Gentlemen,
I need to replace a 3′ section of 3″ Copper Drain, Waste piping. Approximately 6″ of a Horizontal run of piping split on the bottom of the piping. I say ‘split’ but it more than likely eroded due to the acidity of the well H2O ( piping about 35 years old). This 3′ section also includes a reducer for another drain which ties in and 2 ‘Y’ fittings.
I’m thinking about cutting the whole mess out and replacing with PVC – connecting the new PVC piping to the old 3″ Copper with heavy duty rubber couplings.
Is this a good repair option?? Up to code??
THX
Replies
The whole replacement in PVC is likely to be less than that one piece of copper waste; don't know about code. if it's an internal failure, it may be systemic. Any way to check?
Forrest
How many stories is your house?
I would check to see if the rest of the pipe is rotted. If it's ok I'd use pvc and mission type couplings. They have a steel band around them, not just hose clamps.
Don't forget 3" pvc and 3" copper have different ODs. You may have to go to a plumbing supply house for the couplings.
Headstrong, I'll take on anyone!
mission couplings are code here ( the black rubber with the metal band and 2 hose clamps...ie.. mission) you can even use em conceled & underground... here...
hope you can go back far enough to find a good spot to tie into..
good luck
p
To all,
Thanks for your reponses - The house is a single story house, one bath, toilet, two sinks. The section of 3" copper pipe that failed is the only horizontal run other than the drain from the sink which is about 18' in length. When I removed the failed section I'm hoping and thinking the verticals will be in good shape.
The coupling I'm planning on using are called 'no hub couplings' here they have the steel band on the exterior of the rubber tightened together with band clamps.
Thanks again
You should be OK to repair with plastic. As always it depends on what the local inspector will accept. IIRC if the building is more than two stories then you need metal DWV and cannot use plastic but you don't appear to have that issue.
Are you telling me that the 2 story homes on the Island have to be done in copper or cast iron?
That 42 story in Bellevue I'm on has plastic DWV all over the place all the way up the tower.
Our limits come on fire rating through the floors, & smoke rating if the pipe is in a plenum.“How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, his precepts! O! ‘tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.” —Benjamin Franklin
you'll need a special no hub to connect PVC to copper, but they are available. Maybe special order.
3" is pretty big for a sink, you sure that the toilet is not part of this system, not that it matters on material.
PVC, & or ABS is fine, depending on your jurisdiction ( some places have done away with ABS)
3" copper has an OD of about 3 & 1/8"
3" cast iron has an OD of about 3 & 3/8"
3" PVC & ABS have an OD of about 3 & 1/2"
Mission is a brand of no hub couplings, which ever brand you go with it will be labeled of what type of pipes it will connect too.
When switching to plastic the pipe has to be supported every 4'.“How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, his precepts! O! ‘tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.” —Benjamin Franklin
Hi,
Thanks for the info - the kitchen sink that ties in is 1 1/2" copper. This ties in right before the toilet drain, small horizontal run which is leaking, then ties into 3" copper main drain & vent , then exits the building underground via cast iron.
Regards
I'm sure it's different everywhere, and for different reasons, but I've worked on a lot of three-story homes in the Bay Area where all of the DWV had to be metal. In most cases we would remodel with CI but I did one job where the plumber put in quite a bit of 3" and 4" CU. That was in the days before the Chinese wound their new gennies.
I may be getting too old, but what does "before the Chinese wound their new gennies" mean?.......................................
It's probably mostly myth, but some people say the new dam in China, which apparently is capable of supplying 10% of their power, placed a huge demand on copper markets and caused the price to go way up a few years back. Who knows...
I assume that gennies means generators? if so its a new term to me.I don't think that the Chinese caused the price of copper to go up, every time that there is a major war going on the price goes thru the roof. Thanks for the response; BTW your original was on the money. "May the force be with you".........................................
"If all else fails, read the directions"
Re the price of copper and China. The Chinese are putting a coal fired electric generating station on line about every ten days. These are 10 mega watt or larger plants and that is a whole lota copper for each generator and transmission and transformers. It boggles the mind how much they are building and how much coal they are using.
China isnt just buying copper,the are buying the mines also. All that new power is going to homes that never had wiring. I hear they even want indoor plumbing now.
I have to stick with my original post that war pushes the price of copper up; we had the same thing happen during the Vietnam [Conflict?]. Before we got into the current war the price of scrap was approx. 32 cents a lb. it now is $2.50 and climbing. You woudn't believe how much copper the war machine uses. Opinion only.........................................
"If all else fails, read the directions"
No-Hub couplings are a no-no, they are not designed to connect two outside diameters that are different. Like one of the other posts said you need a Mission coupling or whats called a Fernco, these are designed to make up the difference in diameter, lots of luck................................................
"If all else fails, read the directions"
Thanks,
Hot on the trail ....
Saint,
I went from a 4 inch PVC to 4 inch copper on several places in my house..
What I did was heat up the PVC with a torch and once it was soft jammed the copper into it!
I overlapped the pvc by 6 inches or so and haven't had a single sign of a leak! If they do show up I will simply put a large clamp on it!
easiest way to make a hole in copper is to put draino in a pluged drain
have torn out a few copper dwv after home owner put liquid drain cleaner down the stopped up drain it is usually first noticed when homeowner has sewage smell in basement from pinholes on top of pipe and dampness around pipe
seen the same thing in ci pipes
here we use abs for residental dwv lines ci commercial