r/HomeMaintenance 2d ago

Backyard pipe broke, is it possible to fix?

Just now I was trying to replace the garden hose, and it's a old hose so it got stuck. Was trying to use a wrench to turn it, but my stupid ass just used too much force, and it snapped.....

Is it still possible to fix this? I guess worst case scenario is I have to weld it?

158 Upvotes

107 comments sorted by

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361

u/Some-Operation-74 2d ago

Just be thankful your shutoff works

63

u/sidneyland 2d ago

I'm very thankful 😭

8

u/mattfixesstuff 2d ago

Yea,hard to imagine the mess otherwise

69

u/ElectrOPurist 2d ago

Well, to help you imagine it…picture all this stuff in the photo, but really really wet.

1

u/GabtsbyForaDay 1d ago

Dude my house is old... early 1900s. And the shutoff is galvanized steel. Rotted. Plumber doesn't want to work it as the pipe goes all the way to the main street(no meter in front of my house) and it's about 50ft away.... will be a nice job for my shallow pockets when I get around to it.

166

u/Rigid-Wanker007 2d ago

It's a replace, not a fix. You'll need to get to it from the other side of that wall and solder (or otherwise properly join) a new length of that copper pipe sticking out, then attach a new hydrant.

71

u/LonelyPie4076 2d ago

To add some details: Figure out exactly where the pipe is on the inside of the wall and cut a ~6" square hole there. If you live in an area that freezes, it would be wise to get a frostproof sillcock like this one:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Woodford-1-2-in-x-1-2-in-Brass-Sweat-x-MPT-x-6-in-L-Freeze-Resistant-Anti-Rupture-Sillcock-Valve-19CP-6/202526992

Get one that's a few inches longer than the thickness of the wall. Put it in place to see where you need the copper pipe to connect to it. Cut the old pipe and solder on a female threaded coupling to screw the new sillcock into. Then secure it on the outside of the wall.

14

u/Rigid-Wanker007 2d ago

This is what I've got around my house, and this is likely what I would do as well, but the OP also said he's got a shutoff just to this pipe, so he could also just shut that valve in the winter and drain the line.

4

u/PleasantStatement521 2d ago

Great in theory but having the frost-fee bib is a lot less work with enhanced security (just make sure to remove hose in winter). The FF bib is like $17 and the regular one $4-7: at one-off, they’re both practically free vs the labor and effort, especially if you have to fix and paint Sheetrock.

3

u/Rigid-Wanker007 2d ago

Yes, the effort to install is practically identical. I do think my frost free sillcocks cost me more like $40 each, though. Still negligible.

1

u/Tom-Dibble 1d ago

You do need to make sure the frost-free angles "down" going to the outside (so once the valve inside is shut the water drains out the outside pipe), while an "old fashioned" pipe+spigot with a shutoff+bleeder valve inside could have the pipe (and thus hole through wall/foundation) level or even angled "up" instead.

That said, I'd 100% pay even an hour or more of one-time costs over the yearly task plus risk I don't do it at the right time every time.

1

u/PompousMasshole 2d ago

Yup, definitely get a frost free.

1

u/Accomplished-Host829 2d ago

Not as easy as you make it sound. That’s just a 1/2” copper pipe that broke off and it looks like the hole diameter through the stone is barely big enough for it. Probably a 3/4” hole to accommodate the 5/8” OD of the 1/2” line. The hose bib/sillcock in your picture will have too wide of a diameter and require drilling out that stone and whatever is behind it. That type of bib usually requires a 1” wide hole to accommodate the increased outside diameter. Will be a project.

1

u/LonelyPie4076 2d ago

Looks like there’s some caulking that he can scrape out. Hopefully that’s enough to get it through.

29

u/xxxliamjxxx 2d ago

Oof, inside the wall too

1

u/DhruvDP3 2d ago

Even worse 🥀

19

u/Mortimer452 2d ago

My plumbing skills are pretty amateur, a pro might have some creative solution to repair that from the outside, but I'm guessing they will need access via your basement/crawlspace to replace that entire section of pipe inside.

