My kitchen demo turned into a plumbing nightmare

I was pulling out the old tile backsplash in my Nob Hill place and my pry bar went straight through a copper pipe behind the drywall. Water shot across the room for a solid 30 seconds before I could find the main shutoff in the utility closet. Anybody have tips for patching copper pipe without a full replumb?

3 comments

3 Comments

olivia57318d ago

A compression coupling can work as a temporary fix but you'll want to sweat a proper repair coupling on there for a permanent solution. Make sure you drain the line fully and clean the pipe with emery cloth before soldering.

the_sarah18d ago

Hmm, I gotta push back a little on the "temporary fix" part. I've used compression couplings on main water lines in my own place for almost three years now and they've held perfectly fine, no leaks at all. Not saying a sweat joint isn't better for a brand new install, but for a repair in a tight spot where you can't get a torch in there safely, compression is a solid permanent option in my book. The key is getting the nut tight enough and using a brass coupling instead of one of those cheap plastic ones. I'd rather trust a well-installed compression than a hurried solder job that could drip later.

spencerw7218d agoOG Member

Preach, brass compression all day.