We have a leak in a central heating pipe under the tiled floor in our downstairs bathroom. The water was seeping up through the floor. I called a plumber and he lifted the tiles and dug to reveal the pipe and find the leak. He has repaired the leak using compression joints (also repaired larger 28mm pipe which he punctured when digging), which he says are more reliable than soldering, but we have had constant leaks from each pipe every time the water is turned back on. Water is now off and boiler not working, so he is due back today. I have researched and found that compression joints should not be used under concrete and joints should be soldered. I also read pipes should be protected with Denso tape, but he says they need no protection. He is also going to fill the hole with rapid set tiling adhesive before refitting the tiles. Am I right to be worried?
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- Thread starter Sylvergrunge
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Qe don't have a combi boiler. It is an open system. Shall I listen for the header tank in the loft filling once the heating is on? Shall I try and make him hang around for a while 9nce it is all on?
Well it's all got very heated. He says the large pipe is leaking further down and he is no longer going to work for free to fix it all. All I have asked is that he fixes the compression joints that he put in in the first place, that are still leaking! He is shouting over me and won't listen. Also he says he works for a company and blames them for things, but won't give us details of anyone else to contact in his company. I don't think it is a company, just him!
Shame you've paid up. I'm not sure what else to suggest 'cept get him out and contact an emergency qualified plumber and pay the rate for a fix. However you said he's guaranteed the work so he is obliged to at least leave you in a slightly better state of repairs, is it in writing at least? Don't need to answer that...
I know! I am writing off the £427 as an expensive lesson learnt. I have contacted another plumber through a recommendation and he is coming to have a look later. Thanks for all your help and support, and being a listening ear. It has been very much appreciated 🙏
Good luck
As someone mentioned above some push fit fittings and flexible pipe might give you a temp solution until a permanent repair/repipe can be done
Imperial pipe should not be an issue. I have transition couplings in the van as I know local merchants don't always carry them, but they are cheap enough to always have a couple on hand. Perhaps I am unusual in carrying stock on a just-in-case basis, but I feel part of the job is being prepared.
New plumber has got boiler working and water running, leaving just a very small leak (as didn't have time to fix at such short notice today. 28mm pipe dips down in the middle of the bathroom and then flattens out again, making an s shape and the leak is on the bottom bend. He is coming back tomorrow to investigate further. The pipe sticking out of the wall is imperial so he is also getting a transition coupling to try and sort, as the welding done by the first plumber still has a tiny leak.
Not the easiest thing to try and repair you need a few tricks of the trade for a satisfactory outcome , your plumbers used to many compression fittings we all use em on the odd occasion to get ourselves out of trouble, if used correctly and tighten with 2 spanners it's very rare they leak I don't have a problem with using em 👍 kop
So update on the leak. It's still there! New plumber doesn't want to cut pipe and open a new can of worms (imperial pipe and 28mm pipe meet at a point just in front of a wall and under the skirting) Soldering from first plumber is all over the place but appears to be sealing the pipe in those places. Very visable leak from the 28mm pipe which he has tried to seal with an epoxy resin this morning, but I can see it is still leaking. Spoke about rerouting pipes but he says it is a huge job due to the position of the tank (in a cupboard in the middle of the house) and the boiler (in the utility at the side of the house, and two bathrooms in between, which the 28mm pipe goes under). Says is would be cheaper to put in a whole new system! I am at the point I would pay for a whole new system as this is really stressing me out, but timescales for a job that size are months away, so we need a temporary fix. Can anyone give any advice or other fixes? I am literally pulling my hair out now as this has been going on for nearly 2 weeks now and we are no further forward. I don't know where to turn or who to ask.
Looks like there was a copper tube put over the 28mm and the imperial. Imperial is the green bit sticking out the wall, then tube over the top, then soldering where plumber 1 worked. The main leak now is at the other end of the 28mm pipe though, where it goes down under what we think is a gas pipe!
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This is where is bends down under the gas pipe and is leaking bad (not the gas thankfully). You can see the epoxy resin he has put on, but it isn't working. I am off to buy sentinel leak sealer to add to the system in the hope it may help a little, temporarily.
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Leak sealers work on minor weeps. How about buy a temporary pipe repair tape? They will hold mains pressure if used carefully.
I am hoping the leak sealer will seal up any other issues (we think there may be more leaks in the pipes elsewhere). The issue with a tape is there is no room to go under the pipe as it dips down under the gas pipe and we are worried about piercing the dpm. Also, as it appears to be leaking along the connection as opposed to the pipe (right on the bend too) I am not sure we will get a good bond. I have ordered some ct1 as I have seen it recommended on here. Not sure it will work on this type of leak though, although may work in conjunction with a tape?
Where is that latest set of pics showing the excavation, outside or another room next to bathroom?
The imperial water pipe leaking under the gas pipe is being fed from, what and goes where to exactly?
Distance between two excavation sites?
The imperial water pipe leaking under the gas pipe is being fed from, what and goes where to exactly?
Distance between two excavation sites?
All pics are in the main bathroom. The last three are a close up of the 28mm pipe going down under the gas pipe.
The imperial pipe leads from the tank (in cupboard to the left about a meter away, that passes under my ensuite shower nextdoor) to the boiler, in the utility at the other side (right) of the bathroom. All pipes are under concrete flooring.
I will upload a pic showing distance (approx 60cm)
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