[Leah Frances]

I have to replace the hot water supply for my tub (I over-tightened an old compression fitting and the 'nut' cracked). This is what the pipe looks like:

I'm too embarrassed to take a pic of how it looks right now - I've done a REAL hillbilly temporary patch so I can flush the toilets. But, don't worry, I'll turn the water back off overnight.

I pulled the ceiling out from the room below and this is what it looks like from underneath:

This looks like most of the galvanized in this house, but does not look like the cut pipe.

- Am I dealing with a hidden junction (possible?) or are these the same thing?
- How in the hell do I unscrew the pipe - hints about technique?
- for that matter how do I tighten the pipe back - how do you 'grip' a piece of pipe to tighten it?
- Do I need to get a plumber in to fix this? or can I do it myself?

BTW: I am REALLY kicking myself because before I broke it, this was one of the few parts of the plumbing that didn't leak. DOH! And, I found some asbestos insulation - on the COLD water pipe - :laughing:

 

[Leah Frances]

DH wants to get me a Rothenberger pipe threader. Thoughts?

 

[Thurman]

The pipe that you are showing you are measuring, does it look to be copper/brass or some type of really clean steel? Always measure pipe on the inside diameter. That looks to be measuring 10/16" or 5/8" I.D. the way you are holding the ruler. It seems to be more on the lines of ridgid copper than galvanized. "I over-tightened a compression fitting and the nut cracked". Hmmm, this could be a compression fitting with a ferrule or (wild shot) a union. The pipe you're shown measuring, is it stubbed out of a wall? And the galvanized pipe, is it going up through a floor and into the wall cavity? There may be a chance the piping changes within the wall from the galvanized to the ridgid copper, with an adapter at the 90. Have you tried fitting a 3/4 male slip x 1/2 npt or 3/4 npt adapter onto the pipe you are measuring? More pictures are really needed.

 

[Leah Frances]

So, the 'cut pipe' is a tub riser for a claw foot tub. Here's another pic of the riser:

The riser emerges out of the floor - if there is a connection between the galvanized and this mystery pipe it is buried in the flooring. I'd say the 'soldered' connections on the top of the riser (pic in this post) are lead - it's pretty soft.

The connection I broke is the 'nut' shown in this pic. I over torqued it - and it split enough that now it won't tighten Man I feel dumb.

Here's how it looked before I F'd it up.

 

[LookoutRanch]

I have to replace the hot water supply for my tub (I over-tightened an old compression fitting and the 'nut' cracked). This is what the pipe looks like:

- How in the hell do I unscrew the pipe - hints about technique?
- for that matter how do I tighten the pipe back - how do you 'grip' a piece of pipe to tighten it?

That looks like a piece of 1/2-inch brass pipe. No, make that 5/8. Hmmm.

You loosen/tighten it with a small pipe wrench, which will grip the pipe, allowing you to turn it (assuming the other end is threaded).

It's not clear to me what you are trying to do.

Is the other end threaded?

 

[al's sewer]

If you don't know how to loosen or tighten pipe.......my opinion call a plumber.

 

[Leah Frances]

Righty-Tightie Lefty-Loosy. Right? :laughing: I should have said, how do I tighten/loosen pipe without scaring it with my pipe wrench.

Above the current ceiling was another T&G ceiling. Check out the homegrown gap-filler:

Yes, that is a corn cob, with the end painted to match the ceiling.

Here's how the pipes look with the ceiling removed - sure enough there is a junction in the pipe that was buried between layers of ceiling:

Last, for your curiosity - here's some of the insulation that I took off the cold water supply. I'm going to grind it up and put it in my halloween candy this year:
http://www.diychatroom.com/members/leah-frances-17071/albums/st-aubins-projects/1728-asbestos.jpg

 

[brokenknee]

If you don't know how to loosen or tighten pipe.......my opinion call a plumber.

Be nice, the more it is screwed up the more the plumber can charge. :laughing:

 

[4just1don]

Take two hammers and whack that pipe coming down to the elbow in unison, all around, so it loosens easily. replace everything above it in the ceiling cavity(including the cob)(that HAS to be wrong on so MANY levels!!) I think you twisted off the thread end on the pipe?? If not looks almost like you had a seep/leak there for awhile anyway!! IF your doing a permanent repair as to ceiling there,you MAY want to replace all of BOTH sides,hot and cold. use teflon pipe dope so it screws together easily and tightly without a drip and your all set. I am not sure if new pipes going up are available,yes they are ODD sized!!

 

[Leah Frances]

I thought about things for a little while this morning before I got to work. And I actually had a good idea before I had the water off all day and made a real mess of things.

This is not the first time the plumbing has broken.. And last time a plumber came he inserted some cpvc in both hot and cold water lines in the supply to this bathroom that run through the room below:

A few cuts, and a trip to the plumbing supply place later:

I no longer have to shut water off to the whole house to monkey around with the plumbing for this bath!

 

[Leah Frances]

I modified Just4Don's advice and started with tapping the junctions with a hammer. Applied some PB Blaster. Scrubbed at them with a wire brush and reapplied penetrating lubricant. Then, I got out my 24 inch pipe wrench and got to work. I removed the pipe that was braised to the brass riser - MAN! I totally felt like Shera when it finally broke loose!

And yes, I did both the Hot and the Cold - two birds..stone.......some thing.

Went to Blowes, got two pieces of 1/2 inch galvanized cut to proper length and threaded. Screwed them in and.. Voila!

I also added two other shut off valves on the riser for the tub, new risers, and the shower assembly. By tomorrow I hope to take a nice hot shower in my new/old tub! Heck, maybe I'll have a bath.

Thanks so much for the help. Usually, I'm an electrical kind of chick, but you plumbing guys are ALRIGHT!

 

[Thurman]

"I'm an electrical kind of chick", Do you mean we have been dealing with a, like-female, lady, woman here? Well, I'm glad. I have a business doing "Household Handyman" work and I am glad when the lady of the house wants me to show her how I fix this or that. It seems that now days there are just too many young men out there that cannot fix anything. Thanks, David

 

[Leah Frances]

:thumbsup: There's nothing that men can do that I can't learn to do too... Except pee standing up. I hear it's all in the hips - maybe I'm just not applying myself.

 

[JDC]

Its not really in the hips....its more in the buttocks...but thats another story.

I know you've already completed your project, but for those out there who also might want to know how to install chromed piping without #$%#$%ing up the finish....strap wrench

 

[Leah Frances]

Water's on and NOTHING is leaking :thumbup::thumbup:
Here are my new risers, note galvanized going into the floor - it's not the prettiest - the decorative eustations that came with the riser valves wouldn't fit over it. But, did I mention it doesn't leak!!

 

[JDC]

Looks good and no leaks is ALWAYS a positive. WTG :thumbsup:

 

[al's sewer]

not bad for a girl:whistling2::whistling2::laughing:

 

[Knucklez]

cool. don't feel embarrassed.. i had to call a plumber to unthread some galvanized plumbing because i was not strong enough. lol.

good job troubleshooting your plumbing and fixing it yourself.

ps. i have a clawfoot tub also. for decoration purpose, my wife put a mosquito net around it.