My basement sink drain pipe cracked right at the joint last Saturday

I was just washing out some paint brushes and heard this weird dripping sound. Looked under the sink and there was a hairline crack where the p-trap meets the wall pipe. Water was already pooling on the floor. I shut the water off and ran to the hardware store for a new pvc coupling and some primer. Took me about 45 minutes to cut out the old section and glue in a new piece. Does anyone have tips for getting old pvc cement off a fitting without breaking the whole thing?

2 comments

2 Comments

wren_jackson12d agoMost Upvoted

Hairline cracks at the joint are the worst because you think you got it cleaned up but then water seeps through the next day. For old cement residue, a heat gun on low works if you're careful not to warp the fitting-you just heat it enough to soften the glue then scrape with a putty knife. I've also had luck with a sanding drum on a dremel to grind it down flush, but you gotta go slow so you don't eat into the pipe itself. Another trick is to score the old cement with a utility knife before you try to pry it off-sometimes that helps break the bond without snapping the whole thing.

wren_jackson12d agoMost Upvoted

Totally agree, that scoring trick with a utility knife has saved me more times than I can count. I've definitely had my share of late night re-dos because I got impatient and didn't heat the glue first.