On Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:10:56 -0700, "james" wrote:

I just found the pipe leading to an outside faucet has busted. Probably due
to frozen pipe in the winter.

I see two ways to fix this:

(1) saw off the drywall and replace the busted section. Then patch drywall.
Pros: looks neat. Cons: need to repair drywall, and the pipe may bust again
in the future.

(2) saw off the pipe leading into the wall and reroute the pipe along the
wall (instead of into the wall) and then poke a hole to the outside and
install a new faucet. Pros: no need to cut and repair drywall, and being
inside the garage, the new pipe is less likely to freeze. Cons: does not
look as neat.

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/11860751_WQLNu

The smaller, red valve is the shutoff to the outside faucet.
The copper pipe on the wall is the hot water relief outlet and is not
related to this problem.

BTW, before winter I closed the valve inside the garage and opened the
faucet outside the garage. No water came out. This must mean the water
stayed inside the pipe, which is why it busted. Is there a way to make the
water come out?

Also, the shutoff valve is lower than the outside faucet. I believe the pipe
inside the wall first turns upward, and then slope downward toward the
outside faucet. I know it slope downward because I cut a hole in the
drywall.

Any other tips related to this repair?


Either way will work. I prefer the neater-looking method. Insulate
the new pipe, maybe wrap with heating tape if your winters are very
cold.