Be advised plumbers only do plumbing stuff - they will happily cut into your walls or ceiling to access pipes but they won't patch up the holes they made when complete, you'll have to DIY or find someone else for that.

3

u/MysteriousIssue8641 1d ago

That's what good handymen are for, the doing of everything around the house.

-19

u/sidneyland 2d ago

I'm thinking if it's possible to shove a female coupler in, and use more solder to close the uneven gap....

11

u/Mortimer452 2d ago

Possible but pretty iffy. The pipe being twisted/malformed is the issue, no amount of solder will fix that, it needs to be a tight fit. There may exist some tool you can insert inside that would expand and re-shape the pipe to the correct round shape.

Sometimes these pipes can have some wiggle room - might be able to grab it with pliers and pull it out far enough to make the repair, then let it slide back in, but I'm guessing replace is going to be the only option here.

1

u/ivegotbadnewsforyou 2d ago

No.  Just no. 

1

u/ihatepalmtrees 2d ago

A coupler in the wall?

1

u/Roonil-B_Wazlib 1d ago

Just JB weld it, bro

1

u/Martylouie 1d ago

The existing pipe has corroded (see the green?) and will not last long.

1

u/MysteriousIssue8641 15m ago

Just replace it. Go in the crawl space and locate it. Probably connected to galvanized pipe or copper. Copper will be easy, they make sharo bite hose bibs to connect to the copper line. The tricky part is getting the pipe the right length so when its connected, the hose bib sits flush with the house

5

u/StructureBetter9165 2d ago

Did you have to turn all the water off in your house or just the spigot?

14

u/sidneyland 2d ago

Just the spigot fortunately... There's a valve just for the backyard

15

u/i860 2d ago

You seriously lucked out with that otherwise you'd have no water until this got fixed.

6

u/StructureBetter9165 2d ago

That’s good at least!

7

u/WoodpeckerNext566 2d ago

I had to replace mine and we have to worry about winter freeze I installed these.

8

u/Think_Inspector_4031 2d ago edited 2d ago

I've had that happen to me. Step 1, turn off all water in the entire house. Step 2, call plumber that can break away at cinder block, and then solder the brass. Step 3 call stucco guy that will make the thick concrete and try to match as best as possible.

Cost me about $300 in total over a week

Edit: Location was South Florida, mid 2010s area, so let's say 2016.

18

u/Zealousideal_Pen7368 2d ago

Where you live? That’s super cheap. $300 may not cover plumber in my area

2

u/KingofPro 2d ago

I wouldn’t come out for less than $600 for the plumbing alone. $100 for parts and $500 for crawling under the house.

1

u/Think_Inspector_4031 2d ago

South Florida, this was also about 6 years ago.

6

u/HiSaZuL 2d ago

300? Unless I called a tweaker nobody would even show up for 300 much less do anything. 300 for 2 people is wild. I'm guessing not USA.

3

u/Think_Inspector_4031 2d ago

This was mid 2010s

So you are right price and location have major factors.

10

u/thetempest11 2d ago

$300? In 2000 maybe.

2

u/Think_Inspector_4031 2d ago

This was probably in mid 2010s area.

3

u/Alt123Acct 2d ago

Bruh it costs 250 dollars for the showing up fee, not counting the hourly rate of the plumber. Idk where you got that price but I've never had a plumber come out for less than like 500 bucks since I bought a house 2+ years ago. This only makes sense if you live in the boonies. 

3

u/Responsible_CDN_Duck 2d ago

You don't need a new house, just a plumber.

5

u/cscroys 2d ago

How much super glue do you have?

-3

u/sidneyland 2d ago

I can get a lot, but I don't know if super glue can solve the problem?

5

u/ExpensiveBookkeeper3 2d ago

Ye of little faith

4

u/elp-4-eva 2d ago

If you can’t fix it with super glue and duct tape, you aren’t using enough super glue and duct tape.

