How to Remove a Broken PVC Fitting From a Threaded Pipe
Most pipe in the home that is threaded at the ends is either steel pipe that connects water heaters to copper water supply pipes, or black-coated gas supply pipe. Some of the fittings attached to the threaded end are made of plastic, though most are metal. PVC plastic fittings, if broken, are simply and easily removed, even if the pipe itself is also made of plastic. The job also requires little time and only a few tools.
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Turn off the gas, if removing the fitting from a gas pipe. If the pipe has electrical cable in the middle that supplies the fixture, turn off the power to the fixture.
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Hold the pipe next to the fitting with one hand. Turn the fitting counterclockwise with the other hand, until the fixture is removed.
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Place a wrench around the fitting if it won't budge, and a second wrench around the pipe, close to the fixture. While holding the wrench handle securing the pipe, turn the other wrench counterclockwise. When the fixture loosens, take off the wrenches and remove the fixture by hand. If it is attached to electrical wires, unscrew them or sever them with pliers.
References
- "Home Improvement 1-2-3"; Benjamin W. Allen, Christopher Cavanaugh; 1995
Warnings
- If the pipe is plastic, take special care removing the fixture so as not to damage the pipe's thread.
Writer Bio
Steve Sloane started working as a freelance writer in 2007. He has written articles for various websites, using more than a decade of DIY experience to cover mostly construction-related topics. He also writes movie reviews for Inland SoCal. Sloane holds a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing and film theory from the University of California, Riverside.
Photo Credits
- pipe wrench image by apeschi from Fotolia.com
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