Toronto Home Improvement

Every May, cottagers head back up north to their favourite lakeside retreats, filled with the anticipation of peace, serenity and the cry of the loon. But before they can enjoy any of these things, many face a frustrating, psychological ordeal: trial by water pipe. Will it be you? It may. Let me prepare you to prevail.

Somewhere deep within hundreds of cottages across the province, a little bit of water remained hidden in copper pipes after everyone thought the system was drained back in October. This water froze during, expanded and the subsequent burst pipe lies in wait for smiling, unsuspecting cottagers. This sinister condition sits ready to make itself known with a cascading fountain of despair as the pump pressures up again, wetting everything in sight.

My wife tells me that in the midst of life’s trials, what women really want is empathy, not solutions. I’m not so sure this applies to burst water pipes, though. When you’re 50 miles from the nearest plumber, with a bunch of cranky kids lined up waiting to use a bone-dry toilet, a solution is what we all want. Desperately. And to make that happen you need a little bit of know-how, some simple materials and a few tools and supplies. One new item, in particular, might even prevent you from burning your cottage down while you complete the repair.

Fixing a burst copper water pipe involves three steps: cutting out the bad section, preparing a piece of replacement pipe and couplings, then soldering these parts into the system. You’ll need about $20 worth of tools to make it all happen, and the first item is something called a pipe cutter, though not the usual sort.

Existing pipes are almost always located close to framing members and other building features, and this means there’s rarely room to swing a regular pipe cutter. That’s why your cottage plumbing repair kit should contain what’s called a ‘mini-cutter’. It uses a hardened steel wheel to score the pipe (just like a regular cutter does), but the cutter itself is very small. It needs less than an inch of clearance around the pipe to work. Clamp it on the copper, spin it around while continuing to tighten the pressure knob, and in less than a minute the pipe is cut.

With the bad section removed, it’s time to prepare fresh replacement pipe. Make it a little shorter than the piece you removed so you can slip it into place with couplings on each end. Even the smallest cottage-country hardware store carries the parts you need, though you really should keep a supply on hand. Remember, the kids can only hold it for so long.

Soldering is one of those jobs that seem more challenging than it really is. Success is virtually guaranteed as long as you do three simple things: clean all joint surfaces with sandpaper until they shine, apply a coat of plumber’s flux to the joints before assembly, then heat the pipe with a propane torch until the metal itself is hot enough to melt the solder as it’s touched to the surface.

All of this is simple and risk-free, except for that business with the torch. With tinder-dry wooden framing members and building parts typically located very close to pipes, the risk of fire is real. And this is where something called Cold Coat can help. It’s a spray-on gel that forms a temporary, protective coating around joists, wires, plastic drainpipes and subfloors. I’ve used it, and this stuff has to be seen to be appreciated. In fact, it makes it almost impossible to accidentally ignite wood with a torch. A bottle costs $10 at Home Depot and Home Hardware.

While it’s true that some of the sweetest sounds in cottage country are the cry of the loon or the laughter of kids as they jump of the dock. But before you can enjoy any of these, you need to hear something else first. Perhaps the best thing of all is the sound of the pressure switch as it shuts off the motor when the water tank gauge reads a nice, steady 40-psi. Okay kids, the bathroom’s all yours!

Home Improvement Toronto