OT: how to repair a leaky cooper water line?

seedman76

I figured in a bunch of BGE enthusiasts there's got to be a couple plumbing experts.  Hoping you can help me out.  I discovered a leak inside an interior wall in a section of cooper pipe. There's 18" of cooper pipe that extends from the hose bib through the exterior house wall and then to a cooper connector which then connects to pex. The leak is a 1/2" long slit in the cooper pipe (see photo). What's the best way to repair this? Can a plumber soldier the split in the cooper pipe? Or does the cooper need to be cut off past the leaking slit and reused? Or do I just replace the whole 18" section with new cooper pipe or with a length of pex? Thanks for your help.

lkapigian

That looks like a frost pinch ....I would just braze the slit ...if you are not that handy a clampette works 

DoubleEgger

If you can’t braze, then get a length of copper pipe and a couple of Shark Bites. 

seedman76

That's why I love this site.  Thanks for the quick replies.  I posted this same question on a plumbing forum two days ago and still haven't had one person reply, yet many viewed the post (and it looked like a popular forum).  I've never brazed so might need to stay away from that or hire it done.  Dumb question, what's a clampette or Shark Bite?   

theyolksonyou

DoubleEgger said:

If you can’t braze, then get a length of copper pipe and a couple of Shark Bites. 

Shark bites are the bomb!  I had to replace my water heater last week and of course the fittings were different. Shark bite to the rescue!

DoubleEgger

seedman76 said:

That's why I love this site.  Thanks for the quick replies.  I posted this same question on a plumbing forum two days ago and still haven't had one person reply, yet many viewed the post (and it looked like a popular forum).  I've never brazed so might need to stay away from that or hire it done.  Dumb question, what's a clampette or Shark Bite?   

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FPLdnlVak88

seedman76

seedman76 said:

That's why I love this site.  Thanks for the quick replies.  I posted this same question on a plumbing forum two days ago and still haven't had one person reply, yet many viewed the post (and it looked like a popular forum).  I've never brazed so might need to stay away from that or hire it done.  Dumb question, what's a clampette or Shark Bite?   

Never mind.  I googled Shark Bite and found their website.  Looks like the way to go.  Thanks for the help and quick replies.  

Ozzie_Isaac

After you fix it, make sure you insulate it or drain that stretch before next winter.  Looks like it froze.

Jonnysouth

That is a “Frost” proof hydrant. It should angle towards the outside. That way when you turn your hose off, the water drains out of the pipe. It’s important to remove your hose when the weather gets cold enough to freeze. Share a picture of your fix when you get a chance.

seedman76

Thanks guys.  I'll share the finished pics.  It is a frost proof hydrant.  My builder installed it but I"ll have to take a closer look tomorrow.  Seems to me it angled down, from outside to inside, which to me and based on what Johnnysouth said would be the wrong angle.  Like Johnnyshouth said it should angle up, from outside to inside so when the hose is disconnected the water drains out the spigot.  Correct me if I misunderstood.  Headed to Home Depot tomorrow for the Sharkbite and related tools.  Thanks again.  

Ozzie_Isaac

seedman76 said:

Thanks guys.  I'll share the finished pics.  It is a frost proof hydrant.  My builder installed it but I"ll have to take a closer look tomorrow.  Seems to me it angled down, from outside to inside, which to me and based on what Johnnysouth said would be the wrong angle.  Like Johnnyshouth said it should angle up, from outside to inside so when the hose is disconnected the water drains out the spigot.  Correct me if I misunderstood.  Headed to Home Depot tomorrow for the Sharkbite and related tools.  Thanks again.  

Water should drain to outside as you stated.  Inside joint should be higher than spigot.

odie91

Ehhh as someone who just went through the fun experience of selling his house, I would advise not to use a clampette.  You might get an overzealous inspector like I did, who thinks the 30 year old house should be in the same condition as a new build. Then at the end of the day, even if the clampette worked, you're having a plumber braze the darn thing before closing anyways.  :(

DoubleEgger

odie91 said:

Ehhh as someone who just went through the fun experience of selling his house, I would advise not to use a clampette.  You might get an overzealous inspector like I did, who thinks the 30 year old house should be in the same condition as a new build. Then at the end of the day, even if the clampette worked, you're having a plumber braze the darn thing before closing anyways.  :(

I just sold a house last year with Shark Bites. Frankly, I’d tell a home inspector to piss off if they had a problem with it. At the end of the day, no one isn’t going to buy a house because of a Shark Bite or clampette. I wasn’t going down that rabbit hole with an over zealous home inspector. I never saw the inspection report for our old house as I didn’t want to see it. I offered $500 for any repairs and never had to deal with some BS list. The market is so hot right now that sellers have all the power. 

