A week ago, right before I left for Paris, I had a plumbing catastrophe at my own home, water leaking from a second floor bathroom through my dining room (used as office) to the basement. I didn't have time to investigate - I just turned off the main, mopped up the mess, dried out what got wet. I keep an "emergency" supply of water on hand, so I used it until I left.

Since I will be returning home soon I am trying to figure out a plan of attack - guessing what might have happened.

I have 80 year old galvanized pipe running to the problem bathroom. I have done some temporary repairs over the years (including a piece of car radiator hose over a rusted spot on another pipe many years ago), but had been trying to hold off on a major replumbing job for a few more years. It looks like it probably can't wait.

My immediate concern is to get my water back on. I can get along without the bathroom in question, as I have another one off of my bedroom. I would like to cap off the pipes running up to that bathroom. If I simply cut them, is there a reasonable way to cap an unthreaded pipe cut. My guess is I won't be able to get any joints loose - not after 80 years - so I am not counting on being able to use a threaded cap or plug.

There are special rubber caps that will slip onto the ends of unthreaded pipe such as yours. They are secured when a hose clamp. Takes about a minute to install if you got access and only requires a screw driver. I forget the name of these things, but are common in the plumbing department at HD or Lowes.

John

CORRECTION: Sorry... As J posted, the rubber caps WON'T work on the water supply side because of the presure. When I posted my response my mind was "thinking" the problem was on the waste line side such as a sink or tub. I'm still traumatized from my sewer line problem that happened yesterday.

Best to seperate the pipes at the threaded connection and cap it until the lines can be changed out.

John

Quick story about threaded iron joints. A coworker bought and old house. He was trying to loosen a old section of steam heat pipe with a 1 foot pipe wrench. He said he was literally hanging on the wrench and could not budge it (was also using a liquid wrench type product). He mentioned that he had other pieces of pipe laying around. Told him to use the pipe as an extension on the wrench handle...then he would have a 4 foot wrench...he said it came loose like butter.

I have sometimes used a piece of pipe as a "cheater" as Gene described.

I don't have much strength these days, and my ribs crack very easily. Depending what I discover when I get back home, I may need to give in and get help.