Return to the Plumbing Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
confirmation on leaky fitting repair
| | |
Posted by janedibber (My Page) on Sat, Nov 21, 09 at 9:56
| we have a pinhole leak at sweated joint (of an elbow fitting) behind the wall for our shower head. replacing the fitting would require demo-ing part of the tiled wall. There is enough room to get a propane torch in there to heat the fitting and re-sweat. Is this even an option?? many thanks. jd |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: confirmation on leaky fitting repair
| | |
| Can't you get in behind the tiled wall? Re-sweating doesn't always go well. It depends on why the original joint didn't seal. You may have to undo the joint and start over. You also might need a fiberglass mat or other insulating devices and a fire extinguisher nearby. |
RE: confirmation on leaky fitting repair
| | |
| thanks baymee. the shower pipes are on an outside wall, so no option other than removing tile for access. There appears to be a pinhole leak but I can't see it because the leak is facing near the outside wall. So, do you think re-sweating is an option before I do a mini-tear down...which I'm really trying to avoid!! |
RE: confirmation on leaky fitting repair
| | |
| Sometimes it works. If the pinhole leak is because there wasn't enough solder in the joint, or it was overheated and ran out, you might be able to heat it, add some flux, and re-solder. If the joint wasn't cleaned properly, or dirt is in the joint, you might be in for a hard time. Try re-sweating it, if you can. |
RE: confirmation on leaky fitting repair
| | |
| thanks. will give it a shot |
RE: confirmation on leaky fitting repair
| | |
| Are you absolutely sure it is a solder joint leaking??? It might be a leaky thread where the shower arm is screwed into the drop ear 90. If so,,you could pull the shower arm and apply some pipe dope, then screw it back in. |
|
|
|
|