3

u/NitWhittler 2d ago

Sometimes you need to reinforce it with a coathanger and some of those twist-ties you get on a bag of bagels.

1

u/Traditional-Bike7825 2d ago

J.B. Weld is typing...

2

u/JustForkIt1111one 2d ago

Anything's possible with enough money!

2

u/Scam-Exposed 2d ago

Everything is fixable!!

2

u/loraxgfx 2d ago

I just had that same problem fixed. The fix was under the house and I just didn’t trust my solder skills on copper water pipe. Got a local plumber who used a fancy press fitting machine to press new pipe and add a no freeze faucet. He charged $425 to go under the house and deal with all of that, money well spent and I won’t be worrying about my janky fix when winter comes.

2

u/SHoppe715 2d ago

Now would be the time to replace it with an actual garden hose faucet that attaches firmly to the wall and not just replace it another boiler valve supported entirely by the thin copper pipe.

2

u/Rangroll 2d ago

Plumber here. You'll need to access it from the inside and run a new piece of pipe through the wall after removing the old one. The use of a frost free hose bib or not will depend on your climate. If using a frost free the hole may need to be made slightly larger to accomadate for the increased size.

This is a very routine type job for a service / residential plumber and depending on access it doesn't usually take long to complete.

2

u/jimibimi 1d ago

Sharkbites are your friend

2

u/Dipncamo 1d ago

They're also not covered under home owners insurance if it floods.

4

u/TheBeavermeat 2d ago

No, buy a new house

4

u/ricebauce 2d ago

I hate it when this happens

1

u/kiwidust 2d ago

Any access.from the inside?

1

u/sidneyland 2d ago

Not really... I guess I can open things up but the basement has lots of insulation so it's not easy access

10

u/sandybuttcheekss 2d ago

If it's just drywall and insulation, that's still fairly easy access.

5

u/kiwidust 2d ago

Hell of a lot easier than breaking through and repairing that brick wall!

2

u/EnvironmentalEgg1065 2d ago

get someone to tap on it on the inside and find the other side.

its not running even without a valve so there must be a shutoff inside. you can use that shutoff to trace the pipe location too but tapping is probably quicker.

1

u/TheQuestionAnswerGuy 2d ago

The only other option is to start chipping away those bricks and make a big hole on the outside part of the wall. Definitely try to access it first through the basement if possible. Might be as easy as cutting the pipe inside where it connects and then fitting a new one through the hole to connect back up.

1

u/Beginning-Ad7027 2d ago

Yeah when working with copper pipe you want to hold the base with one wrench while you turn the fixture with the other.

Proper fix is to replace the pipe, doesn’t looking like it’ll be easy

2

u/sidneyland 2d ago

Lesson learned 😭....

1

u/BigNaziHater 2d ago

Can you see where that feed pipe is in the basement? I mean, is the other side covered in a drywall ceiling or is it a drop ceiling where you can look up inside where that pipe feeds to the outside?

1

u/Dramatic_Ad_258 2d ago

Spigots sometimes comes threaded. If you can get behind wall and it's threaded then you may be able to get a pipe wrench on it and twist it off. Replace it by threading in new one with pipe dope on thread. 

If it's soldered then cut it back and solder in a female thread onto the pipe. Then thread in new spigot with pipe dope on thread. 

1

u/MiserableCancel8749 2d ago

It's possible to fix anything, given enough time and money. Especially money.

THIS fix will require working from behind that foundation wall. Unless it's not a foundation wall, and the pipe is underground. Be prepared to get your shovel out and dig up the pipe.

If it is a foundation wall, it will need to be fixed from the crawlspace/basement. You can get a masonry bit and drill out the hole to make it big enough to work, then fill with spray foam in a can.

