I have an old steel water supply pipe and would like to convert to PVC (and then to CPVC). I had cut the steel line and used a PVC pipe "repair" (I don't remember the proper name for that). That sprung a leak on the steel side so I've replaced it with one for steel pipe, this leaks on the PVC side.
What is the solution here?
Jeff
Mission Coupling.
That sprung a leak
I've used no "dope" of any kind. I would think it wouldn't need it. This is 3/4" steel line.
Jeff
Have you thought about using a dresser coupler? It's a sleeve with a compression fitting one each end. One tightens a nut on each end to make the seal tight. Example here:
I generally help people DIY, but in your case, CALL A PLUMBER.
OR, replace it with steel pipe like you originally had, but I dont think your qualified to do this.
Hi Jeff,
Use a couple of pipe wrenches where necessary to remove the pipe back to the nearest fitting (assuming you already cut the threads off the steel pipe). In my experience, old galvanized steel pipe is usually rusted and filled with corrosion (often down to just a pin hole), so it's very possible the pipe or fitting will crack as you dissassemble it and you'll have to keep removing pipe or fittings until you get back to something solid.
Once you have a clean threaded fitting (or a threaded pipe end), pick up the appropriate "transition fitting" from a plumbing supply or local home center (Lowes or Home Depot). Basically, these have a brass fitting on one side you can thread to your steel pipe, and a CPVC fitting on the other. Then you can repair the plumbing with CPVC pipe as needed. Be sure to add a few wraps of teflon tape on the threaded fittings before assembling.
By the way, according to code, you can only use CPVC for work inside the building. Regular PVC is only allowed for irrigation or outdoor water lines.
Depending on the age of your plumbing, you may fix one leak, only to have another one pop up further down the line. This happened at my in-laws house. After a couple of repairs, it was easier to just replace everything with CPVC pipe.
Anthony
That is my experience also and this is 80+ year old pipe. I am close to the incoming connection which is buried.
I've got a dresser (that is the real word I was looking for) coupling going to a piece of threaded steel pipe and then I have the CPVC transition since I have threads now. Some day I'd like to get rid of the dresser coupling but I think I will get a "good" plumber to do that.
At the time, since the stores were closed, I was looking for a temp solution to stopping the leak.
Good. That is what I am doing.
It's all going to CPVC (except the parts that had been redone in copper). Kitchen and bath are going to new fixtures. I may have had the original sink, this is the time to get the house out of the 20's.
It's a zoo in the basement.
Thanks, Jeff
Then you have a good source of income :)
Jeff,
Yep, I can relate... :) My mother in-law mentioned her kitchen faucet was dripping. I though no big deal, I'd just change the seal or install a new cartridge. Turns out the faucet was leaking around the spout which naturally crumbled and broke off when I tried to unscrew it. So, it was time to replace the faucet.
Unfortunately, it was an old wall mounted faucet. After a week of hunting to find an affordable replacement, the pipes in the wall cracked when I tried to remove the faucet connections.
So, I bought some special inside pipe wrenches to try and remove the broken pipe stubs from the elbows in the wall. Of course, the metal was so corroded it just crumbled and the elbows fell apart.
I thought, OK, I'll just replace the pipes running down the wall to the basement. I literally just got the pipe wrench on the pipe and fitting in the basement and it cracked at the fitting. I didn't even have to apply pressure. :)
So, I decide to remove the bottom elbow where the pipe cracked off. I put one wrench on the fitting, one on the pipe, and slowed tried to unthread them. As you might expect, the next 8 foot length of pipe split LENGTHWISE more than half way down the pipe.
After all this, it was obvious a repair was out of the question. There was only a few feet of original pipe left, so I just replaced all the plumbing. Thankfully, I was able to remove the last segment of galvanized pipe at the shut off valve where the incoming supply comes through the basement wall.
I installed a new kitchen sink so I could use a standard deck mount kitchen faucet, then replumbed the entire house using CPVC.
As a bonus, we discovered why the bathtub had no hot water. The galvanized pipe had completely clogged up with rust and corrosion to the point that only a few drips of water could flow through.
Yep, sounds like my in-laws place. Old rusty galvanized pipes hanging down from the floor joists, and big cast iron drain pipes sticking down that we were always banging our heads on. (Not the mention the scary looking, cob web covered, knob and tub wiring with missing insulation).
It has taken us a few years, but we replaced the supply lines with CPVC, and cut out the cast iron drains and replumbed with PVC when we remodeled the bathroom. I also installed a new breaker panel and underground service when I rewired the entire house a couple of years ago.
What started out as a few "maintenance" items to help out my in-laws, has turned into an ongoing project that has already lasted several years. Now my mother-in-law keeps asking when we're going to remodel her kitchen. Sheesh... :)
Anthony
Okay. The coupling is really a "compression fitting" or by name "Dressler Coupling".
Solutions to your problem:
Warning! Never, but never use a female threaded PVC fitting going onto a galvanised pipe. Tightening them tends to cause them to split on the casting seam - again ask how I know.
Harry K
I'd think to disassemble back to the next set of threads. And then use threaded CPVC from that point.
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