Thread: Help with copper pipe leak - ASAP

Whilst putting up Villaboard in my bathroom I accidently put I nail through one of my copper water pipes. I have removed a section of board to exposure the pipe. What is the best fix here? This will eventually behind floor to ceiling tiles so I want to do it correctly.

pls I need to turn the water back on sometime today or wife will get #$%&

As a DIYer, I would try to find a joiner fitting, flux & solder at Bunnings, cut the pipe and then solder the joint. If you are not comfortable with cutting pipes or soldering with a propane torch, then you will have to pay big $$$ for an emergency plumber. If its just a small hole, you might be able to fill it with solder and get a plumber in during the week.

or....
as a temporary fix.......self tapper into the hole laced with 5 minute araldite...when dry you may be able to turn the water on for the missus.
Then get it fixed properly if its behind the tiles.

thanks for the advise. Due to location I have decided to cut a section and use two compression fittings. I think should suffice.

Originally Posted by zzkazu

thanks for the advise. Due to location I have decided to cut a section and use two compression fittings. I think should suffice.

As a temporary measure only.

Is a soldered joint the permanent option?

Originally Posted by zzkazu

Is a soldered joint the permanent option?

Yes. You can't have "compression fittings" inside a wall.

Ok, I have it a Australian Standard requirement.

Noting the location of the hole would the pipe have to be removed (hence most of walls) to repair this hole? Thanks for your advice.

That seems to be plenty of room to fix the hole, perhaps make the hole in the villa board 50mm or even 100mm higher.

As an easy fix you could put a brass screw/bolt through it, heat it with a heat gun until red and apply solder. Just make there is no water in the pipe, or it will take all of the heat away.

Originally Posted by dominicw

As an easy fix you could put a brass screw/bolt through it, heat it with a heat gun until red and apply solder. Just make there is no water in the pipe, or it will take all of the heat away.

What ?!?!
As an "easy fix" you would simply solder straight over the hole. However, the easy fix is usually not the best fix.

Originally Posted by dominicw

As an easy fix you could put a brass screw/bolt through it,

...and think of the savings made by not having to buy flow restricting devices!

As an easy fix you could do as a previous "plumber" did to cap a gal pipe in our front yard, use a coke bottle top and good squeeze of silicon. Wonder why we had a bog in our front yard.

Do it properly the first time, then you wont be cutting a new hole in the wall next week/month/year to fix the #$%@&^ bodgey job.

Regards Dave

Well, I ended up cutting the pipe and installing a compression fitting. No leak now, but I'm thinking of soldering a sleeve now but I'm cant really solder completely around the pipe in its current location.


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Originally Posted by zzkazu

Well, I ended up cutting the pipe and installing a compression fitting. No leak now, but I'm thinking of soldering a sleeve now but I'm cant really solder completely around the pipe in its current location.

With an oxy and silver solder you can.

Looking at the photo, the pipe is up against some wood framing; you will need to move it as far away from the wood as possible and be careful not to burn the wood. Wouldn't a pre-tinned joiner and a propane or mapp gas torch be the easiest way for a DIYer to solder the pipe?

I can seem to find any coupling that is long enough. I need a 15mm coupling for the 12.7 mm pipe that's about 3cm long.

Doesn't seem to be a standard size for pipe either?



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