old galvanized steel pipe repair.

[Service Guy]

Tomorrow I have to run some new water lines and connect to some old 1/2" galvy.

Should I:
a) cut the existing galv. pipe and try to cut new threads on to it.

b) attempt to take an old fitting/pipe threaded joint apart without damaging it.

or c) Use the cheesy compression couplings as a last resort.

[westcoastplumber]

Tomorrow I have to run some new water lines and connect to some old 1/2" galvy.

Should I:
a) cut the existing galv. pipe and try to cut new threads on to it.

b) attempt to take an old fitting/pipe threaded joint apart without damaging it.

or c) Use the cheesy compression couplings as a last resort.



Oh man, go to the next fitting and cut it about 5" from the fitting, take a pipe wrench and turn. remove the old section of pipe, install a 6" brass nipple and a copper fip. all done. :D

never use dielectrics, I have seen them fail time and time again.

G couplings are never a long term fitting. notify the customer

I never re-threaded old galv water pipe, nor would I ever. I can only imagine the quality of the threads I would end up with.



Don't forget on option one, back your fitting up to make sure you don't spin anything else in the system, nothing worse then getting the water on to find a leak down the line. :) :)

[tinmack]

Tomorrow I have to run some new water lines and connect to some old 1/2" galvy.

Should I:
a) cut the existing galv. pipe and try to cut new threads on to it.

b) attempt to take an old fitting/pipe threaded joint apart without damaging it.

or c) Use the cheesy compression couplings as a last resort.

I know pretty much nothing about plumbing, although I did snake some pipe once with one of those portable drill snakes. From what little I do know, and if it was my pipe, I'd probably look for B first, then A, then C.

Then again, those cheesy compression couplings might give a nice fit. I dunno. I always like using the "latch onto the original" route, and then go from there.......

[tinmack]

Oh man, go to the next fitting and cut it about 5" from the fitting, take a pipe wrench and turn. remove the old section of pipe, install a 6" brass nipple and a copper fip. all done. :D

never use dielectrics, I have seen them fail time and time again.

G couplings are never a long term fitting. notify the customer

I never re-threaded old galv water pipe, nor would I ever. I can only imagine the quality of the threads I would end up with.

Ehhhh....on second thought........what he said???http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/images/icons/icon11.gif

[Service Guy]

I attempted answer (B) in teh past and had joints so frozen that the pipe crushed under my wrench befoer the joint broke apart. But still, I will try (B) again as Robert suggested...maybe use a torch to heat the fitting first.

[DuckButter]

d) remove as much of that crap as possible, inform the customer that future constriction & leaks will slowly chip away at their budget as opposed to getting it all out now.

I've had to use dresser couplings (with the local inspectors approval) as a last resort on old galvy when the wall of the pipe was so thin the was no possible way to thread it...be sure to take a dresser or two with you just in case...clamp both pipes on either side to keep them from seperating, be sure to tell the customer it's not intended as a longterm fix...if it boils down to that.

[NHMaster3015]

I like Robert's fix, but Hey, where's the epoxy liner guy?

I think we horrified and humiliated him and he went away.

[westcoastplumber]

I attempted answer (B) in teh past and had joints so frozen that the pipe crushed under my wrench befoer the joint broke apart. But still, I will try (B) again as Robert suggested...maybe use a torch to heat the fitting first.



If that pipe crushes under your pipe wrench, you should be replacing all the lines ;) :D

[DuckButter]

I attempted answer (B) in teh past and had joints so frozen that the pipe crushed under my wrench befoer the joint broke apart. But still, I will try (B) again as Robert suggested...maybe use a torch to heat the fitting first.

Hence my post above, in my area any galvy still around is likely 50+ years...I wouldn't bet on being able to thread a nipple into a fitting, although it's the better idea, I'd have a couple of dressers on hand just in case.

[DuckButter]

I like Robert's fix, but Hey, where's the epoxy liner guy?

I think we horrified and humiliated him and he went away.

Oh yes, there's a solution...fill an already constricted 3/4" galvy main with something like latex paint...WOOHOO!!

[Killertoiletspider]

Oh man, go to the next fitting and cut it about 5" from the fitting, take a pipe wrench and turn. remove the old section of pipe, install a 6" brass nipple and a copper fip. all done. :D

never use dielectrics, I have seen them fail time and time again.

G couplings are never a long term fitting. notify the customer

I never re-threaded old galv water pipe, nor would I ever. I can only imagine the quality of the threads I would end up with.



Don't forget on option one, back your fitting up to make sure you don't spin anything else in the system, nothing worse then getting the water on to find a leak down the line. :) :)

If you still can't spin it out of the fitting, get a cape chisel and cape the pipe out of the fitting, I have done it hundreds of times on galvanized risers in high rises.

And Robert is correct, dielectric unions are designed to fail.

[gear junkie]

Out of cursiousity, why aren't you replacing all the galv? If the pipe is old enough to need replacement then chances are the remaining pipe will be to clogged for future use.

[Service Guy]

Out of cursiousity, why aren't you replacing all the galv? If the pipe is old enough to need replacement then chances are the remaining pipe will be to clogged for future use.

#1) the owner is a cheapskate property manager.

#2) some of the pipe is inaccessible without tearing open walls, etc.

#3) the owner is a cheapskate slumlord...err I mean high-end property manager, but cheap.

