Soil pipe leak - advice appreciated!

[The Plumber Guy]

Hi all,

I've got a customer with a leaking plastic soil pipe. It's outside on a joint into an elbow which goes horizontally into the wall and then the loo. The pipe then runs on a sloping angle into the main soil pipe.

I think my options are:
a)Whack a load of sealant into the joint and see if that stops the leak - bit of a bodge and I'm not sure if it would work.

b) Somehow get the elbow joint out of the wall but it's 4 inches in diameter and a bit of a job. At least that way the job would be done properly.

c) Separate the sloping pipe from the elbow - but it's glued and I think that would be difficult or impossible to remove.

Does anyone have a better suggestion please as I want to do it right!

Cheers all

 

[WaterTight]

My suggestion is carry a digital camera or camera phone to every job from now on because it's little tricky without seeing it.

 

[Guest123]

You've answered your own question with answer b, i.e do the job properly. However as a trained plumber, "some how" getting the bend out doesn't exactly inspire confidence, as you should have a good idea of how to achieve this.

 

[mikegas]

you will prob need to cut the sloping secion and pull the 4" out the wall away from the wc and repipe

 

[Koogatubac]

Lol this guy seriously doesnt sound like a time served plumber! Dont do A that sounds like such a cowboy! U wanna cut the 4" and get a 'slip-joint straight' and replace the 90* and pipework to suit. U can get the straights from local build centre or jewsons 

 

[WaterTight]

I know! It's laughable! I'm not a time-served plumber and even I know what to do. Silicone it until you can't silicone it no more.

That should hold it.

 

[Resolute]

I know! It's laughable! I'm not a time-served plumber and even I know what to do. Silicone it until you can't silicone it no more.

That should hold it.

White or clear silicone?

 

[AdamMcC5]

A. Should i do a bad job
B. Should i do the job properly

...thats a tricky one to answer

 

[Phil]

You may find that the coller has come apart from the elbow on closer inspection or the o ring has been distorted or the pipe is scratched etc.

If all fitted correctly its uncomman for them just to start leaking.

 

[AWheating]

if its a small leak from a joint(2mm or less) then trying to seal it with sillicone will be fine, if its a poor joint(wide gap) or has some damage then it will def need a repipe. We all know that it would be ideal to replace the problem joint but its not a perfect world, give the customer the options and they can weigh it up.

 

[Gray0689]

if its a small leak from a joint(2mm or less) then trying to seal it with sillicone will be fine, if its a poor joint(wide gap) or has some damage then it will def need a repipe. We all know that it would be ideal to replace the problem joint but its not a perfect world, give the customer the options and they can weigh it up.

Good advice but use tec 7 better than silicone for the likes of this

 

[The Plumber Guy]

Thanks all for the advice. It's true I'm not a time-served plumber but I'm also not a bodger. The lady concerned had a brain aneurism 2 years ago and is being forced to sell her house as she can't afford to keep it on. I was hoping that siliconing would be the cheapest option and would at least hold while she's in the process of selling. Thanks again all.

 

[WaterTight]

I was going to say - but didn't for fear of lynching - that if I don't fancy a job because it looks a pain or I've not the time - and if I get the vibe from the customer that they've not the stomach nor the wallet for all but a small job - I will occassionally offer the lesser proven/recommended of a range of solutions, being clear that it's not the "done way" but "probably will work" at least for "a good while." If this is explained and the customer is happy - especially in light of other options - I don't mind doing it. The only worry would be people unaware of this conversation finding out who did the work at a later date and it harming my reputation but on a carefull judged case by case basis I usually think this is quite a small risk.

Plus the one or two times when I've had a customer imply I'm on the make where not when I did bad work but when I quoted for a complete and proper fix of something that someone then came along and did a bodge fix on for a tenth of the price.

 

[kay-jay]

White or clear silicone?

white, cos its easier to paint red when it goes off :44:

 

[dontknowitall]

If she was my customer I'd suggest trying to silicone it and leaving it for the next people who will probably want to change everything in any case, whether it's dripping or not.

Silicone will take a near certain maximum of 30 minutes with testing.

 

[justlead1]

I spend i bit of time on here to take my mind of my problems, a brain aneurism. I am booked in for an operation in the near future. My concern now being, if my surgeon reads this post, i may wake up with silicon pumping out me ears. Must go now to have a chat with me estate agent.

 

[AWheating]

i would not be supprised on the NHS, my recent hernia op i was told to get dressed and leave because the ward was closing at 6.00 and i had just come around from my general at 5.30.

hope all goes well mate.

 

[justlead1]

Thanks for the kind words. I dont think my wards open yet, Ive been waiting 6 months.

 

[Guest123]

Thanks for the kind words. I dont think my wards open yet, Ive been waiting 6 months.

Best wishes to you and a speedy recovery.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

i second that