Leaking soil pipe

WYSPECIAL

Soil pipe runs in ceiling void of an extension for a couple of feet

. On investigating a mark on the ceiling it is evident that there is a slight drip developed at a joint.

Need to cut a bigger hole in ceiling for a better look but I know the pipe is plastic.

Is it likely to be repairable with tape/sealant or will have to completely replace the whole joint?

Wookey

If you have to go to the expense of opening up a ceiling to fix it then replace the joint, you might have trouble getting the slip needed to get a new joint in place. If so and its a not on a bend, cut out the offending piece of pipe/joint and use a new piece of pipe and two single socket connections, you will need single sockets that can easily have the centres knocked out to allow the joint to slide right over the pipe.

Working in a confined space like that above your head isn't easy trying to wrestle with 4" pipe so plenty of lube on the rubber rings, also test it afterwards to ensure the joints are good before you fix the ceiling.

WYSPECIAL

Cheers. Having had a better look it seems to be leaking from a 45 degree bend. presumably these have a rubber seal and it has perished?

Space is very tight as it is between what was the outside wall before the single storey extension was built and a ceiling joist.

Is there a sealant worth trying or is it really a rip it out job?

andyhop

Wrap in denso tape. It's a temporary seal but if wrapped tight it'll last 10yrs

EachPenny

WYSPECIAL wrote: »

Cheers. Having had a better look it seems to be leaking from a 45 degree bend. presumably these have a rubber seal and it has perished?

I'm not sure it is likely to be perished, the usual problem with joints is if the seal has been 'pinched' when the pipe was installed.

Are you absolutely sure that is where the leak is? Sometimes water can run down the outside of plastic soil pipes and then accumulate and drip at a joint. Condensation could be an 'external' source for example. I would try and think of all possibilities and rule them out rather than assuming it is the most obvious one.

WYSPECIAL

Thanks,
It drips when you flush the toilet, no other time, and seems to be coming from the area where there is a 45 degree bend.

Like you say though the seals don't usually seem to perish. Been in place 12 years with no issues.

Wookey

Is this a joint with a rubber ring in each end or a glued joint on one end and a rubber ring on the other? Above ground joints aren't really recommended to have a rubber ring joint on both ends, rubber rings should be installed where they are at the top of the joint and not the bottom, is this grey soil pipe and fittings or orange underground pipe and fittings? orange fittings will not have a glued end, above ground will.

EachPenny

WYSPECIAL wrote: »

Thanks,
It drips when you flush the toilet, no other time, and seems to be coming from the area where there is a 45 degree bend.

Like you say though the seals don't usually seem to perish. Been in place 12 years with no issues.

If it drips immediately after the toilet is flushed then that would normally rule out condensation, but again, don't assume the leak is at the joint where the water is dripping from. The leak could be at the next joint up the pipe, or even a hole/fracture in the pipe.

Ideally you need to do a close inspection of the pipe with a torch and mirror while someone flushes the toilet. If it was fine for 12 years and has suddenly started leaking it suggests some kind of physical movement of the pipe rather than degradation of the seal.

An alternative to the torch and mirror is to get a usb mini-camera (borescope/endoscope). They start at about £5 from well known websites and are handy to poke into confined spaces to see what is going on. Usually cheaper than replacing large areas of boxing-in!

WYSPECIAL

Thanks everyone.

Cut a bit of a hole in the ceiling and got my torch in there and EachPenny is exactly right it was down to physical movement.

The screw in a support bracket screwed into mortar had failed allowing a section of pipe to drop slightly so the joint was no longer properly sealed.

Easy fix to reconnect it and secure the pipe so that it can't move. Used Denso tape around top of joint to further reinforce it and all is good.

Now to patch hole in ceiling!

Thanks all.

EachPenny

WYSPECIAL wrote: »

Thanks everyone.

Cut a bit of a hole in the ceiling and got my torch in there and EachPenny is exactly right it was down to physical movement.

The screw in a support bracket screwed into mortar had failed allowing a section of pipe to drop slightly so the joint was no longer properly sealed.

Easy fix to reconnect it and secure the pipe so that it can't move. Used Denso tape around top of joint to further reinforce it and all is good.

Now to patch hole in ceiling!

Thanks all.

That's good news, glad to hear you managed to fix it. I would leave the ceiling repair for a few days though, just to make sure it has sealed up properly. The last thing you want to do is to make good and paint and then find the problem starts up again.