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fixing a leaking vent pipe joint

Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
edited March 2015 in General Discussion
So one of the vent pipes in my home is leaking down onto the top of an interior wall. Apparently rainwater or condensate is collecting at the fitting and is leaking out of where it was poorly put together (at a tee fitting).

Not wanting to remove the entire T fitting, it seems like the best way to fix this would be to cut the problem pipe and ream out the portion in the fitting. Then replace with a new section that is properly glued in place.

Is there a better method?

Are there reaming tools available? I would assume so, but don't see any at the big box store web sites.
Some will die in hot pursuit
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain

Comments

  • fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    U my friend,need to visit a pool supply house.
    They have reamers for anything from 3" down to 1/2 ".
    Best investment I ever made as it helps anywhere that a tough pipe repair is the job.
    They work well enough to be used in pressure systems too.Call around some of the bigger pool supply houses and you'll find what you're looking for...
    I live in Palm Beach Florida so,their all over,your mileage may vary if U live in Minnesota or somewhere where in-ground pools are scarce.
    Hope this helps..
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by fishkiller41
    U my friend,need to visit a pool supply house.
    They have reamers for anything from 3" down to 1/2 ".
    Best investment I ever made as it helps anywhere that a tough pipe repair is the job.
    They work well enough to be used in pressure systems too.Call around some of the bigger pool supply houses and you'll find what you're looking for...
    I live in Palm Beach Florida so,their all over,your mileage may vary if U live in Minnesota or somewhere where in-ground pools are scarce.
    Hope this helps..
    thanks, I had overlooked that source.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • fordsixfordsix Member Posts: 8,554 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    flex seal phil swift can;t be wrong ya know handy man in a can[:D]
  • MG1890MG1890 Member Posts: 4,460 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    On TV they sell sealer in an aerosol can for sealing up leaky screen doors in the bottom of rowboats.

    I have now used it to seal the screen doors in both my rowboats, and my friend has used it on the double screen doors in the hull of his yacht.

    Buy a can of this stuff!
  • skicatskicat Member Posts: 14,431
    edited November -1
    If it is a vent pipe the water is probably not coming from inside the pipe. If it is rain water coming in then you need to look to the roof penetration.
  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by skicat
    If it is a vent pipe the water is probably not coming from inside the pipe. If it is rain water coming in then you need to look to the roof penetration.


    +1000

    There are pvc reamer kits available from any electrical supply houses too. Very expense for a one time thing.[xx(]
    Seal it up with something on the outside of the pipe, no pressure in there, and there should NO water either UNLESS it was designed as a
    "wet vent" which is not the best thing to begin with.
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by skicat
    If it is a vent pipe the water is probably not coming from inside the pipe. If it is rain water coming in then you need to look to the roof penetration.
    It appears to be coming from inside the pipe. No signs of water anywhere else along the stretch from the roof. It's just a small amount of water at this particular junction, and the leak is coming from the joint in one pipe to the T. One side of the T is leaking and the other is not. As I said in the initial post, it is either condensate, rain, or both.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • Marc1301Marc1301 Member Posts: 31,895 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If it's a tiny leak, and not under pressure you should be able to swipe the side of the joint that's leaking with the blue 'rain or shine' pvc cement and stop it.

    Yes,...I know that's not a proper repair, but it will most likely work just fine, even if you only use it for a temp repair.
    "Beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here." - William Shatner
  • WEASEL-88WEASEL-88 Member Posts: 998 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by fordsix
    flex seal phil swift can;t be wrong ya know handy man in a can[:D]


    That spray stuff fixed my leaking gutter joint.
  • victorj19victorj19 Member Posts: 3,642 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
    If it's a tiny leak, and not under pressure you should be able to swipe the side of the joint that's leaking with the blue 'rain or shine' pvc cement and stop it.

    Yes,...I know that's not a proper repair, but it will most likely work just fine, even if you only use it for a temp repair.


    +1

    However, I wouldn't discount skicat's post too quickly. Tape some newspaper around the pipe well above the tee fitting then hose down the roof around the vent for a few minutes and check the paper and the joint again.
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by victorj19
    quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
    If it's a tiny leak, and not under pressure you should be able to swipe the side of the joint that's leaking with the blue 'rain or shine' pvc cement and stop it.

    Yes,...I know that's not a proper repair, but it will most likely work just fine, even if you only use it for a temp repair.


