Dripping joint - galvanized

19 years ago

Below our 1st fl. lavatory (pedestal) I found a slow drip leak flush with the outer wall surface (original 4" tile on wall, and it's a 1940's w/ lathe, etc in the wall). Drip is between a 3" galvanized steel nipple and a galv. elbow just under the stop valve. Also, the inner joint of the nipple (in the wall) is very rusty, but "dry" and not leaking. I may be able to get a pair of narrow vise grips on the nipple so I can unscrew the elbow, but I really don't want to disturb that inner joint.

Any advise on how to go about this repair? This wall backs up to the kitchen sink. Unfortunately the basement below was just finished and that area is very packed full of utility runs, etc. If I have to go below, I'll be making a fair mess which I'd like to avoid.

I don't have Pex experience, but maybe I just need to have the lines replaced back to the copper trunks and do the kitchen sink at the same time. Really would like to avoid all that, but what do you think?

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Comments (6)

homebound
Original Author
19 years ago
The kitchen side is copper, and yes, the sink cabinet is immediately behind the lav.
davidandkasie
19 years ago
cut the back of the cabinet and get soemone to hold the pipe with a wrench while you unscrew it from the bathroom side. when finished simply resecure the cabinet back wall to the wall. if you look close you will see it was cut out, but a casual glance would never see it. or make it into an access door for that plumbing.
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bus_driver
19 years ago
Those leaking parts must be replaced. Patching will be effective only for a short time, if at all, and the next leak will be worse than now. I do realize that you already know this. When these parts are removed, other problems probably will appear.
homebound
Original Author
19 years ago
Turns out the bath wall is the full thickness of the nipple, so no luck there. The inner end of the nipple appears to be connected to another elbow (turning left). I'm thinking of just unscrewing the whole thing and doping up a new one, hoping that the rusty elbow in the wall holds ok. Sound alright?
homebound
Original Author
19 years ago
Problem solved. Thanks for the help.

I replaced the galv. nipple and stop...and also ended up replacing the copper supplies which didn't want to be "tweaked" any more.
homebound
Original Author
19 years ago
Busdriver,

BTW, I did try to patch (redope) the existing. What a waste of time (lasted about as long as it took turn everything back on). Also reminded me, yet again, how annoying pedestals can be.