[rombo]

It is usually the pipe that will crush and the warp the fitting. What i have done with success before is the stick a piece of steel rod inside the pipe so you won't deform to bad.


On a side note i have to :o repair a galvanized water service tomorrow..... wish me luck

[rick1643]

Tomorrow I have to run some new water lines and connect to some old 1/2" galvy.

Should I:
a) cut the existing galv. pipe and try to cut new threads on to it.

b) attempt to take an old fitting/pipe threaded joint apart without damaging it.

or c) Use the cheesy compression couplings as a last resort.

Carl,

I think you knew the answer to this question before you asked it...didn't you? :winknudge: Good Luck with it, hope it goes smooth.

[ridgidpipe]

The problem with old galvanized lines is the fact that you try to make a quick repair in one area the next thing you know its leaking at the next joint down the line. I did a jod once where I tried to do one section and by the time I was done the whole house had to be replaced.
Good luck
And roberts method is the best way even though I havent had any real problems using dialectric unions myself I have seen some that have failed

[Service Guy]

The repair went fine. I cut a pipe, and then backed off a fitting, then threaded an adapter onto the old pipe with lots of teflon wrap...done, no leaks.

[ridgidpipe]

Glad the job went fine . Any bets on how much longer it will be before you are there replacing more of the pipes for the cheapskate?

[DuckButter]

Glad the job went fine . Any bets on how much longer it will be before you are there replacing more of the pipes for the cheapskate?

These are the jobs I feel bad on, you give them a band-aid, they call 6 months later for another band-aid...and so on, and so on...they can't afford the full deal, I feel bad for charging each time...goes round and round.
In the end, we make out, they lose...if they're just cheap it really isn't cheap over time, if they're broke, they're really broke.

[wrench spinner]

These are the jobs I feel bad on, you give them a band-aid, they call 6 months later for another band-aid...and so on, and so on...they can't afford the full deal, I feel bad for charging each time...goes round and round.
In the end, we make out, they lose...if they're just cheap it really isn't cheap over time, if they're broke, they're really broke.

I agree a lot of times it is just easier to cure the "cancer" than to kill the individual "tumor" but where do you stop once you have done a complete repipe! "I am sorry Ma'am but even though we told you it was going to be 1 million dollars.... well we decided to just fix everything now so it is going to be 1.5 mil."

Does anyone do payment plans for some people. I would never trust a doctor or lawyer in this fashion but you know the guy that works for the town and really cant afford $7,000 for a new boiler but without it he doesnt have heat for the winter? I know some big outfits do but how about the small ones? Like on the install pay for all material then break down labor into payments say $300 a month or so?

[Masterplumb]

Does anyone do payment plans for some people. I would never trust a doctor or lawyer in this fashion but you know the guy that works for the town and really cant afford $7,000 for a new boiler but without it he doesnt have heat for the winter? I know some big outfits do but how about the small ones? Like on the install pay for all material then break down labor into payments say $300 a month or so?

99% of my work is c.o.d. If in advance a returning customer asks for time to pay I will most likely work with them but I cant take payments over months, if they needed a week or two to pay I will cater to them. I also accept credit cards so that is always my first response to them. usually that is the solution. If they are maxed out on their cards they probably can't afford to pay me anyway.

[cpw]

I agree a lot of times it is just easier to cure the "cancer" than to kill the individual "tumor" but where do you stop once you have done a complete repipe! "I am sorry Ma'am but even though we told you it was going to be 1 million dollars.... well we decided to just fix everything now so it is going to be 1.5 mil."

Does anyone do payment plans for some people. I would never trust a doctor or lawyer in this fashion but you know the guy that works for the town and really cant afford $7,000 for a new boiler but without it he doesnt have heat for the winter? I know some big outfits do but how about the small ones? Like on the install pay for all material then break down labor into payments say $300 a month or so?
The oil company tried to sell me a WH using an installment plan. Don't remember the details, because I didn't go with them ($3400 for an oil-fired WH vs. $1800 for just upgrading the existing EK1's tank to 80 gallons); and don't like debt except for cars and the house. MP's suggestion about CC's seems like the best out. The other thing I would think is that I know some contractors have a deal with the bank where they basically pass-through the credit apps so they aren't the ones extending credit themselves.

[gear junkie]

Does anyone do payment plans for some people. I would never trust a doctor or lawyer in this fashion but you know the guy that works for the town and really cant afford $7,000 for a new boiler but without it he doesnt have heat for the winter? I know some big outfits do but how about the small ones? Like on the install pay for all material then break down labor into payments say $300 a month or so?
Very good question. Maybe you should start a new thread in the business section.

[DuckButter]

I agree a lot of times it is just easier to cure the "cancer" than to kill the individual "tumor" but where do you stop once you have done a complete repipe! "I am sorry Ma'am but even though we told you it was going to be 1 million dollars.... well we decided to just fix everything now so it is going to be 1.5 mil."

Does anyone do payment plans for some people. I would never trust a doctor or lawyer in this fashion but you know the guy that works for the town and really cant afford $7,000 for a new boiler but without it he doesnt have heat for the winter? I know some big outfits do but how about the small ones? Like on the install pay for all material then break down labor into payments say $300 a month or so?
NO, NO , NO!

some contractors finance remodel & home improvements.
My thinking is if your credit won't allow you to get get financing on your own, why am I going to finance you?

[plumberscrack]

The sign on my truck says Plumbing & Heating not Savings & Loan