How do you get drain pipes apart that have been glued together with the purple glue?

Question

The drain pipe is leaking after the trap where it is glued into a fitting that then goes through the wall so I can't cut it off and replace.

Answer 1

primer itself will bond pipe together, without seeing it I couldn't say if it was only primered or primered and glued. It is possible to take a glue joint apart but it is very tricky and doesn't always work. Cut the pipe right at the end of the fitting, now you'll see or should see the pipe inside the fitting. Use a hack saw blade, (I use a sawzall for this, you decide) and carefully make relief cuts perpendicular to the pipe in the fitting. Be careful not to cut into the fitting. The closer together you can make the relief cuts the better usually. After you make the relief cuts, take a small, thin blade screwdriver and a hammer and try to chip the pipe out of the fitting hub.

If you break the fitting, you're back to square one and replacing the whole fitting and making a hole in the wall. If you don't break it, pat yourself on the back.

If the fitting is leaking where the pipe connects to the fitting the glue joint may not be a very good one. A proper glue joint won't leak. So you may get lucky with this one. I can't tell you how many times this trick has saved me from breaking concrete or cutting holes that I didn't want to. Take your time doing it and don't use excessive force. It can be done.

Answer 2

PVC glue isn't a glue so much as it's a chemical welding agent. You can't unglue it because the "purple stuff" has really caused the two pieces of plastic to melt together into one piece.

This is on purpose and by design... You will need to replace both your P-Trap as well as drain line. If there is not enough length, make sure to buy and glue on a new extension piece onto the drain line coming out of the way.

It's not overly complicated but don't be afraid to call in help if the project seems more than you're comfortable level...

Answer 3

The purple, is not the glue, but the primer for the glue. It is used to clean the plastic pipe before gluing and "eats"/etches the pipe so the glue holds. You will need to cut the pipe and use a coupling to reassemble. Glued joints do not come apart.

Answer 4

You can't break that seal in my experience. You have to cut the line prior to the leak and add a coupling to join the two. It may mean cutting through the dry wall and "cutting out" the bad sealed joint.

Try calling a specialty plumbing store in your area don't bother with Lowe's or Home Depot) - maybe even taking a photo of the configuration if you are unsure of how to describe it.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

You are going to have to open up the wall and totally replace the pipe to do it properly, Once you have used pvc or abs with glue if it didn't seal right then you have to discard the fitting and redo it, It is not the glue that is purple, that is the primer, glue is clear. I am sorry to say this but I think you would be wise to have it done by someone who knows what they are doing.

Answer 6

you cant get it apart and you will need to cut it no matter what...you will need to find way to put new section in but i would find one that threaded together at both sides of trap so i could replace it without having to disturb main drain line again

Answer 7

once its glued u can not take it apart u need to cut it and replace it.
sorry for the bad news good luck

Answer 8

YOU'LL NEED TO TAKE THAT SECTION OUT AND REPLACE IT .. AFTER A PIECE OF PVC PIPE HAS BEEN GLUED , YOU CAN'T WORK WITH IT AGAIN.

Answer 9

you dont
you have to cut the pipes and start again