[somebody like me]

The vent pipe above my laundry closet/ kitchen area is leaking in my ceiling. It is not a roof leak, as I just climbed up into my attic a few minutes ago during a major rainstorm and the roof is not leaking nor is the outside of the pipe wet. The flooring of my attic above the elbow of the pipe and the horizontal section and the ceiling of my laundry closet underneath the pipe is VERY wet and the ceiling is starting to bow. How do I verify the pipe is leaking, and if it is, how do I fix it?

[massplumber2008]

Hi Somebody:

I am afraid that you need to open the ceiling up OR open up the floor in the attic and confirm from there... no other option really. Unless I misunderstood your post... and that has happened a few times, to me.. ;) Sounds like the ceiling is already damaged so I would probably start by removing a section of ceiling (needs to be repaired/patched anyway)

First though... the roof boot for your vent. The roof boot could be letting water get by... but the vent pipe would be wet somewhere upstairs in attic... just double check that you do not see remnants of dripping down the side of the vent pipe. Also, look up at the underneath of the roof boot in the dark (where vent terminates through the roof)... do you see any light around the pipe as it leaves the attic/out the roof?

Also, what kind of pipe is in attic... cast iron, PVC (white pipe) or ABS (black pipe)... let us know so we can best advise how to repair leak... if needed.

Get back to me with any thoughts. Mark

[ReuseablePlastix]

I also am having what I believe to be a similar problem...

I think I've sourced the leak to a joint that looks like the below "picture". Hope it makes some sense.

L l
/ \
L l
l---------------l
L l \
L l leak is here...
L l


The pipe itself is PVC about 4-6 inches in diameter. Any thoughts?
Thanks.

[speedball1]

Somebody, Have you checked the washer stand pipe to be sure it's not overflowing when the washer pump kicks on?

Plastix, could you draw us a picture? Regards, Tom

[razor96]

OK so lets assume that you are correct and the roof it self does not leak. The only other thing that I can come up with is that there is a bad connection in the attic at a joint or elbow. If so, disconnect and re-glue with abs solvent cement for abs, pvc glue for pvc(white) etc. If you have to cut it out you can replace the section. If it is copper or cast , you can put on compression sleeve available at your nearest plumbing store.

[ReuseablePlastix]

It's a difficult task to get the picture to turn out right (I had to put the periods in as place holders).

... _________
... \... /
... l... l
.. l\__l... l
.. l... l
.. l... l
.. l.. __... l
.. l/... l... l
... l... l
... /________\
... l... l <--- leak is at this joint, water dripping from here. Everything above it is dry.
... l... l

[massplumber2008]

Reuseable:

The pipe is most likely 4" pipe if penetrating the roof as main vent to house.

You can cut this out and replace it with new coupling (or 2) and a tee fitting. Or you may be able to use some of the plastic epoxies they make today... Here, you would clean pipe well real well and then rough up with sandpaper, and then try the plastic epoxy they sell at all home supply stores... There are a few brands so read labels to see which works best for you... Loctite makes a good 2-part epoxy for PVC... (see pic below to see what these tubes look like).

I would state to you that I PREFER that you cut out pipes that are leaking.. most likely will only grow and cause more headaches... ok?

That said, you decide. Or if you think I missed something, let me know... ok?


If this helped please RATE THIS ANSWER. Thank you... Mark

.

[ReuseablePlastix]

Massplumber,

Trying to keep cutting and replacing the section as my last option, I ended up using a marine epoxy similar to the one you suggested. This took several applications to get the leak to stop (it minimized the dripping with each application; it was only after the third application that it actually stopped). So it's been a couple of days with dry pipes... we'll see how it continues. Hopefully it won't grow into a larger problem and this will be it. Thanks for your assistance.