No external application will heal this. With a little practice, soldering is not a difficult homeowner task. Use new fittings.

Thanks Randy, from a bit of googling it sounded like it was quite difficult to get the solder right down in between the pipes. No? Also may be considerably complicated by location up in ceiling near insulation etc. What do you think?

Surely there's a Sharkbite fitting for this??? MUCH easier and safer than soldering!

Many years ago on gardenweb, there was a thread regarding epoxy. Most of the replies were against using epoxy, the OP used epoxy and it worked, he kept his thread alive for many years.

This is a cut and replace repair, not a heat up and hope solder fills the joint.

difficulties with copper arise when you cant keep the area dry. there are commercially available solutions and some times a piece of bread will work.

if you wanted to diy, you need the tools and knowledge to cut copper, solder copper, and the replacement pipe and fittings. You should replace the entire connection.

place a pan to collect water under the leaking joint until you resolve this.

I am not sure if it is this site or my ipad, but auto correct spelling is usually wrong. And auto capilitization also isn't working.

Seems like a very DIY job if accessibility is not an issue. Turn off main water valve to the house. Turn on a faucet to release pressure. Get a new elbow. Cut the old elbow off with tube cutter. Clean the ends of the cut pipe with emery cloth, apply flux compound to the pipe ends and inside the new elbow, and push into the new elbow. Straighten a piece of solder. Heat the ends of the new elbow with a torch 10-20 seconds, and place the tip of the solder on the joint. Move the solder tip along the crevice as you keep the flame on the elbow. The vaccuum in the pipe will pull the molten solder into the joint. Turn off torch, let the pipe/elbow cool. Sand any excess solder off of the elbow joint. Turn on main water valve. Done.

It's a simple repair for an experienced solderer but all the instructions in the world isn't sufficent to have an inexperienced person do it as their first job. Classic job for Shark Bite fittings.

Many, many thanks to you all for your advice.

Not feeling very confident about the soldering, denbigh, despite willingness to learn. VERY much like the sound of Sharkbite fittings. What pieces will I need? Two elbows, obviously, but additional copper piping also? Should I take the sheath off and see exactly where the leak is and work around that, or should I just take the whole thing out (2 elbows, 3 pieces of pipe and 2 straight connectors?).

Thanks again.

The fact two 90s instead of one were used initialy leads me to think pipes will not swing so that a single 90 and a few inches of pipe won't work. If I'm seeing it all,two 90s,two straight couplings plus 3 feet of pipe cut in 3 pieces is what's required. You will of course need a cutter and supplies to clean up pipe.

It's really easy Adrienne... do a search on YouTube first for a video. You'll need an inexpensive copper tubing cutter as well. You'll be a pro at it in no time and will feel very accomplished!

Sharkbite fittings will also work with PEX, so you may be able to cut the copper pipe far enough back to use PEX and only one elbow. It looks like it would be well within the bend radius of 1/2" PEX to line up that connection with one elbow, and if you can cut the pipe back far enough to get the right arc in the PEX you may be able to get by without any elbows.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-1-2-in-Brass-90-Degree-Push-to-Connect-Elbow-U248LFA/202270510

http://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBite-1-2-in-Brass-Push-to-Connect-Coupling-U008LFA/202270492

Sharkbites are expensive, but cheaper than paying a plumber to come on site.

Bruce

Hello again, so just in terms of perhaps doing it the traditional soldering way, looked at videos online and it does look easy enough........ as long as you are on a workbench in the garage! My issue is how it works up in the ceiling surrounded by wood and insulation. I guess this is the reason for recommending the Sharkbite fittings? It would be lovely to be able to buy a torch - for the same price as the SB fittings - that I would have for other jobs afterwards, but equally I don't want to burn the house down...

Saw your message after I had written the last post, Bruce. Pex, nice idea! I don't kknow how flexible Pex is, but I'll check it out tomorrow. If it is flexible enough, then it would just be the two straight SB connectors, I guess. Thanks a lot!

Adreinne - many have burned their houses down. I watched one burn a few years back due to this. If you choose to solder...there is a fabric you can buy to put around the area. We keep an extinguisher close by as well. However, we've found the SharkBites to be amazingly easy and way more reliable than our amateur soldering.

Do I HAVE to get a professional in to solder it?

No, but you would need a fair amount of practice first.

How difficult would it be to solder it myself?
Usually some growing pains associated with it. And dont start a fire while your at it, a heat shield would be important to use.

A bend support will probably be needed if you try the pex idea.

Adrienne: Not to sound critical. But it's only one joint, and when you need to ask this many questions, why not call a plumber and get it done.

Because I am financially "fragile" and want to learn how to do things myself.

Adrienne,every professional I know in any field spent years apprenticing under experienced tradesmen and some attended trade school as well before getting wind fully beneath their wings. That's realality #1. Realality #2 is if you make a mistake on this the resultant leak could very well cause several times over in damage what a plumber would charge to fix it to begain with. Quite likly if I knew what your profession is,hairdresser,airline pilot,soft shoe dancer,or NBA point guard and asked you for tips that would alow me to to join you next week you would laugh in my face. geoffrey's point is that diyers normally work their way up doing minor repairs before asking basic information in prepration of wadeing in on a task so delicate and risky as this pipe. Case in point " If it is flexible enough, then it would just be the two straight SB connectors, I guess". No,it take's one straight and one 90. Minor details like that are usually the reason multi-million dollar planes crash. Minor details and minor misunderstandings often result in head on train collisions. Learn to crawl before attempting to walk. learn to walk before attempting to run.

