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wdlevy · Mar 25, 2009, 05:14 PM

I have a 3/4 inch copper pipe that is leaking in a spot very difficult to access. It rises vertically behind a masonry wall that would be a big job to go through to access the leak. It ends in an outside faucet for a garden hose. The horizontal line that it comes off continues on to feed 2 additional outside faucets. I could live without the one with the leak.

Is it possible to
1. Shut off my water main
2. Cut the top off this copper pipe
3. Thread an inflatable or otherwise potentially removable stopper about 3 feet down the pipe, below the leak but above the horizontal line which continues on to feed additional faucets.
4. Test the repair by turning the water on to see if it is still leaking and if the 2 farther down faucets have not been blocked
5. Remove reposition if there is a problem, otherwise
6. Turn the water back off
7. Fill the pipe above the stooper with something which would harden and permanently block the pipe. (ending the leak but losing that faucet)

If so, what materials would be needed? Where can I get them? And do you know anyone on Oahu capable and willing to do this repair?

speedball1 · Mar 26, 2009, 05:45 PM

It rises vertically behind a masonry wall that would be a big job to go through to access the leak.

Big job or not, that's exactly what I'd do. Take out the cement block, repair or cap off the leak and patch the wall. I was faced with the same problem with a line in my cement block house. It was on a outside wall. I broke the block, repaired the leak, patched and painted the hole and it looks great. Good luck, Tom

letmetellu · Mar 26, 2009, 07:35 PM

There is a tool that is use to block water flow while sweating on a full flow ball valve. It is made like a test plug, has a rubber ball that has a bolt going through it, you insert the ball into the pipe you need to repair, and then tighten the bolt this squeezes the neoprene ball to the side walls of the pipe. Not you sweat on the ball valve and then slowly remove the tool, shut the ball valve and turn the water back on. I am not sure you could use this tool in what you want to do or not, it is just an idea.

Milo Dolezal · Mar 27, 2009, 01:25 AM

Cut the pipe before it enters the wall and when it surfaces on the outside. Rerout it where it is accessible. It is easy. Takes few minutes. Your approach is way to complicated.