Focker

odie91 said:

Ehhh as someone who just went through the fun experience of selling his house, I would advise not to use a clampette.  You might get an overzealous inspector like I did, who thinks the 30 year old house should be in the same condition as a new build. Then at the end of the day, even if the clampette worked, you're having a plumber braze the darn thing before closing anyways.  :(

I concur.  An acronym I learned from a shop buddy, and try to live by, even in the hospital.

RTFFT
Right The First Fockin Time.

The only part of my kitchen refresh I didn't do, as the professional redid all plumbing in copper.

Focker

DoubleEgger said:

odie91 said:

Ehhh as someone who just went through the fun experience of selling his house, I would advise not to use a clampette.  You might get an overzealous inspector like I did, who thinks the 30 year old house should be in the same condition as a new build. Then at the end of the day, even if the clampette worked, you're having a plumber braze the darn thing before closing anyways.  :(

I just sold a house last year with Shark Bites. Frankly, I’d tell a home inspector to piss off if they had a problem with it. At the end of the day, no one isn’t going to buy a house because of a Shark Bite or clampette. I wasn’t going down that rabbit hole with an over zealous home inspector. I never saw the inspection report for our old house as I didn’t want to see it. I offered $500 for any repairs and never had to deal with some BS list. The market is so hot right now that sellers have all the power. 

Telling a home inspector to pi$$ off?  
Yeah ok tough guy, good luck with that.

DoubleEgger

Focker said:

DoubleEgger said:

odie91 said:

Ehhh as someone who just went through the fun experience of selling his house, I would advise not to use a clampette.  You might get an overzealous inspector like I did, who thinks the 30 year old house should be in the same condition as a new build. Then at the end of the day, even if the clampette worked, you're having a plumber braze the darn thing before closing anyways.  :(

I just sold a house last year with Shark Bites. Frankly, I’d tell a home inspector to piss off if they had a problem with it. At the end of the day, no one isn’t going to buy a house because of a Shark Bite or clampette. I wasn’t going down that rabbit hole with an over zealous home inspector. I never saw the inspection report for our old house as I didn’t want to see it. I offered $500 for any repairs and never had to deal with some BS list. The market is so hot right now that sellers have all the power. 

Telling a home inspector to pi$$ off?  
Yeah ok tough guy, good luck with that.

That’s exactly what I did. We had four offers over full price in 48hrs. I said no and the buyers caved immediately. 

steel_egg

Most home inspectors don’t have a clue. They take an online test and charge $500 for some BS advise to the buyers. Doubt any of them know what Sharkbite fittings are. 

DoubleEgger

steel_egg said:

Most home inspectors don’t have a clue. They take an online test and charge $500 for some BS advise to the buyers. Doubt any of them know what Sharkbite fittings are. 

A clipboard and a GFCI tester....

PC__eggs

I’m a plumber, now I’ll get to play one on a forum....
Your frost free hose bibb froze and cracked.  You need to replace it.
Here is your list for doing it without specialty tools:
Frost free hose bibb, same length as existing, 1/2” male thread at the connection.
1/2” female npt by sharkbite
1/2” sharkbite 90
1/2” sharkbite coupling
piece of 1/2” pex, about 1’

cut 3” above the 90, and between hb and 90
take out the existing hb
install the new hb, install the fem x shark onto the hb, use telon tape. read instructions for sharkbite fittings
install coupling onto the vertical piece, install 90 with adequate pieces.
drink beer.

thetrim

All these replies and no one suggested flex seal, flex tape, flex glue, or flex shot????  WTH is wrong with you people?????  That's the easiest quickest fix out there!!!!!!

berndcrisp

thetrim said:

All these replies and no one suggested flex seal, flex tape, flex glue, or flex shot????  WTH is wrong with you people?????  That's the easiest quickest fix out there!!!!!!

Well dat took lonner than eny wun wudda thunk!

BUFFALOMOOSE

@thetrim Love it!!

NPHuskerFL

steel_egg said:

Most home inspectors don’t have a clue. They take an online test and charge $500 for some BS advise to the buyers. Doubt any of them know what Sharkbite fittings are. 

I know a few that are very thorough. Those are prior tradesman that decided to become inspectors.  I can't imagine even a substandard inspector wouldn't know what a Sharkbite fitting is.  But, I've been surprised before. 

NPHuskerFL

@thetrim Flexseal it!

Biggreenpharmacist

NPHuskerFL said:

@thetrim Flexseal it!

Better than a clampett