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Noticed a dripping yesterday from my external pipework, I've been up a ladder this morning and can see that it is coming from where the loft conversion basin/shower waste pipe joins the soil pipe via the pipe boss (bad news its working at the top of a ladder, good news that it is not leaking further down where more connections flow past). The pipe boss connection to the soil pipe is leak free, the water is getting past the rubber adaptor were waste pipe meets pipe boss. I have pulled this back cleaned it and pushed back in but the leak persists, my assumption is that the rubber has hardened and no longer seals properly.
Now I would think that a bodge job would be to get some sort of fixing tape and wrap it all up and hope for the best, but this is not a proper fix and would no doubt create more issues if doing a proper fix later. My guess is that a new boss adaptor seal should sort which is only a few pounds, the problem is how do I actually replace the thing with the pipework in place? I could cut the old adaptor off, but how do I get the new one on given I can't easily access the end of the waste pipe going into the pipe boss to slip the adaptor over? Help please STW plumbers.
How much play do you have in the pipework to remove the end from the main pipe ? The answer is a new seal anyway, or a load of silicon on the final seal ring if you can't remove the pipework.
or a load of silicon on the final seal ring
I'd use Plumber's Mait - it's more flexible and you should get a nice seal with it.
How much play do you have in the pipework to remove the end from the main pipe ?
Not enough unfortunately.
silicon on the final seal ring if you can’t remove the pipework.
I'm really trying to avoid doing this as will create a right mess, may not work and will be more expensive to fix further down the line.
Plumber’s Mait – it’s more flexible and you should get a nice seal with it.
Just looked at this, not recommended for either external use or plastic fittings sadly.
The pipe is definitely clear of debris isn't it (back pressure etc)? Less messy option, ensure main pipe is also clean, rotate the seal 180 degrees and smear the seal with rubber grease (red grease) - it doesn't set but may allow the rubber to seal better/slide against the main pipe.
The answer is a new seal.
How about warming it all up with a hair dryer so it's nice and flexible? And turn the seal 180 degrees around the pipe as an axis. Then the problem area is now at the top and relatively unused seal is now at the bottom. Bit of a bodge but free and might be enough to create a seal again.
Also, how far does the waste pipe go in to the soil pipe? Does it stick through enough to collect debris from a soil pipe above that would cause water to collect?
EDIT: I've just seen that I pretty much echoed what Fossy said above. I should really refresh a page I've had open a while before replying.
Less messy option, ensure main pipe is also clean, rotate the seal 180 degrees and smear the seal with rubber grease (red grease)
How about warming it all up with a hair dryer so it’s nice and flexible? And turn the seal 180 degrees around the pipe as an axis. Then the problem area is now at the top and relatively unused seal is now at the bottom.
I've already tried turning the seal round to make use of the 'better' part but no luck, I'm up a big ladder so not really practical to hair dryer it.
how far does the waste pipe go in to the soil pipe? Does it stick through enough to collect debris from a soil pipe above that would cause water to collect?
No, it looks like it's cut correctly and not 'in' the soil pipe.
The answer is a new seal.
Yep, just can't get the old seal off to do it myself. Spoke to a mate of mine who is a heating engineer (so knows his pipes) who thinks there's going to need to be an element of cutting and rejoining of the waste pipe given my description, so I've got the number of a plumber he recommends, I'm fairly practical but time poor and don't want to mess up a fiddly job at the top of a ladder, plus I suspect that there's tools / materials I'd need to buy for a (hopefully) one off job, so better to pay a professional.
...plus I suspect that there’s tools / materials I’d need to buy for a (hopefully) one off job, so better to pay a professional.
Buy the appropriate waste pipe straight connector (solvent-fit and push-fit have different diameters) so you'll need to look at the end you didn't photograph
Wear disposable gloves 🙂
Cut the smaller waste pipe and remove from the large, fit a new seal. Fit the straight connector, dry, and slide it completely onto the other end. Refit the pipe and slide the connector so that it's now 50:50 on the two ends (pencil guidelines needed). Use solvent weld if needed between the two pencil lines
If there's a ridge inside the connector to position the pipe ends, file it away.
You could use a Short Miniflex Flexible Connector to achieve the same result, with a shorter pipe, but it's bulkier and won't take kindly to drainage rods
I would buy a new rubber seal, cut it half through with a new Stanley blade and then slip it over the pipe. Then super glue the cut back together. Once happy that the bond is good , remove the old seal.
Put cut at any position other than 6 o'clock, bit of fairy then slide home.
I have used this technique before, glue choice is important
If it fails then as per timba. I don't think it would fail
Just looked at this, not recommended for either external use or plastic fittings sadly.
Ahh fair enough – you can get non-setting mastic for guttering/windows etc - that might be worth considering?
Get the "professionals" in and get them to do a proper job £581 + vat to do that shambles. 1 tube of silicone and 20mins work if that. Told them we're not paying that invoice