    +1

    However, I wouldn't discount skicat's post too quickly. Tape some newspaper around the pipe well above the tee fitting then hose down the roof around the vent for a few minutes and check the paper and the joint again.
    Will do, but as I said no evidence of rain intrusion from around the roof (the vent pipe goes through several areas where it would be noticeable) and there is no sign of any calcium or other water deposits up further. But yeah, that test wouldn't hurt.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • skicatskicat Member Posts: 14,431
    edited November -1
    If you are sure the water is coming from inside the pipe, I would do as Marc1301 suggested. Those pipes are supposed to be sloped to prevent water from ever accumulating in them. If that tee is on a horizontal run where rainwater might collect then you may want to throw a level on it to be certain of the pitch if accessible .
  • skicatskicat Member Posts: 14,431
    edited November -1
    Side note on rainwater. It is naturally soft (very little mineral content) so you get less evidence of past leaks than with ground water.
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by skicat
    If you are sure the water is coming from inside the pipe, I would do as Marc1301 suggested. Those pipes are supposed to be sloped to prevent water from ever accumulating in them. If that tee is on a horizontal run where rainwater might collect then you may want to throw a level on it to be certain of the pitch if accessible .
    the pipe is properly sloped, but it appears the lack of seal is on the low side of the joint so anything that runs down through it is seeping out. There's plenty of trace elements from the evaporated water deposit right around the leak, so it would seem that it would be obvious up higher.[:I]
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    Pay no mind to the guy that has been using pvc pipe,DAILY for 35 years...Except most weekends..
    BTW: Your sewer vent system should NEVER get water/sewer in ti..
    If it was the sewer water,it would be coming up in your tubs,showers,sinks etc.before it got to any vent.
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by fishkiller41
    Pay no mind to the guy that has been using pvc pipe,DAILY for 35 years...Except most weekends..
    BTW: Your sewer vent system should NEVER get water/sewer in ti..
    If it was the sewer water,it would be coming up in your tubs,showers,sinks etc.before it got to any vent.
    As I said, I think this is rain water coming in at the opening above the roof. Since there is no cap on the top it's more than likely that this is the source. But it could be condensate too. The leak is up in my attic space.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • Marc1301Marc1301 Member Posts: 31,895 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Mr. Perfect
    quote:Originally posted by fishkiller41
    Pay no mind to the guy that has been using pvc pipe,DAILY for 35 years...Except most weekends..
    BTW: Your sewer vent system should NEVER get water/sewer in ti..
    If it was the sewer water,it would be coming up in your tubs,showers,sinks etc.before it got to any vent.
    As I said, I think this is rain water coming in at the opening above the roof. Since there is no cap on the top it's more than likely that this is the source. But it could be condensate too. The leak is up in my attic space.

    If you had sewage at that level, I sure the heck wouldn't want to be in your house right now![xx(][:D]
    "Beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here." - William Shatner
  • skicatskicat Member Posts: 14,431
    edited November -1
    Another possibility to check for is if it was ever glued in the first place. Sometimes guys will dry fit things and forget to go back and hit it with glue. If it was a forgotten joint then just pull it apart hit it with some primer and glue and stick it back together.

    I never ream pipe out of fittings with PVC. I find it easier to cut the pipe flush with the hub, make a minimum of 2 cuts through the inside of the pipe being careful not to cut into the fitting, and then use several small flat bladed screwdrivers to wedge the pipe pieces away from the wall of the fitting hub. To make it more difficult to fracture the hub on the fitting I put a band clamp/hose clamp around the hub and crank it tight. PVC cement is brittle and will often crack away very cleanly. Sometimes shards are left stuck inside the hub and need to be cleaned out with a sharp chisel or even a utility knife. This technique does not work with ABS black pipe.
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by skicat
    Another possibility to check for is if it was ever glued in the first place. Sometimes guys will dry fit things and forget to go back and hit it with glue. If it was a forgotten joint then just pull it apart hit it with some primer and glue and stick it back together.

    I never ream pipe out of fittings with PVC. I find it easier to cut the pipe flush with the hub, make a minimum of 2 cuts through the inside of the pipe being careful not to cut into the fitting, and then use several small flat bladed screwdrivers to wedge the pipe pieces away from the wall of the fitting hub. To make it more difficult to fracture the hub on the fitting I put a band clamp/hose clamp around the hub and crank it tight. PVC cement is brittle and will often crack away very cleanly. Sometimes shards are left stuck inside the hub and need to be cleaned out with a sharp chisel or even a utility knife. This technique does not work with ABS black pipe.
    Good to know. This is black ABS.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • skicatskicat Member Posts: 14,431
    edited November -1
    ABS glue is more gap filling than PVC cement so swiping it down like Marc suggested will be even more forgiving.
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    Went up and inspected the joint again. It was definitely glued but no glue on the bottom. Swiped some ABS cement around it, let that dry, then wrapped the whole thing with some of that silicone tape that seals on itself, and then sprayed with some left over Flex seal I had on hand.

    I believe in the belt and suspenders approach, particularly if you're not going to do the job the exactly correct way.[:D]

    Tomorrow, once it's light, I'll hose the roof down and check for any leaks up there.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • Marc1301Marc1301 Member Posts: 31,895 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    By jove,...I think you've fixed it![:)]
    "Beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here." - William Shatner
  • fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    U still need a set of "fitting reamers" or your tool box is incomplete...[;)][;)][8D]
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