What tape for a leaky condensation pipe joint?
karyn
8 years ago
We had a backed up line (slime due to living in Florida) and they cut it off and blew it out and then spliced it back together without a good seal/glue. The line is dripping badly, pooling up around the bottom of the unit and dripping down into the intake area and making a mess.
We're wondering if we can't just wrap tape around the bad splice joints to seal it - without having to pay someone $65 to come and cut it off and re-splice. It's not high pressure water - so hopefully taping it up should stop the drip!
If so - what kind of tape would be best? The bad splice is around the newest/whitest one in the pic. This line now has 4 splices in it.
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (10)
Related Discussions
Fixing leaking PVC pipe joint
Comments (17)I went to make the repair and realized I have 1.5" pipe, not 2" (stupid). I was originally surprised at the amount of water accumulation, but I'm not well versed on how much condensate to expect. I have a cup underneath the drip right now, and collected maybe a few ounces in a 24 hour period. I can tell you this: After coming down from the roof, the line goes horizontal and from visual inspection appears to be pitched in the right direction. After maybe 8' of horizontal run there is a short 90 elbow, also horizontal. Then there is a short, say 1" section of pipe connected to this 90. This 1" section is mated up with a pvc coupling ring. This coupling is mated with about another 4" section of pipe until it meets a 90 oriented vertically. The drip is between the coupling and the 4" section of pipe. It appears they glued the wrong length pipe and then used a coupling to fix the problem. There must be a small gap between the coupling and the 4" section of pipe where the water finds a low spot. My plan was to cut the long 8' run of pipe just upstream of the horizontal 90, and also cut the 4" section of pipe after the leak. Then put new couplings on the existing pipe and connect a new horizontal 90 with new 1.5" pipe. I've done a number of pvc glue jobs and one thing that always bothered me: When I dry fit the pieces to check spacing, I can only twist the various parts together so much. When I apply glue the pieces then slide together tighter due to the lubrication, and then my spacing is off a little. I'm reluctant to push the pieces together less than the full amount when lubricated for fear of getting a leak. Do you oversize your piping sections a little to account for this, or just leave a little slack with plenty of glue? I haven't had any pvc leak on me yet, but always struggled with this. I thought maybe to glue everything together except the last coupling, and then dry fit that last connection and cut down the pipe as needed to make the final fit....See Moreleaky kitchen pipes at shut off valves
Comments (2)Those are standard compression-style shut-off's. Inside the body of the valve is a neoprene washer that is forced against a seat when you turn the oval handle. That washer is what stops the water from reaching your taps. Directly below the handle is a hexnut and the rotating stem runs through it. Inside the hexnut is a compressable seal. It's job is to keep water from getting past the stem and I suspect that it is not doing its job. The hex nut can be tightened to put more pressure on the seal and make it do its job. Don't go crazy with the tightening job. Just turn it a bit at a time until the leakage stops. If you overtighten it, you can damage it. If it has been damaged, then it needs to be replaced. Teflon tape or any other tape is pointless, IMO. It's either tighten the hex nut or replace the seal and tighten the hex nut or replace the entire valve. If you end up replacing the valve, buy the quarter-turn ball-type valves....See MoreLeaks - Pipe cannot pull out of the joint and can be pulled out
Comments (34)I realize that this is an old thread but I want to respond for anyone with a similar problem in the future. I am amazed that someone would tell you to hire a licensed plumber for such an incredibly easy job. Come on, folks! Have we become so helpless? When I read the question, I assumed it was about copper or galvanized pipe which would be very easy to fix too but then I saw it's PVC pipe. Nothing could be easier to fix and I have no idea why the person asking the question thinks he cannot remove the elbow. Of course you can remove it! You can simply cut it out with a hacksaw and put in a new elbow. You can extend the pipe that is cut off easily with just a union and a piece of PVC. Working with PVC is so incredibly easy that I am baffled about why the question was even asked. A proper repair would take about ten minutes and cost a couple dollars. I never cease to be amazed by how helpless people are becoming. This is pretty sad....See MoreCondensation on copper pipe - strange place
Comments (5)Something spilled on it could be the answer. I have seen oxidation near joints (flux) or near a slow leak and this is in the middle of the pipe randomly so that made me think pinhole leak. You can take fine sandpaper or steel wool to it and make it nice and shiny. And hey, if it does start leaking after removing the oxidation then question solved. Or you can just leave it alone, if it ever did start leaking it wont be catastrophic. That cold line is not a strange place for condensation btw. Usually the whole pipe would have some condensation not just one area. But water might only drop in a few areas. If its only wet on the pipe around the oxidation it could be a pinhole leak. Does the cold pipe ever feel wet anywhere else?...See More
User
8 years agorandy427
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agokaryn
8 years agokaryn
7 years agoJust a quick follow up to say thanks again and show the solution for others who might need something similar. Parts - 1' of hose $3 - 2 clamps $1 each @ Home Depot. I had to use a knife to feather the inside of the hose to make it go on easier - also used Dawn liquid soap to help slide it on. One of the old plastic joints was so bad it just slipped right off (didn't even have to cut it off).
klem1
7 years agogeoffrey_b
7 years ago
Related Stories
HEALTHY HOMEGet Cleaner Indoor Air Without Opening a Window
Mechanical ventilation can actually be better for your home than the natural kind. Find out the whys and hows here
Full Story
HEALTHY HOMEHow to Keep Water Vapor From Ruining Your House and Your Health
We help you find out when it’s happening, what it means and how to fix it
Full Story
GREEN BUILDINGThe Passive House: What It Is and Why You Should Care
If you don’t understand passive design, you could be throwing money out the window
Full Story
GREAT HOME PROJECTSHow to Add a Skylight or Light Tube
New project for a new year: Increase daylight and maybe even your home’s energy efficiency by opening a room to the sky
Full Story
REMODELING GUIDES7 Bad Things Your Home May Be Hiding
What you don't know about your home could cost you during a remodel. Here's what to plan for
Full Story
GREAT HOME PROJECTSHow to Install Energy-Efficient Windows
Learn what Energy Star ratings mean, what special license your contractor should have, whether permits are required and more
Full Story
DECLUTTERING10 Secrets to a Neat Living Room
Keep the clutter at bay with ‘speed bumps,’ hidden storage and a little-stuff drawer
Full Story
BATHROOM DESIGN6 Elements of a Perfect Bathroom Paint Job
High-quality paint alone won't cut it. For the best-looking painted bathroom walls, you'll need to get these other details right
Full Story
FIREPLACESUpdated Woodstoves Keep Home Fires Burning
Better technology means more efficiency than ever for modern woodstoves
Full Story
HOUSEKEEPING10 Problems Your House May Be Trying to Show You
Ignore some of these signs and you may end up with major issues. We tell you which are normal and which are cause for concern
Full Story
Vith