TexasCHLforum.com

WTR wrote:

troglodyte wrote:As mentioned you need to get the water out of the pipe as it will be a huge heat sink as it evaporates. If it is PVC then you'll have to make sure the pipe is dry (although they make glues that work with a little water). Another trick I learned for those pesky drips or very small trickles that you just can't get rid of is to stuff bread into the pipes. The bread absorbs the water, expands, and will hold the water for a short period of time until the bread breaks down. How much bread to stuff into the pipes and how far is a quick learning curve and determines how fast you have to work. Sometimes you just have to keep stuffing in bread until you finish. I generally tried not to us the crust as it doesn't absorb water as well and tends to leak. When finished open up the outside hydrant on the house. It should be inline with the water line. This will allow the soggy bread to blow out before it gets to your faucet aerators or in your shower head.

Make sure it is white bread...... No whole grain breads

Thanks for the catch. Cheap white bread will work just fine.

As mentioned you need to get the water out of the pipe as it will be a huge heat sink as it evaporates. If it is PVC then you'll have to make sure the pipe is dry (although they make glues that work with a little water). Another trick I learned for those pesky drips or very small trickles that you just can't get rid of is to stuff bread into the pipes. The bread absorbs the water, expands, and will hold the water for a short period of time until the bread breaks down. How much bread to stuff into the pipes and how far is a quick learning curve and determines how fast you have to work. Sometimes you just have to keep stuffing in bread until you finish. I generally tried not to us the crust as it doesn't absorb water as well and tends to leak. When finished open up the outside hydrant on the house. It should be inline with the water line. This will allow the soggy bread to blow out before it gets to your faucet aerators or in your shower head.

One of the hardest parts no matter what kind of pipe is getting the new piece back in with the couplers. Pex is easy enough because it is flexible and a slipfix will work with pvc. Slipfixes weren’t around when I was installing sprinkler systems so I figured out a better and easier way. Works on pvc and copper the easiest and galvanized with the right compression couplers and ells.

Cut out the broken piece. Cut enough so everything will fit back. Put an ell in the ends of the existing pipe and point them in the same direction on the same plane. Cut a piece of new pipe so it fits just between the ells you just installed. Put an elll on each end of your splice. Make sure they face the same direction and are on the same plane. Now cut a couple of short pieces a couple of inches long. Glue or solder them into the ells on the Existing pipe. Now glue or solder the splice on to the nubs. You will make a “u” of sorts. Saves you from having to figure out how to bend or arch the pipe to fit.

I hope that makes sense. It’s harder to describe than it is to.