[Cantdecide]

Hi. Ok - here it goes…I opened up the ceiling to find a million wires, tubes, pipes. At first made quick assessment that it was coming from the only black foam covered pipe…but then ran the water and saw drips coming from above. It’s so jam packed, can’t fully/easily expose the pipe I think it’s coming from. I believe it’s the large white PVC 3” pipe that’s at the top. I saw a few drops and thought it was from the seam/joint but tried to squeeze my hand up there and I feel moisture from on top and also feel a “fork” In the pipe where I think it branches off.

i believe this pipe feed the kitchen.

Any tips on next steps or am I way in over my head and need to pay to get a professional.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

You’re not over your head ... you just have difficult access. Start by removing a bigger area of drywall on the bottom and side.

 

[Cantdecide]

You’re not over your head ... you just have difficult access. Start by removing a bigger area of drywall on the bottom and side.

Love the vote of confidence. Thought to get on top by cutting through the side wall, only to discover it’s completely blocked by plywood sheet. So only access is from under. Will keep cutting away and try to get more access.

 

[Nealtw]

Open the side leave 3 inches at the top and bottom but make it wide enough to work in. Like 3 ft wide, centered on that fitting.

 

[Nealtw]

Love the vote of confidence. Thought to get on top by cutting through the side wall, only to discover it’s completely blocked by plywood sheet. So only access is from under. Will keep cutting away and try to get more access.

Use a circular saw with the blade set to 1 1/16" deep and see my last post.
This is what you have.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

The plywood sheet might be part of the soffit structure. Should not be structural to the house. Bust off a lot more sheetrock.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

Use a circular saw

The first time i ever cut sheetrock, my first house. Washing machine was in the unheated garage, pipes froze our first winter. Bought a piece of sheetrock to patch the hole and cut it with a circ saw. Holy crap batman! Filled the garage with white powder in about 2 seconds.

Several passes with a sharp utility knife. Or an oscillating saw. Or a keyhole saw. But not a circ saw.

 

[Nealtw]

The first time i ever cut sheetrock, my first house. Washing machine was in the unheated garage, pipes froze our first winter. Bought a piece of sheetrock to patch the hole and cut it with a circ saw. Holy crap batman! Filled the garage with white powder in about 2 seconds.

Several passes with a sharp utility knife. Or an oscillating saw. Or a keyhole saw. But not a circ saw.

Sure if you know there is nothing that that handy little saw can reach.
Cutting the plywood should be fun with a keyhole saw.

 

[SPS-1]

To be

Cutting the plywood should be fun with a keyhole saw.

Would be easy with an oscillating tool.

Hey --- an excuse for buying a new tool !

 

[Cantdecide]

You sure cutting into & removing all that plywood won’t compromise the structure of the house? (Sorry - have to ask. These are the things I think about!)

…and I only have a reciprocating saw, or jigsaw. Are either of these OK? I’m so afraid of accidentally cutting through one of those other wires, tubes…

 

[Nealtw]

You sure cutting into & removing all that plywood won’t compromise the structure of the house? (Sorry - have to ask. These are the things I think about!)

…and I only have a reciprocating saw, or jigsaw. Are either of these OK? I’m so afraid of accidentally cutting through one of those other wires, tubes…

There is a 2x4 nailed to the floor joists the plywood is nailed to that and then at the bottom a 2x2 or 2x4 is nailed the the plywood, so the plywood is holding the bottom up. I wouldn't expect a problem but you could build a short temp wall under the bottom edge. That would support it if you were leaning on it to work on the pipe way inside.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

Here’s how i think the soffit is built. Blue is plywood, red is 2x framing, green is sheetrock.

 

[Nealtw]

Here’s how i think the soffit is built. Blue is plywood, red is 2x framing, green is sheetrock.

That might be why we can't see the plywood.

 

[Steve2444]

Make sure all the wires and plumbing are moved away from the inside of the soffit plywood prior to cutting into it.
Use anything, wood blocking etc as a spacer between the wires and plywood from install thru the access hole you made in the bottom.

 

[huesmann]

I don't think there's any plywood on the bottom of the chase.

 

[Steve2444]

I don't think there's any plywood on the bottom of the chase.

I will change the wording, I meant to say put the blocking in "thru" the access hole on the bottom.

 

[huesmann]

Ah, I catch your drift now!

 

[Cantdecide]

I don't think there's any plywood on the bottom of the chase.

Yes. Only plywood on the side. Had trouble understanding Eddie’s drawing but I think he’s spot on.

after cutting through the plywood, does it need to be replaced after the leak is fixed and when closing the wall back up?

I got the phone up inside to try to see more. This is that branch from that main pipe I mentioned.

 

[Steve2444]

Seems odd to me (not a plumber) that the leak would be at that joint/fitting where the top pipe feeds into the main.
Even if it was a bad glue job, it would have to back up about 3" to leak out of that joint.

I would wrap tissue paper at each glue joint to see which got wet, to verify the location of the actual leak.

 

[Mike Milam]

Try feeling up higher on the wet pipe and see if it's dry farther up. Make sure it's not just running down and dripping off the joint you suspect.