Drilled into unexpected water pipe
- Thread starter AngryNugget
- Start date
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markplumb said:
Although they probably had the benefit of being legally installed at the time.
Current regs also allow for pipes to be installed in walls - as long as they are in a sleeve and are "easily to withdraw", it is the fittings that must be accessible - but of course you knew that, you're an experienced plumber
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Thanks for all the advice everyone.
Basically, the pipe had absolutely no give in it whatsoever, so using a compression fitting wouldn't have worked, as I couldn't get it in. Plus I've read both on here and elsewhere, that compression fit joints should only be used if accessible.
I tried using slip fittings with flux and solder, but this again didn't work, as although I managed to remove the damaged section, and fit the new section, there didn't appear to be enough pipe in the joint to form a good enough seal. As soon as the system got back up to mains pressure, the solder split at one of the joints.
I therefore had to remove this and start again. In the end I used four 90° elbows to allow me to make complete fittings. I made up a U shape with two elbows and connecting sections of pipe, then slotted this onto elbows from the original pipe. It's not ideal, and I'll probably get more abuse from the pro's on here, but short of removing half my newly plastered wall I couldn't see any other options.
Now I've just got a 20cm x 20cm hole in the wall to fill and plaster.
In retrospect I should have used a pipe finder before I drilled into the wall, but in that location it was an extremely odd place for a water pipe to be, and how many of you always check for pipes before putting up pictures, shelves etc.
Basically, the pipe had absolutely no give in it whatsoever, so using a compression fitting wouldn't have worked, as I couldn't get it in. Plus I've read both on here and elsewhere, that compression fit joints should only be used if accessible.
I tried using slip fittings with flux and solder, but this again didn't work, as although I managed to remove the damaged section, and fit the new section, there didn't appear to be enough pipe in the joint to form a good enough seal. As soon as the system got back up to mains pressure, the solder split at one of the joints.
I therefore had to remove this and start again. In the end I used four 90° elbows to allow me to make complete fittings. I made up a U shape with two elbows and connecting sections of pipe, then slotted this onto elbows from the original pipe. It's not ideal, and I'll probably get more abuse from the pro's on here, but short of removing half my newly plastered wall I couldn't see any other options.
Now I've just got a 20cm x 20cm hole in the wall to fill and plaster.
In retrospect I should have used a pipe finder before I drilled into the wall, but in that location it was an extremely odd place for a water pipe to be, and how many of you always check for pipes before putting up pictures, shelves etc.
Not sure what you mean about this as slip couplings slide completely over the join between the new insert and original pipe i.e. they don't have internal stops for the pipe.
At least you've got the water back on though so well done for that
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