Help..

My wife and I bought our first house 5 months ago. We are not used to living in a home with 2 floors and a basement. So, the toilet on the upper floor started leaking a few drops a minute, so it is not serious yet:). The drops are forming on the elbow joint of the PVC pipe in the basement. I am not sure if it is coming from that piece or if it is leaking from the pipe behind the walls. I was wondering how to take on this challenge; a quick fix with some sealer or I am going to be paying a plumber some expensive amount of money?

Matt

Help..

My wife and I bought our first house 5 months ago. We are not used to living in a home with 2 floors and a basement. So, the toilet on the upper floor started leaking a few drops a minute, so it is not serious yet:). The drops are forming on the elbow joint of the PVC pipe in the basement. I am not sure if it is coming from that piece or if it is leaking from the pipe behind the walls. I was wondering how to take on this challenge; a quick fix with some sealer or I am going to be paying a plumber some expensive amount of money?

Matt
Hi Matt,
Before we do anything we have to locate the source of the leak. You didn't say but I'm assuming the leak's in drainage. See if you can check the pipe ABOVE the top joint on the elbo. If the pipe's dry then I can instruct you on the repair. If the pipes wet then that means the leak's farther up the line and walls will have to be opened up and inspected. Let me know what you find. Regards, Tom

It seems I may have to call out a plumber, unless you can help me with this situation. The top elbow joint is in between the first floor. Basically, there is plywood in the way of my fingers being able to reach the joint.

I did, however, manage to stop the leak by turning off the water to the toilet and draining the water in the toilet. I am knida stuck on what my next option could be... Help?

Thanks

Matt

Hi Matt,

If you can enlarge the space around the joint with a Saws-All or key hole saw so that you can feel above the joint and up the pipe to see if the leak is at the joint itself, (fixable) or if it's farther up the line in the wall, (Plumber time unless you wish to open up the wall) If the pipe above the joint's dry then you've lucked out and you can do the repair yourself. You have options on this. You can dry the joint off good and prime it with PVC primer and load the joint up with PVC glue or epoxy or you can purchase a epoxy stick


Indumar - FIX STIX™ - Technical Information

(http://www.stopit.com/fixstixtech.htm) and caulk the joint with that.
If you find out the leak is higher up and you wish to tackle the job yourself then I would open up the area from the closet bend to the stack and check for moisture. Leaks in PVC joints are caused by not priming and preparing the joint before applying the glue. If the joint's prepared properly the PVC will melt a little when glued and weld itself together. The only explanation for drainage leaks in PVC is shoddy workmanship. Until you open up the plywood around the joint and check above it you''re flying blind. So if you can't open up the area to check then calling in a plumber's your best bet. Good luck, Tom