Updated: I need a master plumber: How much should I expect for this?

[Antoneo]

Hrmm, I have developed leak on the main pipe in the basement just before the water meter.

The leak is between two valves; one which is broken, and the other functional, but still after the leak (meaning, even if this were shut, the water in the house would shut off but the leak would continue). The water has collected into a small pond in a little digout around the pipe, but seems to be draining down into the earth as I see a bit of sand around the bottom.

I've gotten a friend to look at it, and he said that because this pipe is from the "outside," someone else is going to have to shut off the water to the house entirely. Only then would a repair would be possible. I have little knowledge in this area so please feel free to correct the terms used.

After asking around, it seems that a Master Plumber has to perform a job like this. How much should I expect to pay? This is a private house and the pipes are old.

EDIT: Better?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

cliffs? im not feeling that paragraph at all

i'll try again: nope, not clickin, need short version

 

[Zee]

just patch it up.

Go to Home Depot, buy some Epoxy or whatever-it's-called. It's a putty-dough substance that you slap on to the pipes, after about 30 seconds, heats up and then hardens to something akin to steel.

$15 dollar job.

If that fails, go hire a master plumber.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

i dunno, but it may not be 'your' leak. that may be city property until it hits the meter.

 

[Antoneo]

Uh, this leak is not a drip-drop leak. It started out as a hissy opening (thought it was something else at the time), and now is dribbling out at a regular rate. I wager I could fill a gallon in about an hour. Epoxy works under watery conditions?

 

[PowerEngineer]

Hmmmm... Around here the home owner is responsible for the piping from the meter into the house; the city is responsible for the piping to the meter. Now our meters are out at the curb, but you still might want to call your city or water district first.

Good luck!

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: HomeBrewerDude
i dunno, but it may not be 'your' leak. that may be city property until it hits the meter.

Agreed. I'd check into the details first.

Originally posted by: Lazee
just patch it up.

Go to Home Depot, buy some Epoxy or whatever-it's-called. It's a putty-dough substance that you slap on to the pipes, after about 30 seconds, heats up and then hardens to something akin to steel.

$15 dollar job.

If that fails, go hire a master plumber.

I don't know if I'd do that. Lots of pressure is going through that pipe. Even if the plumber charges $400 for the job, it's still better than coming home from a vacation ... to a flooded basement.

 

[Antoneo]

Originally posted by: HomeBrewerDude
i dunno, but it may not be 'your' leak. that may be city property until it hits the meter.

Actually, this was what I thought as well. I called up the DEP and they told me that they do not do any work on problems like these. They were the ones who told me to go to a Master or contracting plumber. I guess I'll call again to make sure.

I'm very iffy on the epoxy idea as well, and am pretty set on getting a plumber to fix this. I ask because I would like to know what price to expect to try to prevent a blind payment out of ignorance.

 

[Sukhoi]

Call the water department since that might still be their property since it's before the meter.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: Antoneo

Originally posted by: HomeBrewerDude
i dunno, but it may not be 'your' leak. that may be city property until it hits the meter.

Actually, this was what I thought as well. I called up the DEP and they told me that they do not do any work on problems like these. They were the ones who told me to go to a Master or contracting plumber. I guess I'll call again to make sure.

I'm very iffy on the epoxy idea as well, and am pretty set on getting a plumber to fix this. I ask because I would like to know what price to expect to try to prevent a blind payment out of ignorance.

the DEP is your water utility?

edit. btw, i wouldn't touch it.

 

[Antoneo]

NYC Department of Evironmental Protection should be the ones handling the water problems. I called 311 for water emergencies and after talking with an operator got transferred over to the DEP.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: Antoneo
NYC Department of Evironmental Protection should be the ones handling the water problems. I called 311 for water emergencies and after talking with an operator got transferred over to the DEP.

call them back and see if you get the same switchboard person.

OR you could call a master plumber and ask them what they think. kind a late but if you think you need one tonight, you will need to call anyways.

 

[Antoneo]

Nope I called on Saturday, but because of the snowstorm + weekend factor, none of the ones I called were there. I tried about ten in the yellow pages local book. Of course, just about everyone was rendered immobile today.

