How to Loosen Plumbing Pipes
Plumbing is often the great nemesis of a homeowner. Because the plumbing in a home is often not given any attention unless something is wrong, plumbing can be difficult to work with. Getting a stuck pipe loose can be quite a chore.
Items needed:
- Channel-lock pliers
- Lubricant
- Torch
- Understand that the methods that you use may differ depending on what type of pipe you are working with. Lead, copper and PVC are all types of pipes that you could find in your home. If you are not sure what type of pipe you have in your home, bring a sample of it into a home improvement store for help.
- Start by using a pair of channel-lock pliers to give yourself a good grip on the pipe. By gripping the pipe and turning, you often will be able to loosen the pipe. Once it is loose, you will be able to remove the pipe by hand.
- Spray the pipe with a lubricant such as WD-40. Allow the lubricant to get into the threads and let it sit for several minutes. Once you have done so, attempt to pry the pipe off with the channel-locks.
- Use a torch at a low setting to heat the pipe. Do not use this method on PVC pipes. By heating the metal, you may be able to loosen the pipe. Use caution with this method and be careful not touch the pipe directly once you have heated it.