Buy some extra pipe and fittings and practice in a comfortable place until you're reasonably comfortable with it. Make sure you have a plan for heat shields so you don't light your house on fire. Make sure you have water or an extinguisher close by. Places that sell pipe and fittings will have small (12 x 18" or 8" x 12") kevlar blankets or similar, cookie sheets are also great if you have space. Several layers heavy duty aluminum foil backed by a wet rag in a pinch-- it may melt.

Two main issue for newbies, 1) any source of water in the joint will make it impossible to get it hot enough, 2) all surfaces need to be clean, clean, clean-- bright copper metal with no oxidation or other gunk on all touching surfaces. I use an abrasive grade of scotchbrite pad, wire brushes, steel wool, or fine sandpaper will also work.

If for some reason you have a problem start again with new parts-- it's nearly impossible to sufficiently clean old ones and not worth the effort.

If you get the joint hot enough, with a little flux on each surface, the solder will suck right into the joint as soon as you touch the solder to the hot metal. You always heat the joint, not the solder.

For the price of one sharkbite fitting you can make 20+ practice joints, once you know how to do it you can fix copper plumbing forever. Sharkbites are great, but I'm still not sure I'd seal one up inside a wall.

@kelm1: I agree with your statement : diyers work their way up doing minor repairs before asking basic information in prepration of wadeing in on a task so delicate and risky as this pipe.

Also, if you can't pay to get that pipe fixed - you can't afford to live there.

Oh, for pity's sake. This isn't rocket science, folks. Stop behaving as if sweating a couple of elbows takes years of experience, a magic handshake, and secret sauce.

To the OP: By the time you get the necessary equipment and practice a bit, you may very well spend the same amount you would have to get a plumber to do the job, BUT, you will have gained experience for the next time you have to complete a relatively minor repair. Read up, watch tutorials, take your time, be cautious and careful, practice, and do the job.

Everybody starts somewhere.

If you look at my posts on this forum you will see I have little respect for plumbers in general. Despite not liking to deal with them I have the good sense to hire one when nessary. You folks are completly out of your league telling what can and can't be accomplised with solder. It's abundantly clear Alice and rwieg are only parroting Mr They Said and Mr I Heard. Saying "any source of water in the joint will make it impossible to get it hot enough," is undeniable proof. I have soldered dozens of copper joints when turning off water pressure wasn't possible,not to mention lines that had supply pressure cut but continued dripping water due to a large system draining back. Skilled plumbers do the same every day out of nessity because a stinking valve was corroded too bad to function, waiting hours for system to drain dry or waiting for hours until pressure could be cut off. Playing with a bunch of short pipe in the drive for an hour is different to making a lasting coonection without melting other connections inches away. Solder is available with different alloys,with different melting points and different paste caracteristics. Each require's specific flux,correct gas and proper techneque to realize full potential. The $40 kit down at Home Depot doesn't include everything you will need to make every joint persented. Ask an insurance repersentive about risk involved while soldering,,,,,,,,,by experienced tradesmen. Plumbing companies insist their employees use Shark Bite at every opertunity. Don't you realize there's reasons behind that? I'm here to help and that's why I said shark bite instead of filling people full of hearsay and unsound advice.

OK, I overstated. I too have soldered many wet pipes, but it was a lot trickier if there was a trickle of water. I was going to mention the old trick of a lump of white bread in the pipe to stop the water long enough to get the joint done, but judged for a beginner that getting the pipe dry to start with was going to be a lot easier. I stand by my advice for a novice to get comfortable with the technique under ideal conditions before attempting it in a cramped, uncomfortable space with more challenging circumstances. Pretty much the only time my joints have failed was when soldering wet with steam under pressure trying to exit the joint while trying to sweat solder in. I still, after many hundreds of joints, prefer to find a way to get the joint area dry, at least for the minute required to make the joint.

I also strongly believe that you must go ahead and do something the first time if you're ever going to learn something new. Sure you make a botch of it sometimes, but that's just part of the cost of education. As long as you observe, learn and do it better the next time it's worthwhile.

Plumbing companies insist their employees use Shark Bite at every opertunity.

What do you mean by this? Are you saying that plumbers use Shark Bites all the time? I've never heard of a plumber regularly using shark bites. I could see in specific situations where a plumber might use one because it's an awkward location or something and time is money so the quick fix of a shark bite might be more worth their while. But for a simple straight forward connection? Nope.

Or when you say employees of plumbing companies, are you referring to some kind of non-plumber that for some reason is doing plumbing work?

