Go Back   Winnipesaukee Forum > Winnipesaukee Forums > Home, Cottage or Land Maintenance
Home Forums Gallery Webcams Blogs YouTube Channel Classifieds Register FAQ Members List Donate Today's Posts

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-03-2018, 12:24 PM   #1
nhjenny
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 16
Thanks: 9
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default Need a plumber at Island house

I finally got here to open up our house on Sleeper’s Island. Trying to get water up and running, but we have had a break in a 1/2 copper line from freezing (first time that’s ever happened). This line just goes to a main floor toilet, but there is no valve to shut off the line, so we can’t turn on the water. Does anyone have suggestions for someone who could fix this, even better if it could be done today?? Left a message with Island services, looking for additional options. TIA!


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app
nhjenny is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2018, 12:37 PM   #2
MDoug
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 343
Thanks: 116
Thanked 42 Times in 39 Posts
Default plumber

Call Archie at 603-387-3168

He is our favorite over the years!
MDoug is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2018, 01:09 PM   #3
Biggd
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Waltham Ma./Meredith NH
Posts: 4,410
Thanks: 2,423
Thanked 1,269 Times in 812 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by nhjenny View Post
I finally got here to open up our house on Sleeper’s Island. Trying to get water up and running, but we have had a break in a 1/2 copper line from freezing (first time that’s ever happened). This line just goes to a main floor toilet, but there is no valve to shut off the line, so we can’t turn on the water. Does anyone have suggestions for someone who could fix this, even better if it could be done today?? Left a message with Island services, looking for additional options. TIA!


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app
They have DIY quick connectors now at most big hardware stores. A couple of quick connect unions, no soldering, a piece of copper pipe, a tubing cutter and you can fix it pretty quick yourself. Better still, make one of those unions a shut off valve.
Biggd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2018, 01:58 PM   #4
Slickcraft
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community
Posts: 3,384
Thanks: 1,260
Thanked 2,148 Times in 983 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Biggd View Post
They have DIY quick connectors now at most big hardware stores. A couple of quick connect unions, no soldering, a piece of copper pipe, a tubing cutter and you can fix it pretty quick yourself. Better still, make one of those unions a shut off valve.
Exactly. Go to a hardware store and ask someone in plumbing dept exactly what you need. Add a small pack of steel wool to clean each short section of pipe that the quick connect valve or union is pressed onto.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/SharkBite-1...ing/1000182685

https://www.lowes.com/pd/SharkBite-1...ing/1000182685

https://www.lowes.com/pd/BrassCraft-...tter/999903185
Slickcraft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2018, 02:02 PM   #5
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,536
Thanks: 1,184
Thanked 2,174 Times in 1,351 Posts
Default

What're the thoughts on quick connect fittings today? Used to be that they should only be used temporarily or for exposed applications.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 05-03-2018, 02:04 PM   #6
swnoel
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 529
Thanks: 83
Thanked 194 Times in 118 Posts
Default

Use one of these... they're pretty simple!
https://www.lowes.com/pd/SharkBite-1...ing/1000182579
swnoel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2018, 02:10 PM   #7
swnoel
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 529
Thanks: 83
Thanked 194 Times in 118 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thinkxingu View Post
What're the thoughts on quick connect fittings today? Used to be that they should only be used temporarily or for exposed applications.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk
They're considered a permanent repair.
swnoel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2018, 02:22 PM   #8
Rusty
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,028
Thanks: 603
Thanked 687 Times in 425 Posts
Default

This video is what I think you might want to consider. It is code compliant and easy to do.

__________________
It's never crowded along the extra mile.
Rusty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2018, 03:49 PM   #9
SteveO123
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Laconia, Lake Opechee
Posts: 187
Thanks: 286
Thanked 90 Times in 48 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by nhjenny View Post
I finally got here to open up our house on Sleeper’s Island. Trying to get water up and running, but we have had a break in a 1/2 copper line from freezing (first time that’s ever happened). This line just goes to a main floor toilet, but there is no valve to shut off the line, so we can’t turn on the water. Does anyone have suggestions for someone who could fix this, even better if it could be done today?? Left a message with Island services, looking for additional options. TIA!