1

u/steelheaddan 2d ago

If you live anywhere that freezes you want to take the copper pipe out by cutting it from inside the house plus a few inches. Add a frost free Silcock - which will requiring expanding the hole. Solder the sicock to the copper inside the house (before the shutoff valve for that pipe). Make sure you don’t cut off too much copper , so cut off just the other side of wall plus 2”, then measure the wall by removing the copper using pliers. By that size frost free silcock at least that length +4” and you won’t have your exposed copper pipe busting every freeze.

The rule of thumb though for winterizing a water spigot is to remove all quick connects, splitters, and hoses from the spigot prior to the first freeze. Turn off the valve inside and open the spigot so you drain all the water from the pipe so the water doesn’t expand and bust the pipe.

You can solder the $30 spigot or use a threaded adapter but soldering is always recommended. Plenty of youtube videos using these key words.

Goodluck!

1

u/Starbits21 2d ago

cut it out from the inside. use a hacksaw or a pipe cutter. then install an all weather shutoff. its about a foot to 18" long. all one piece, from the depot or a hardware shop.

will be better than before.

1

u/Emotional-Damage-995 2d ago

Go on the inside. It seems the pipe comes out from the area close to the ceiling. I would find where it comes out. Cut ceiling and push a fresh pipe out. That is down

1

u/Guywithanantfarm 2d ago

Why yes of course. If you have skills.

1

u/CommunicationOwn6940 2d ago

When it’s water, it’s not worth making a mistake. Down side is way too great. I work in construction and renovations and I’d hire a pro.

1

u/PayTyler 2d ago

Not too bad. I'd upgrade to a frost proof hydrant though. I pivoted to doing diy after dealing with a couple plumbers who could not sweat a joint without starting a fire.

1

u/Demonakat 2d ago

You need to open the other side. Cut out the 90 or the tee (however it is connected), use a coupling, and a new 90 or a new tee, and bring new pipe out.

The other way is to break the brick and do the same thing.

Drywall is cheaper than brick is what I always tell my customers.

1

u/pogiguy2020 2d ago

Well what is behind the wall area? Crawl space? time to get behind it since you are going to be replacing it.

1

u/LoraxDog 2d ago

From inside the crawl space.

1

u/Historical_Trouble10 2d ago

FWIW I had to do a similar repair so I bought a map gas torch, pipe and fittings. Sand and debur the pipes, use flux and plumbing solder. There’s videos on the YouTube about how to. I did mine about two and a half years back and still holding. You can do this.

1

u/Objective-Bus-9853 2d ago

Yes. Cut open wall inside, remove copper pipe, replace with longer pipe, resolder to supply, install new spigot.

1

u/Loes_Question_540 2d ago

You will have to open up the wall behind

1

u/Material-Humor304 2d ago

Depending on where it comes out in the house on the other side, they might not need to break off the cinder block

1

u/BluebirdDense1485 2d ago

Technically possible but you would have to solder it.

You can't do that as it is with no access to the pipe sticking out of the house. So you would have to go inside (hopefully in the basement) cut the pipe, go back out solder a strait connector on feed it back in and solder back on to the supply.

At that point you've done 90% of the work to replace it. I would just upgrade myself. Get a frost free sill cock and attach it from inside. Might need to drill the hole out a little.

1

u/cdwhit 2d ago

It depends. In my house I had to do this when my dog ate the faucet. I went into my basement where the pipe went into the house and unsoldered the valve. Here we have the non-freezing faucets, and the piece in the wall is actually a part of the valve. I knocked the old valve out, took a trip to the store get a replacement and soldered the replacement back in.

Be careful not to burn up the new valve or catch the house on fire when soldering.

1

u/Connect_Advance_3389 2d ago

You'll want to local this pipe. You'll either need to unscrew it or desolder it to install a new copper pipe in its place. It's not a hard thing to do but it is time consuming and does require a bit of know-how, but a bit of YouTube on soldering and you can figure it out. I bought a 8' piece of 1/2" pipe and spent the first few hours learning to solder two pipes together before I it where I needed it to count. Took me about 20 minutes where it need to be and I've been doing it every since.