 

[Antoneo]

up for morning crowd

 

[Ausm]

Master Plumber= Ben Dover

Plumbers is a relatively easy profession you only have to know 4 things.

1) Hot is on the left

2)Shat don't run uphill

3)Payday is on friday

4) Overcharge like a mofo


Ausm

 

[rh71]

http://www.a4995.com - brooklyn, queens, or nassau.

I know it says sewer or drain but they may fix leaks... just another avenue to try.

 

[shilala]

<--- Plumber/Pipefitter UALU 354
Your friend is right, the water will have to shut the water off at the street in order to make the repair.
The repair depends completely on the composition of the pipe (galvanized, lead, or copper).
Odds are that it's galvanized pipe. The valves you mentioned, are they screwed onto the pipe? Is the pipe gray and rusty looking?
If it is galvanized pipe, you'll want to sprint down to your local mental health professional and purchase some Xanax, you're gonna need it.
The pipe will need to be replaced from the curb (the valve underground where your pipe ties in to the water main). It will require excavation, pipe, and a lot of cost.
There are a lot of things you can do to make a temporary patch while waiting for a decent estimate.
A sheet or rubber wrapped around the pipe and attached securely with a series of hose clamps might buy you a couple years. A combination of JB Weld or Goop (the stuff the other poster mentioned), a sheet of rubber and hose clamps may get you by long enough to sell the house and get far away
I have no idea what a NYC plumber will charge you to replace the water line, but the job would easily be anywhere upwards from $1000 around here. If the pipe is copper, a simple repair might be in order. If it is lead it will have to be replaced just as if it were galvanized. My plumber sense says you have galvanized.
Hope this helps!!!

 

[Papagayo]

I thought that if the leak was before the meter, then the city is responsible for the fix..

 

[TitanDiddly]

Here's my crackpot idea- Get a torch. Run all the water in the house- this will reduce pressure, as it's not stopped up. Heat the pipe. (The leak isn't fast enough for anything to be spurting, right?) Then just fill the gap with solder. If you're lucky, the solder will cool and seal the pipe. Worst case scenario is that the molten solder flies back into your eyes and blinds you, making you drop the torch, which lights the house on fire.

Like I said, crackpot idea.

 

[Antoneo]

Here's quick some pics I took of the leak.
leak_002.jpg
leak_001.jpg
leak_004.jpg
leak_005.jpg
leak_007.jpg

The pipes appear to be copper judging from the color of the pipes themselves and the green oxidation that formed on the sides.

 

[flamingelephant]

looks to me like the leak is coming from that one elboe that turns the pipe towards the ground or on the run of the pipe to the ground....

Don't think the line will have to be dug up, but the water will have to be shut down by the city from the street to make the repair. Shouldn't be all that bad, nothing should have to be dug up.

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
Here's my crackpot idea- Get a torch. Run all the water in the house- this will reduce pressure, as it's not stopped up. Heat the pipe. (The leak isn't fast enough for anything to be spurting, right?) Then just fill the gap with solder. If you're lucky, the solder will cool and seal the pipe. Worst case scenario is that the molten solder flies back into your eyes and blinds you, making you drop the torch, which lights the house on fire.

Like I said, crackpot idea.

You can't solder a pipe with water in it. The water won't allow the metal to heat enough to accept solder.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: HomeBrewerDude
i dunno, but it may not be 'your' leak. that may be city property until it hits the meter.

That's what I was thinking too. Until it his the main shutoff in your house, it might not be considered your problem. But call a plumber and tlel them that the leak is BEFOFE the shut off in your house and see what he says. Prices vary from region to region so I have no idea why people always ask on here about how much something might cost when they can just get the phone book out and call a couple people and ask.

 

[Antoneo]

Over the weekend, no plumber was available (I tried a couple them) and I just curious since sometimes there are people knowledgeable for one's own area as well.

And I do have a plumber coming over at around noon. Yay for problems!

 

[J0hnny]

Oh well, there goes the clamp idea. Looks like it's on the elbow.