Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [copper]

153 questions
17
votes
10 answers

What can cause a never-frozen indoor copper drain pipe to crack?

The 1-1/2" copper waste pipe than runs from our kitchen just up and cracked two days ago along its length, and for no apparent reason. The crack is in a section of pipe that runs vertically through the kitchen floor down into the basement, where it…
mrblint
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16
votes
9 answers

How do I "fix" a bad sweat (solder) joint?

I tried soldering some 1/2" copper (to make something like this) and some of my joints are horrible. I tested it with water and some of the joints leak. What is the best way to fix the joints? What is a quick and easy way that will work? These…
Tim
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10
votes
4 answers

How to temporarily catch leaks trickling down the outside of a pipe

I have a small, slow and steady trickle of water running down the outside of a vertical 15 mm copper pipe. How can I capture the leak and divert the water into a receptacle? I'm not asking for a permanent fix for the leak itself. I have that in hand…
ConanTheGerbil
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8
votes
7 answers

Repair tiny hole/scratch in copper pipe

I discovered a very tiny hole/scratch in a copper pipe in my basement this morning. It looks like the scratch was caused by a screw that was holding up some wood paneling. The hole is in the middle of a run (not at a joint) and drips only once every…
bfink
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8
votes
3 answers

What happens if I shave a little sliver off electrical wire with a utility knife?

I needed to replace an electrical wire with a longer one so I could move an electrical outlet. When I went to cut away the outer rubber cover of one of the wires with a utility knife (yes, dumb, I know), I accidentally shaved off a wee little…
oscilatingcretin
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7
votes
3 answers

How to tell when a plumbing fitting is tightened correctly?

I replaced the supply valve on my bathroom sink with this ¼-turn angle valve. Both valves (hot and cold) are leaking about 1 drop every few seconds at the valve's input. I got them hand tight, then added about 2 full turns with a wrench. Should…
Elliott B
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6
votes
1 answer

When replacing a supply line to a house in Houston, TX, what is the best material to use?

A house in Houston, TX (southern "sun belt" climate, no frost, but flexible clay soils) has a Polybutalyne supply line running from the meter to the house. It's already burst once and been repaired, but the homeowner is considering replacing it…
Karl Katzke
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6
votes
3 answers

How do I read the markings printed on the outside of electric wires?

In my recessed lighting project, I finished roughing-in the Romex copper wires and I was about to connect the recessed lighting wires when I noticed the wires from the lights are of a silver-colored metal. I read somewhere that connecting two…
Ethan N
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5
votes
2 answers

Old solder joints are failing

Working on a small cottage by the Delaware Bay. Last year I had to repair the plumbing in the two bathrooms because the solder joints pulled apart. This year some pipes fell out under the house because the joints pulled apart. As I was making…
Steve M
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5
votes
1 answer

Should a twisted copper pipe be replaced?

While replacing a hot water tank I foolishly twisted the out pipe by losing my grip on the wrench. The copper pipe twisted, so I twisted it back gently, but it now has a kink in it. Is this likely to suddenly split open? As it is the outflow pipe…
diylettante
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5
votes
3 answers

How can I join two lengths of flexible 1/4" copper pipe?

I have found a leak coming from under my refrigerator, after pulling it out to get behind it I found the 1/4" copper pipe that supplies the water for the ice maker and water in the door was severed badly. The pipe was attached to the wall behind the…
WhoaItsAFactorial
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5
votes
1 answer

Why does light switch not use ground wires inside of box?

I was replacing some toggle type light switches to rocker type and ran into something I thought was unusual. There were 3 switches boxes (2 boxes had 1 switch, and the other had 2 switches) I was replacing where in all scenarios, all of the ground…
atconway
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5
votes
3 answers

resoldering copper waste pipe

I've soldered new copper pipe but have never resoldered it. A shiny band of silver solder remains on the end of the copper pipe after an elbow has been removed from it. Does that shiny band have to be sandpapered away, to get down to bare copper,…
mrblint
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4
votes
3 answers

Corrosion on copper pipes due to insulation (with foam)

My incoming water pipe is copper and it is a brand new installation with no leaks. But due to the hot humid weather (even in the basement) it sweats due to condensation. Should I insulate it? The problem is last year I insulated some copper pipes…
Peter Q
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4
votes
2 answers

What could cause reoccurring leaks in a hot water pipe?

I have a 12 year old house. The past couple of months a couple of hot water pipes have sprung pin-hole leaks at the solder joints. This has happened on four separate occasions. I've had three different plumbers look at it . One thought just…
jim31415
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