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app
I second (third, fourth?) the Shark/Gator Solutions.. It sounds like you need to cap the broken line to be able to turn the water on for the rest of the house.(?). If so, cut the line and snap a cap on the line until you can get a plumber there...then you can manually fill the toilet tank as needed to flush. Cost you less than $20 even if you need to buy a pipe cutter.
Good luck!
Steve
SteveO123 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2018, 05:02 PM   #10
feb
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Meredith (Winnisquam) & Nashua, NH
Posts: 218
Thanks: 25
Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts
Default Still good for under house?

any opinions if this approach is good for a situation where camp is up on piers, pipes are exposed to freezing temps. Sure the pipes are drained via gravity but a little bit of water, a little bit of plastic and freezing temps make me think they may not stand up too long.
feb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2018, 05:19 PM   #11
Rusty
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,028
Thanks: 603
Thanked 687 Times in 425 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by feb View Post
any opinions if this approach is good for a situation where camp is up on piers, pipes are exposed to freezing temps. Sure the pipes are drained via gravity but a little bit of water, a little bit of plastic and freezing temps make me think they may not stand up too long.
I have outside sharkbite fittings that have been exposed to -20 deg's during the winter months & they haven't cracked or leaked when I turn the water on in the spring. These fittings are unbelievable.
__________________
It's never crowded along the extra mile.
Rusty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2018, 01:27 AM   #12
Grady223
Senior Member
 
Grady223's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: New Hope, PA & Barndoor Island
Posts: 465
Thanks: 93
Thanked 24 Times in 18 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by nhjenny View Post
I finally got here to open up our house on Sleeper’s Island. Trying to get water up and running, but we have had a break in a 1/2 copper line from freezing (first time that’s ever happened). This line just goes to a main floor toilet, but there is no valve to shut off the line, so we can’t turn on the water. Does anyone have suggestions for someone who could fix this, even better if it could be done today?? Left a message with Island services, looking for additional options. TIA!


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app
Tim Sullivan 603-630-6505.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Grady223 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2018, 07:29 AM   #13
Prestige Worldwide
Senior Member
 
Prestige Worldwide's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: M-Vegas & Lake Winni
Posts: 68
Thanks: 45
Thanked 34 Times in 14 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by nhjenny View Post
I finally got here to open up our house on Sleeper’s Island. Trying to get water up and running, but we have had a break in a 1/2 copper line from freezing (first time that’s ever happened). This line just goes to a main floor toilet, but there is no valve to shut off the line, so we can’t turn on the water. Does anyone have suggestions for someone who could fix this, even better if it could be done today?? Left a message with Island services, looking for additional options. TIA!


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app
Call Nick at 603-582-1553
This is his cell#. He has a Baja outlaw on the water on Long Island. It's set up for Plumbing service calls and rapid response to island properties on Winnipesaukee.

http://bellemoreplumbing.com

Name:  IMG_0566.JPG
Views: 1546
Size:  154.4 KBName:  IMG_0565.jpg
Views: 1548
Size:  79.8 KB
Prestige Worldwide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2018, 08:21 AM   #14
swnoel
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 529
Thanks: 83
Thanked 194 Times in 118 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by feb View Post
any opinions if this approach is good for a situation where camp is up on piers, pipes are exposed to freezing temps. Sure the pipes are drained via gravity but a little bit of water, a little bit of plastic and freezing temps make me think they may not stand up too long.
Just curious if you've had problems with this current situation? The company I worked for would never guarantee just blowing lines out or gravity , we'd install RV antifreeze in the entire system and have never had a failure due to this solution. We've used hundreds of sharkbite fittings in areas below freezing with no consequences to the fitting.
swnoel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2018, 04:32 PM   #15
Descant
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Merrimack and Welch Island
Posts: 4,591
Thanks: 1,413
Thanked 1,703 Times in 1,107 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by nhjenny View Post
I finally got here to open up our house on Sleeper’s Island. Trying to get water up and running, but we have had a break in a 1/2 copper line from freezing (first time that’s ever happened). This line just goes to a main floor toilet, but there is no valve to shut off the line, so we can’t turn on the water. Does anyone have suggestions for someone who could fix this, even better if it could be done today?? Left a message with Island services, looking for additional options. TIA!
I hope you'll let us know how things worked out. This is a tough time of year to get somebody to an island on short notice

