting is there in the first place, and why it is galvanized?

Thank you all, again.

 

[johnjh2o]

That sure looks like copper on the street side. On the house side it is a brass nipple. You should have enough copper to make a new connection to. The only problem you could run into is because of the age of the copper it may be pitted. This would eliminate the use of any connection other then a soldered joint.

John

 

[speedbump]

Yup, copper and brass. But where it goes into the dresser coupling, looks like a galvanized reducer coupling and a nipple. This could be done away with though.