Repair holes in copper pipe

Question

The drain pipe under my sink is made of copper and has a couple of small holes just before it goes into the wall (and eventually leads out to a greywater tank). The picture below is taken from beneath the pipe showing it entering the wall which I had slightly broken into during my investigation.

The copper feels thin.

Since the water isn't under much pressure, is there an easy way to repair the holes? It's a pain working under the sink, and I'd rather not break any further into the wall if I can avoid it.

Answer 1

As Ryan said you can solder it (either with soft solder or silver solder use flux will make your life easier to) or you can just use a rubber repair on it either buying a propritory type or just making it your self out of a piece of rubber and a couple of hose clamps.

This is a plumb-quik from Fernco

Keep in mind that you don't have to use the whole thing you can cut it open so it is easy to slide over the pipe and put the cut at the top of the copper pipe then put your hose clamps on and tighten it up . I've used this technique to repair a 6" stormwater pipe that was cracked and was a pressurized pipe with no problem.

Another easy way is to use Ferropre or similar a two part epoxy that sets like a rock and sticks to pretty much anything

If you are going to use Ferropre put on disposable gloves, get a bucket of water and mix the two parts together in the water it makes it much easier to handle as it doesn't stick to your gloves as much then once mixed just smear it over the holes in the pipe.

Answer 2

You can solder it using a lead free solder, Just make sure you scrub that pipe with sandpaper to clean the gunk/crap off or the solder wont stick.