Ask Me Help Desk - Leak in Kitchen

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chefboyarchrisp

Hello I'm a fairly knowledgeable man but know nothing about plumbing...I have started a rehab house business and am afraid i got myself in to deep literaly with the plumbing. I had a leak in the kitchen sink and gutted all cabinets, sink, sub flooring and found the leak. The house was built in 1900 and the house is on a partial slab, basically cinderblocks around with floor joists and cinderblocks spaced around the house. I found this burst pipe and I'm wondering if it's lead? I'm wondering if I can be in danger by cutting the lead pipe? I'm wondering if it is lead how do i cut it? If I cut it can I weld it back together with copper pipe? Can someone give me some basic knowlege about this stuff??? Thanks in advance Chris

Hey Chris,
First of all you have to determine what material the pipe's made of. Take a knife and try to dig into the pipe. If it's soft and you can scour it and see silver then the pipes lead.
If it's hard and you can see silver then it's galvanized.
If it's black the it's cast iron.
In order to help you must give me more information and details. What is the pipe connected to? How is it connected? Where does it go? What does it connect to and how? What size is the burst pipe?
You will not be repairing the pipe if it's lead. You will be replacing it.
Are you planing on attempting this by yourself? You may have to call in outside help if any conversion is to be done. Regards. Tom