need help Plumbing/foundation leak

[Siebert Outdoors]

Howdy guys,  I need some help.

Where my copper water pipe comes into my house in the basement is leaking around the pipe. The filler the used years ago has rotted away or non existant.   I am going to dig out around the pipe and seal it.    My question is what would be the best material to seal it with?

Also do you guys think it would be a good idea to dig below the pipe a foot or so and fill it in with a bunch of gravel to keep the water off the pipe after fixing it?

[RecMar8541]

Probably your two best options are:

1. Cut out the bad spot where it leaks and solder in a coupling.  This would be the best repair, as the longevity would be great.

2. Purchase a correct sized compression "Repair fitting"  then simply cut the line and slip both ends into the fitting and tighten with a wrench.

There are some other things as well, but I have never had much luck with those.

If you are unable to solder, it maybe worth the money to have a plumber come solder the fitting in for you, of find a friend that is familar with that type of repair.

I think I would dig under a bit and add some gravel to help keep water off the outside of the line, it surely couldnt hurt.

Good luck and if you have any questions feel free to pm me.

Recon

[Siebert Outdoors]

ah crap, I didnt explain it correctly.

The water is squeezing between the pipe and concrete from the outside when it rains real hard. I need to seal the  gap that is between the pipe and concrete drilled into the foundation with something so the water wont keep coming in when it rains hard.

[RecMar8541]

oOH I gotcha.  There is a product called feno-seal (sp?)  Home depot usually has it is a eurothane based sealant that comes in a tube like caulk,  I use it all the time to seal areas just like you described and it works great.

Good luck!

[Siebert Outdoors]

Thanks bud.

Looks like I'll be digging instead of fishing this weekend.  Well I guess If I find some worms I will keep them since I'll be diging around anyway. :

[frogtog]

You need a can of spray foam, this is what we use. It will expand when sprayed around the pipe. This will stop your leak. You can get it from lowes, it's in a

red spray can with a yellow lid. Good stuff. ( Don't start on this job till you get

back from fishing. ;D)

[RecMar8541]

That product is called Great Foam and will do the job as well.  If you can get to the spot from the inside, great foam will seal it without having to dig from the outside.  % minutes to spray it in....and your on the water fishin!!

Recon

[Guest avid]

I know the old fashioned way.

It works, and is a permanent fix, but it is work.

You dig a trench past the leak all the way to the footing.

Then you take thick tar and use a trowel to seal any cracks, making sure you go all the way down to the footing.

Then you take tar paper and put it over the tar,

finish it off with some more tar, to seal the ends of the tar paper and smooth everything out.

You can have a flood at that spot won't leak.

[Painter Dude]

Follow up!   After you patch around your pipe be sure to backfill your dirt so that it slopes away from your foundation.

Check your guttering and make sure your downspouts divert water out away from the house as well.    I know this cuts into your fishin time, but it is great insurance against water in places we don't like.  

[Siebert Outdoors]

thanks guys, I'm getting started on it shortly