The pipes in my summer cottage froze over the winter due to previous plumber forgetting to drain them.?

Question

I got another plumber who just says yank out all the pipes and replace with clear plastic tubing. Very expensive says he but it's the way to go.

Instead, would it work to first look at the pipes visually and by feel to find obvious holes and repair them, then slowly put on the water and gradually increase pressure to find the less obvious leaks? 90% of the copper plumbing is outside the walls. He also volunteered to "help out" by taking the copper left over off my hands--he says since it has been painted on, it is not worth anything now. I smell a con job.

Answer 1

Yeah, it definitely sounds like he's trying to con you out of the copper piping AND by trying to get you to totally replace the pipes.  Paint can be removed from the pipes.

I don't have advice for how to find the broken pipe but we had the same problem at our cottage and we only replaced one pipe in the bathroom.  It was completely horizontal so when we drained the pipes not all the water came out and it froze.  My boyfriend replaced it with one that is at an angle so now all the water drains out.

I say get another opinion and don't let that guy touch your pipes!

Answer 2

Trust your gut on this one,  we have patched and plugged, unless major blow outs it is usually just a few

look them over and get a friend to help

then if you can't fix it try another plumber for sure

no offence to the good plumbers out there but I don't believe you have to rip it all out at all   sorry

Answer 3

Having water lines on outside walls is just asking for trouble. In a summer home they must be drained with the valves left open. You should even blow air through them to make sure the water is removed from low points where water might settle. I would suggest that you put air through the pipes before water to find the spots where it split, its typically a large gash in the pipe when it freezes and it won't be a small hole. Blow air carefully (30 PSI will work) just enough to hear the air before you expose it to water. You may have to turn up the pressure but you should hear the leak(s) located in the wall or floors.

The plastic PEX pipe is more resistant to freezing as it will expand when the water freezes but copper is fine as long as you blow the lines out at the end of summer.

The copper can be sold for scrap no matter what condition it's in so you may wish to take care of that yourself if you decide to replace with plastic pipe.

-Brian L.

Answer 4

Hi,

Please do not give your hard earned money or business to this thief.  He has only his best interest in mind, and would sell his Mother if given a chance.  Your intuition is dead on and you can see the splits in the copper, and the ones you can't see will show themselves once the water is turned back on.

Trust your gut.... it seems to be working quit well.  And give this jerk the boot.

Answer 5

Your sniffer is working very well.  Find another plumber!!!  The usual procedure is to turn the water on, find the most obvious leak, fix it, turn on the water, find a leak, fix it, and keep doing that.  Depending on the number of leaks it may be less expensive to do that than to replace the piping.

Answer 6

Copper is very expensive and we have copper thieves that are stripping electrical copper wire out where ever they can get them.  I think you are right to be suspicious.  

Plastic pipes will freeze and burst just like copper pipes.  I would do as you say and try to keep and repair the copper pipes.  They are much more durable the plastic.

Find another plumber that is recommend by the neighbors or your friends.  This is a much safer way to go.