Have I hired a cowboy?

[Sylvergrunge]

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?

 

[gmartine]

Can you use a large format for posting pics please, my eyes/glasses are Rubbish.

Post pic of imperial pipe coming from and to and from boiler & tank.

Was the last plumber able to it shut off and wet vac the site or did he apply the putty/epoxy under water? How have you left it with him, is he done?

 

[Ric2013]

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?

You can use repair tapes on a faulty soldered joint, if that's what you have. The one I have in my toolbox (in case I mess up!) doesn't stick well at all, but if I get it on and pull it tight, it seals. Then I have to tie it in place with something else, but at least the water is contained. No use if you can't get it round the pipe however. Not sure there's much point using a proprietary leak tape with CT1.

 

[gmartine]

Agreed, don't bother with CT1 or get your money back. I have an idea/method if all else fails but it requires the area being clean and dry.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

28mm and inch copper are close enough where you can solder them using a 28mm coupling no problem

 

[Sylvergrunge]

Can you use a large format for posting pics please, my eyes/glasses are Rubbish.

Post pic of imperial pipe coming from and to and from boiler & tank.

Was the last plumber able to it shut off and wet vac the site or did he apply the putty/epoxy under water? How have you left it with him, is he done?

How do I post large format pics? Using my phone. These are pics of pipe in the tank and going down into the floor from the cupboard.

Plumber did shut off and drain the system but I think the area was wet. Epoxy is coming off 😔 Waiting on a call back from him regarding next move.

 

[Chuck]

How do I post large format pics? Using my phone.

I think there is a bug in the latest version of the forum software. For the last few days it's not been possible to click-through to pictures/video from the thumbnails.

@Dan / @Lou – Are you aware of this issue?

 

[Sylvergrunge]

I am tempted to dig down under the pipe and try and get the amalgamating tape round it. Good or bad idea? How far down should the dpm be? Am I likely to hit it?

 

[gmartine]

Forget the amalgamated tape, terrible idea given the access and pipe condtion. If you can dig down beneath it for access and get that epoxy off too, clean up the pipe as best you can.

That leaking pass over section (or pass under in your case) really needs to be replaced, if the plumber wont do it find another and ideally a tradesman that has a press fit device.

 

[Sylvergrunge]

Epoxy off. You can see the leak here. Right on the bend 😒

 

[gmartine]

Looks like that pass under is made up of a number of sections which would've been difficult to solder in situ as well as amateur.

I can't see it, is the leak on internal or external part of bend and is heating on and pipe full and leaking?

See if you can get a small wire brush, scouring pad or emery cloth and clean it up until it looks like copper.

 

[Sylvergrunge]

It is on the internal bend. Heating is off and so is water so the system is slowly emptying.

Trying to phone plumbers but none are able to come out for weeks 😫

 

[gmartine]

Ok don't panick, no further damage is really being done 'cept you're a bit cold.

Ok you need to clean that pipe around the leak abit better than it is cos I'd like you to try a marine/weatherproof epoxy putty otherwise it won't adhere properly. What's your nearest retailer, any plumbers merchants, Screwfix, Halfords etc?

 

[Sylvergrunge]

Screwfix and toolstation are close

 

[gmartine]

Halfords?

Evo-stik Hard & Fast Metal Epoxy Putty | Halfords UK

Shop the latest Evo-stik Hard & Fast Metal Epoxy Putty easy to mix steel reinforced epoxy putty dries in 10 minutes at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

Never used it, pipe needs to be clean though otherwise it'll come off like the last lot.

 

[gmartine]

If you can wait from Amazon Prime...

PC Marine Epoxy putty or Jenolite Copper repair.

They all say they can repair when wet but it can be difficult to get adhesion so no guarantees. Proper fix is replacement so temp fix only.

 

[Sylvergrunge]

I am pretty sure this is what the last plumber used and it just came off

 

[gmartine]

Probably but then it was stuck on a dirty pipe, hence I keep going on about cleaning it.

 

[Sylvergrunge]

Cleaning it now. How clean does it need ro be?

 

[gmartine]

As clean as pos, looking like copper not undersea treasure. 😉

 

[Sylvergrunge]

Scrubbed most of it off I can't get underneath though.

Plumber called. Hasn't got time to replace the pipe so he has passed details onto another plumber that might! Hopefully plumber number 3 will be able to sort it 🤞🤞🤞