Plumbing question... help!
 

I have a pipe in the crawlspace under my house that I need to cap (it goes to an old storage room that I'm going to demolish and re-build). The pipe has a joint or coupling shown below that I'd like to undo and cap:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298914211.jpg

My questions are:

(1) Is this just a normal pipe coupling? I'm not familiar with this type of coupling.
(2) Can I just undo this coupling with a couple of wrenches, or does it look like it's been soldered, or is it just pipe dope?
(3) If soldered, what's my best option?

Assuming it's just pipe dope, my plan is to undo the coupling with a pair of crescent wrenches, and then remove the coupling from the pipe by holding the pipe with a pair of vice-grips and unscrewing the coupling with a large crescent wrench. I should then be able to cap the pipe. Is there anything else I should be aware of? Any advice would be appreciated.

Standard union. Just unscrew it and cap.

A litlle heat and 2 wrenches should take care of it. It looks like a simple union coupling.

It's a galvanized pipe union.
Pipe dope only.

Undo it like you described and cap it.
That's it!


KT

If you stop and think about it, that fitting is used to couple two pipes when you can't turn one or the other or both pipes. Kinda like an in-line fix. It's not a cheap fitting anymore either - save it!

Oh, and turn the water off first! :D


KT

Yep - union. Easy peasy. Shut the line off (look for a valve upstream), separate & cap. Barring any complications it's about a 10 minute job.

My wife calls that male optimism.

I agree it should be just a 10 minute job. BUT...

It is plumbing. With my luck the pipe would snap off at the threads, or break up stream in the most inconvenient place.

OK, thanks much, I'm not familiar with union joints, so just to make sure I understand. Does the big nut then turn independently of the smaller fittings on either end of the pipes, like a sleeve, or is it permanently connected on one side?

That is correct.

Les

Turn the water supply off first.;)

THat pipe isn't going to break. It looks new.

Yep, thanks. Figured that one out...:)

Just use two pipe wrenches.
You'll spend more time getting the tools out and crawling under the house than doing the work!


KT

These things are made funky. IMHO, there should not be a hex shape on the side where the large hex is. It confuses the way you put the wrenches on to loosen the fitting.

As it looks from here, you need one wrench on the left side and one on the large hex. Using the righty tighty, lefty loosey axiom, pull the large nut down towards you while pushing the smaller hex upward.

You will then need a true pipe wrench to hold the pipe while removing the union half. Then cap with new pipe dope or teflon tape on clean threads.

Thanks, but then I need to remove the small fitting from the pipe so I can cap the threaded end. So, after disconnecting the big joint I'm thinking that I'll grab the pipe with a pair of vice grips and remove the small fitting with a wrench. No?

You may be able to use vice grips, you never know. Most of us would use a pipe wrench. Like this little 8" beauty, one of the handiest tools in my tool box. You do want 2 of them and a 2' version is pretty useful too. I like the o/s heads

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298923157.jpg

Is that wrench metric or SAE? ;)

And remember, even though you've turned the water off there will still be some in the pipe.
So while you're laying on your back under the pipe some water will run down your arm and drip in your face. :D

This thread reminds me of the one about BBS advice on changing a light bulb :)

That said, I'd use a Crescent wrench!