32
votes
What can cause a never-frozen indoor copper drain pipe to crack?
I would inspect the entire property for more such pipe and replace any that was found. That's almost certainly a manufacturing defect and likely to be pending failure wherever that batch of pipe was ...
- 2,872
24
votes
How to temporarily catch leaks trickling down the outside of a pipe
Form a spout out of BluTack mounting putty (may be known by different names) and direct into a bucket.
- 1,413
22
votes
How to temporarily catch leaks trickling down the outside of a pipe
I used a cotton fabric wrapped around a pipe draped into a bucket - works well for slow flows.
- 26.1k
18
votes
What can cause a never-frozen indoor copper drain pipe to crack?
Copper does erode over time through mechanical wear and chemical corrosion. My guess is that it simply got thin enough that thermal stresses popped the weld (or the extrusion resulted in a thin side, ...
- 126k
15
votes
How to temporarily catch leaks trickling down the outside of a pipe
Wicking with string or yarn (has to be a type that wets well to wick, not something hydrophobic) tied around the pipe and suspended to drip into a container has usually worked for me, as yet another ...
- 191k
14
votes
Repair tiny hole/scratch in copper pipe
I have not seen patches hold up on copper. What I find best is to cut it at the hole and sweat a coupler on. It must be dry when you do the soldering or it will leak.
- 102k
11
votes
How do I read the markings printed on the outside of electric wires?
TAIFULONG E204798 FU AWM 3321 VW-1 IBAWG 150°C 600V FENG TAI ELECTRONIC.
First, TAIFULONG is the cable brand.
E204798 I do not know. (comment from Harper: this is likely the UL "File Number"...
- 634
10
votes
How do I "fix" a bad sweat (solder) joint?
Lot of bad info in this, to the point that it's comical.
Don't need a MAP gas torch. Propane is plenty hot for normal sized copper piping (up to 3" or so).
Wiping a rag on the fitting isn't needed, ...
- 101
8
votes
resoldering copper waste pipe
The main problem, if any, assuming the solder band is complete and without flaws or gaps is if there's too much solder on the pipe and you cannot insert it into the fitting. The pipe is "tinned" or ...
- 191k
8
votes
What can cause a never-frozen indoor copper drain pipe to crack?
Back in the 1970's the company that I worked for ran into a slew of copper tubing sizes through 3" that was manufactured with a defect that weakened the whole length of the copper. Since the copper ...
- 12.4k
7
votes
How do I read the markings printed on the outside of electric wires?
What you have is stranded #18ga tinned copper wire at the lights. This is completely typical of this type of light. Connecting that to #12 or #14 household wiring with the proper sized wire connector (...
- 16.3k
7
votes
Accepted
Outdoor copper water pipe
If this is outdoors and possibly underground, understand that there are two types of hard copper pipe (as opposed to soft tubing); type L and type M. Both have the same external diameter so they both ...
- 14.8k
7
votes
How to temporarily catch leaks trickling down the outside of a pipe
I had the same thing once, in the cellar under the bathroom.
While we waited for the plumber to come I got creative with some aluminium foil and duct tape. I secured the foil where the water was ...
- 537
6
votes
Add aluminum wiring in a house with copper
Virtually all 30A devices will be supplied with terminals compatible with aluminum.
Large feeder wire was never the problem with aluminum wiring. 10 & 12 Ga Aluminum wire on copper/brass terminals ...
- 191k
6
votes
Accepted
Add aluminum wiring in a house with copper
Yes, that sounds like a fine idea.
My only suggestion is to upsize another step to #6 alumimum. This will place you more definitely in the "heavy feeder" category (which as Ecnerwal ...
6
votes
Accepted
How to restore copper hip roof
Just wait a while longer and you'll get lovely verdigris green. The copper oxides actually help protect the roof. But depending on yout local atmosphereic conditions getting from brown/black to green ...
- 191k
5
votes
Accepted
Should I have all the aluminum wiring removed from my home or just the damaged portion?
This doesn't sound like a technical question. You didn't maintain the AL wiring properly... it had a problem... should you replace it? The real question is do you trust yourself to maintain it ...
5
votes
Can Electrical Leak into Copper Pipes Cause Corroison?
I am much more concerned about whether you have a ground fault or not. If you have electricity actually "leaking" then you have a life safety problem that is far more important than long-...
5
votes
If a 12 gauge, 50 foot long copper wire can support 20 amps why is 6 gauge cable so much thicker
Amp limitations are based on temperature rise.
Temperature rise is a function of resistance (causing heating as amperage passes through) AND surface area (to radiate heat from.)
12 gauge wire has a ...
- 191k
4
votes
Accepted
Why is there copper in the corner of my shower behind the tile and drywall?
Many years ago copper was the best way to seal corners and also used at the overlap on surrounds. Today we use membranes, Or thick pvc sheeting to protect the structure and keep the moisture in the ...
- 102k
4
votes
Would insulating copper pipes keep the water cooler?
This is the same theory behind insulating the hot water pipes in attics in cold climates (freezing concerns aside). It'll help but only for a little while. It might extend your hour-long window of ...
- 8,774
4
votes
Repair tiny hole/scratch in copper pipe
I've had some success with this stuff - it's basically a fiber tape soaked in something like gorilla glue. But I'd only consider it a temporary repair. the right way is to cut the pipe and solder in ...
- 2,338
4
votes
Accepted
Inserting a Tee In 1" Pipe for an Air Compressor?
You should consider something like this. These are just pieces I have laying around. All are common, easy to source and inexpensive. The fitting in your link will work as well, you would just follow ...
- 6,314
4
votes
Accepted
Locating burst point in copper pipe
Sure, just turn the water back on and wait.
Of course, that won't actually minimize the drywall repair work. But you'll eventually localize where the leak is.
My actual approach would be to point ...
- 191k
4
votes
Accepted
New ceiling fan socket with copper wiring
This is not aluminum, but tinned copper instead
There is no reason to use aluminum at such small wiring sizes; what you see instead on such finer-stranded fixture wires is tinned copper. This is ...
- 80.8k
4
votes
Soldering copper pigtails to aluminum wire
A lap-soldered joint like that is good enough for low-voltage low-current low-risk electronics. But it has never been approved for The Big Stuff, and in fact, is unprecedented.
There was a standard ...
4
votes
Refrigerator - power cord exposed copper wire
Mice is how it happen. Mice have been chewing on the wire. You got mice.
Can tape for now, but should replace cord as soon as possible. The large section seems like the wire(copper) has also been ...
- 21.9k
4
votes
Add aluminum wiring in a house with copper
As long as the ends (breaker and receptacle) are both marked for Aluminum use, technically everything will be fine.
However, some jurisdictions may place their own limitations on use of aluminum wire. ...
4
votes
How to retrofit this circuit to be able to run a bare ground splice to another appliance?
More like "how do I bring this up to code?"
Random $1 4x4 steel junction box. (should be $1, Home Depot is overpriced).
Cable clamp appropriate for 10/2 wire. x2.
"10/3" wire whip....
4
votes
Does copper mesh react with wood?
Copper won't react with wood normally, only maybe when it's permanently damp. But if you use filler, and cover it completely, water's not going to get in. If the mesh has small enough holes so the ...
- 5,058
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