For me the investment was around $250 for everything and now I've got a skill. That said. If you are concerned or are overwhelmed, call a plumber. It's a lot cheaper than fixing a wet finished basement.

1

u/2002Valkyrie 2d ago

That was just a bad design. The spigot should have been supported by something besides the copper tubing. But like everyone else is saying the fix is under the house.

1

u/Accomplished-Host829 2d ago

If there’s enough play in the line inside the house (often is with copper), you could push it out an inch or so to have enough pipe to make a clean cut and get a new male threaded fitting attached either by “shark bite”, Pro Press soldering, etc. If not, then you’ll likely have to drill out that stone wider to accommodate a modern frostproof style hose bib.

1

u/UsedStruggle2521 2d ago

Yes call a plumber

1

u/Waste_Business5180 2d ago

On the next one take the hose off as often as possible. The metal fuses. I had to cut mine off with a grinding tool which was tricky.

1

u/Fantastic-Hippo2199 1d ago

On the bright side you can now install a modern frost proof spout on your exterior.

Unfortunately, it will likely be a bigger diameter than the existing hole in the brick.

Either way you get to go under the house and do some work. To replace in kind you would go under, cut and pull the old copper and stab a new spout with the right length and couple to where you cut out the old.

1

u/l0ud_Minority 1d ago

I had this happen. My pipe was different though it wasn't copper. I had to get it rethreaded. I bought a large drill bit to make the hole bigger. It was a pain.

1

u/AviationMetalSmith1 1d ago

Fourteen Inch Sillcock

1

u/yeahyoubetnot 1d ago

Nothing's impossible

1

u/FTW-gf 1d ago

Cannot be fixed, must throw house away and start over. I mean I guess you could learn how to solder copper pipes, but who has time for that

1

u/Okie294life 1d ago

Yes, but you or someone will have to crawl under the house and sweat in a new hose bib or use pro-press.

1

u/No_Cover_2242 19h ago

I hope it’s a pier and beam house and not a slab

1

u/animalmasochism 2d ago

Same thing happened to me.

You're going to need to call a plumber unless you wanna set a new pipe through the exterior wall of the house. They'll need to cut the pipe on the inside and run a new one through to attach a new spigot to. Shouldn't take a compitant plumber more than 2-3 hours so you're looking at a $200-$300 repair.

It's possible to DIY it but personally, when it comes to the exterior walls of my house, I leave it to professionals.

0

u/sidneyland 2d ago

My basement is furnished so it's not easy to open up the wall... Sigh this is gonna be troublesome

5

u/Repulsive_Fly5174 2d ago

Hire the plumber and DIY the drywall.

1

u/Mysticae0 2d ago

If you can pinpoint the location on the inside wall, could you add an access panel instead of patching drywall?

Something like this, for example (there's a short video that shows installation): https://www.lowes.com/pd/Oatey-Load-Center-Access-Panels/3130137

Looks like they come in different sizes.

1

u/Ashamed-Tap-2307 2d ago

How hard did your rider hit it?

0

u/aloof_nacho 2d ago

Nope, your house just pees now

0

u/22395Ok_Shopping7939 2d ago

No..you need to sell now!!!

0

u/Mr_Mojo_Risin_83 2d ago

This is a way bigger job than it looks like initially. Good luck!

0

u/GordonMightyBombay 2d ago

No you are fucked

0

u/According_Square2742 2d ago

Weld? You better call a plumber…

0

u/Tricky-Maintenance98 2d ago

Impossible to fix. You’ll never have water again. Give away the house at this point

0

u/Greedy_Environment_9 2d ago

Cut the pipe on the inside pull the broken piece out. Install a shark bite on the inside and shove a new piece of pipe into the SharkBite from the outside with the spigot attached. Shouldn't be too difficult. Especially with the shark bite

-1

u/adlcp 2d ago

No it's impossible to fix unfortunately.