They may not yet be open, but I bet if you ask around, you'll find many islanders have developed some handy skills. You might also be surprised at the parts inventory that exists in those sheds behind the camp, as well as specialty tools.
I had a boat sink at the dock once (pinholes in the bellows) and shortly after we arrived a friend showed up with a jack intended to level his boat house, and a couple of extra pumps.. We lifted it to gunwales at water level and had a drink while we watched the pumps work. Easy. Who knew?
Descant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2026, 01:07 PM   #16
jazzman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Mont Vernon NH & Big Barndoor Island
Posts: 327
Thanks: 4
Thanked 185 Times in 63 Posts
Default Island Plumbers

Any modern updates for this? Leaking how water tank and very ageing pump/pressure tank on Barndoor Island. Looking for a plumber with a boat. I don't really want to put a HW tank leaking rust in my boat :-)
jazzman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2026, 03:59 PM   #17
TheTimeTraveler
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 963
Thanks: 301
Thanked 303 Times in 188 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jazzman View Post
Any modern updates for this? Leaking how water tank and very ageing pump/pressure tank on Barndoor Island. Looking for a plumber with a boat. I don't really want to put a HW tank leaking rust in my boat :-)
Suggest you put in an "on demand" hot water heater. It is very small and you won't have to deal with a bad rusting tank in 15 years.

The downside is you need the power capability in your electric box to run this unless you use natural or bottled gas. Also they are known for needing replacement around the 10 year mark.
TheTimeTraveler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2026, 10:20 AM   #18
jazzman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Mont Vernon NH & Big Barndoor Island
Posts: 327
Thanks: 4
Thanked 185 Times in 63 Posts
Default

Never mind. They use a ton of power. I'm already out of breaker slots and the breaker panel is already in a non code place
jazzman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2026, 03:51 PM   #19
The Real BigGuy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,330
Thanks: 128
Thanked 478 Times in 293 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by swnoel View Post
Just curious if you've had problems with this current situation? The company I worked for would never guarantee just blowing lines out or gravity , we'd install RV antifreeze in the entire system and have never had a failure due to this solution. We've used hundreds of sharkbite fittings in areas below freezing with no consequences to the fitting.
I've been gravitying out my water system for 30 yrs with no issues accept when i forgot to leave a valve open and the water stayed in the pipe under the sink. I do put non-toxic anti-freeze in all my sink/tub drains, the elbow on the upright for my washing machine, and the emptied toilet tank (I put a gallon or so in, flush then add a little more to the bowl.)

With regards to shark bites, worlds greatest invention for those of us who suck a soldering with the added benefits that: 1) you can use them to go from copper to PVC or vice versa ; and 2) you can easily disconnect them (if they are in an accessible location) to drain the pipe. The only thing that might be better is the compression tool that plumbers are using now to avoid soldering but, the issue with that is that it is far to expensive for a homeowner.
The Real BigGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2026, 05:07 PM   #20
webmaster
Moderator
 
webmaster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,494
Blog Entries: 1
Thanks: 467
Thanked 4,031 Times in 864 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy View Post
The only thing that might be better is the compression tool that plumbers are using now to avoid soldering but, the issue with that is that it is far to expensive for a homeowner.
I have to add that after we had renovations to our house we found that two new compression joints in the basement were dripping and had to be redone. Six years ago I put in eight Sharkbites myself to connect pex to copper and none of them ever dripped and are working perfectly.
webmaster is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:08 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2026, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

This page was generated in 0.12103 seconds