"Are you saying that plumbers use Shark Bites all the time? "

Absolutly,and if you think case lots plumbers buy and carry on their trucks are ballast in the event streets become slick,think again. How many times in how many ways must you be told ALL businesses are paranoid over liability and lawsuits? Plumbing companies view torches as unnessary risk if there's an option,check insurance stats 1990 going back. In the eyes of a judge, plumbers do not "accidentialy"light buildings on fire,it's negligence. The fact you never heard about this is only testament to having never actually done the work. Why is it so important to some of you pushing novices to use torches?

If plumbers only use shark bites, why do they even sell the other type of connectors?

You're right that I've never been a professional plumber. But I've had plumbing work done on my house and I've seen plumbing in other houses and I've done a lot of DIY plumbing myself. I've never actually seen a shark bite being used. I'm sure they are used but I don't think it's typical.

Maybe it's just in my area of the world but soldered copper piping is the norm. Pex and crimping is gaining popularity.

I've soldered hundreds of connections and I've never had a problem and I don't consider it very hard to do. YMMV

I've never seen a sharkbite used by a real plumber in MA. Soldered copper, or more common now in residential, PEX with crimped connectors is the only thing I've seen. Why would a plumber use a $5 sharkbite rather than a 50 cent crimped connector? Once you own the tool there's no advantage to a sharkbite.

Dudes,what part of "if you find yourself in a hole,stop digging"do you not understand? You look like Ned in the forth grade continueing down this path after falling on your face and admiting you don't actually have experience. Those crimpers avoid use of a torch exactly as I said plumbers want to do, are great for new construction ,expensive and require expensive accessories diy homeowners would be foolish to buy.

klem1, Now you are starting to sound like a sharkbite sales rep.

More like CFO & board member of RWC Global. Now if I only knew what stake the other dogs in this fight have.

There's do-it-yourself and there's screw-it-yourself. To achieve anything one must have the knowledge and the tools. Lacking either the results are usually unsatisfactory and sometimes VERY costly.

The amusing thing about self help forums is watching people who posses knowledge or skill expecting people who don't to acquire both with a little encouragement.

One can learn a lot by hiring a competent professional and then carefully watching them do the job and asking intelligent questions if they'll tolerate that. Consider what you pay part repair and part tuition.

The best advice I've ever heard regarding do-it-yourself was from Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry when he said "A man's GOT to know his limitations" and that goes for women too.

I find it funny when the only advice some people choose to give on a DIY forum is "hire a professional".

Everyone has to start somewhere. I learned to sweat copper connections when I was about 12 years old. Yes, I had my father show me how (and he wasn't a professional plumber either) and I didn't just pick up a torch and start blazing away, but there are tons of youtube videos out there that you can watch and see exactly how it's done. And then you can ask questions on helpful forums if you have any concerns or questions. Then practice in a controlled atmosphere in your garage. And then if you are still comfortable, do the actual plumbing connection in the house.

It isn't hard and as far as burning your house down, as long as you are careful and take the proper precautions, it isn't likely at all. Does it happen? Sure. But you can also burn down a house with a candle. I don't tell people they're stupid for wanting to set a romantic atmosphere by lighting a few candles around the dining table and I won't tell people they're stupid for attempting to do a simple plumbing connection.

I totally agree that you have to know your limitations. But guess what? We don't know the OP and what her limitations are. You are guessing that she's incompetent. I'm guessing that she will be able to do this. We are BOTH guessing. If she isn't comfortable doing it, then I wholeheartedly agree that she should hire it out. SHE is the one that has to know her limitations. WE shouldn't be forcing our views of her limitations on her.

Soldering copper pipes is not something that should only be left to professionals. Or as klem states, not even professionals should do it because it's so dangerous! That's just ridiculous.

Anyway, this argument isn't helping the OP and it's pretty useless so I'm not going to bother with it anymore.

Good day.

"More like CFO & board member of RWC Global. Now if I only knew what stake the other dogs in this fight have."

Okay, I'll amend what I said: You sound like the chief bean-counter for the company that manufactures sharkbite, RWC Global. No wonder you are such a staunch advocate for the product - nice sales pitch. If what you say is true, you're the ONLY one here, aside from the OP, that has any stake at all in the OP's dilemma.

I'd just like to pop back and apologize to justalurker if my last post seemed too rude towards you. My anger wasn't really directed at you.

I have no problem with people politely suggesting that someone might be in over their head. I've done the same thing on a couple of threads over on the electrical forum. But the key phrase in that sentence is "politely suggest". When someone rudely tells an OP that they should give up and hire a pro, that annoys the hell out of me.

Someone with no knowledge and no experience being encouraged to do a job that can have an immediate negative result (as in soldering and fire) and then a delayed more expensive negative result (as in a water leak at line pressure) should be made aware of those possibilities... politely if possible. Brain surgery is pretty routine for a neurosurgeon but when a poster asks about a headache don't tell them to go get a burr drill even if you are a neurosurgeon or play a doctor on TV or stayed at a Holiday Inn last night.

Clint also covered that in Dirty Harry " ... you've gotta ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya...?"

Random note: A flare would be better than a sweat on a wet joint. My main shut off valve is a flare because the city shut off didn't stop the water completely. I originally wanted a soldered connection. And I did hire that one out cause I didn't feel like messing with that myself, did not have the luxury for growing pains with the main shut off valve.