Welcome • User Guide
ToS • Privacy • Canary
Donate • Bugs • License

©2026 Poal.co

392

I sprung a leak at what looks like the "fitting" side it's an old house so I have no clue how old the pipes are.

https://files.catbox.moe/0bdso4.jpeg https://files.catbox.moe/g61pe1.jpeg

My observations: - This doesn't look like a fitting that connects two pvc pipes together. I'm used to seeing the raised border that holds two pipes together (3/4 in. PVC Schedule 40 Deep Socket https://www.homedepot.com/p/Charlotte-Pipe-3-4-in-PVC-Schedule-40-Deep-Socket-PVC-02100D-0800HD/204836249) this one in my photo is different. It only has one side and it looks like it was expanded or something to force the other pipe in but I'm not sure I'm just guessing here. - My pipe is also bent because of a 1 foot wide root from a 50 year old tree. - I'm not even sure if the PVC pipe on the broken side is even standard at this point. - I could try to cut the pipe on the leak side, insert a regular coupling but since the pipe is bent and old I don't even know if I will crack the rest when I try to join them properly. I'm not an expert on working with bent pipe so I'm not sure if there is a certain number of feet I should clear before I attempt this. Keep in mind I have to chainsaw the root so I'm trying to avoid as much clearing as possible.

I'm not sure what would be the best way to tackle this project. I'm pretty familiar with joining pipes but just thought I'd reach out for some guidance before I fuck myself.

Thanks

I sprung a leak at what looks like the "fitting" side it's an old house so I have no clue how old the pipes are. https://files.catbox.moe/0bdso4.jpeg https://files.catbox.moe/g61pe1.jpeg My observations: - This doesn't look like a fitting that connects two pvc pipes together. I'm used to seeing the raised border that holds two pipes together (3/4 in. PVC Schedule 40 Deep Socket https://www.homedepot.com/p/Charlotte-Pipe-3-4-in-PVC-Schedule-40-Deep-Socket-PVC-02100D-0800HD/204836249) this one in my photo is different. It only has one side and it looks like it was expanded or something to force the other pipe in but I'm not sure I'm just guessing here. - My pipe is also bent because of a 1 foot wide root from a 50 year old tree. - I'm not even sure if the PVC pipe on the broken side is even standard at this point. - I could try to cut the pipe on the leak side, insert a regular coupling but since the pipe is bent and old I don't even know if I will crack the rest when I try to join them properly. I'm not an expert on working with bent pipe so I'm not sure if there is a certain number of feet I should clear before I attempt this. Keep in mind I have to chainsaw the root so I'm trying to avoid as much clearing as possible. I'm not sure what would be the best way to tackle this project. I'm pretty familiar with joining pipes but just thought I'd reach out for some guidance before I fuck myself. Thanks

(post is archived)

You are currently inside a comment thread.
Click here to see all the comments (24).
[–] • 2 pts

Dude, it's PVC. You can't fuck it up and it's cheap to buy. Hacksaw off the cracked area (both sides) and buy the proper fittings to fill your new gap. It's no more complicated than cleaning out your sinks drain in a bathroom. The sizes should still be fairly standard even if they're old. Take the cut out section to the hardware store with you so you can be certain you're getting the right sizes. You're actually very fortunate it's PVC - if that were a copper pipe, you'd need a plumber.

Honestly - mot a big deal at all and very easy for any average guy to fix. PVC is no more difficult than legos.

[–] • 1 pt

This is good advice. Here are some additional details for the OP:

1) Dig more space around the pipe so you have room to straighten the pipe once the root is out of the way.

2) Cut the root out so that it's no longer bending the pipe at all. Personally I'd use a handsaw over a chainsaw or sawzall to minimize the risk of accidentally cutting the pipe (PVC is soft).

3) Cut the PVC pipe back beyond the weird bulge one one side, and a few inches past it on the other.

4) Buy a matching diameter PVC pipe that's long enough to fill the gap several times over. Also buy at least four PVC couplers of the appropriate diameter (they're smooth on the inside and slide over the long pipe segment you just bought). Also buy some PVC cement. It's used to bond the couplers and pipe segments together.

5) Cut the new pipe segment and slide it and the couplers onto the existing pipes to make sure everything lines up straight and easily like so: ==OldPipe==Coupler==NewPipe==Coupler==OldPipe==

6) Realize you cut something wrong or gouged a coupler or somesuch. Upvote me for telling you to spend the extra $5 on spare pipe and couplers so you can redo it right away rather than drive back to the hardware store.

7) Put on a painting mask. PVC Cement is highly...pungent...and will give you a headache.

8) Apply the PVC cement under the couplers and slide them over the old pipe ends and new segment until the cement dries (this only takes a few minutes). Give it a tug to verify that it's now as solid as one continuous pipe thanks to the PVC cement.

9) Turn the water on. If it holds pressure, great. If it leaks, cut it off, try again, use more PVC cement this time, and thank me for making you spend the extra $5 on more couplers to save you an extra trip to the hardware store if you mess it up.

Fortunately PVC is pretty forgiving, particularly outdoors where "cut more off and try again" is easy.

[–] • 1 pt

This is the advice I wish I was able to give :) Listen to this man.

And I love the graphic!!! (==OldPipe==Coupler==NewPipe==Coupler==OldPipe==) this is exactly the kind of visual I'd like to have...simple, but effective.

[–] • 1 pt

My nigger, couplings are NOT smooth on the inside, there is a ridge in the center. A Dremel tool or round hand file can smooth the ridge down so the coupling can be slid onto the pipe, and then slid over the break and glued.