pipe puncture?

[Newby2]

Recently, I put down several nails on the floor board of the en-suite in my upstairs bedroom, trying to cure the squeaking noise problem of the floorboard. Later on it occurred to me that there is a (PVC) waste pipe from the en-suite shower running beneath the floor (there may be a hole in the joist allowing the pipe through). I can tell one of the nails is pretty close to the pipe (from the noise that I knocked on the floor board I could tell there is a hole in the joist below), but not sure if it has hit the pipe or not. I poured water in the shower and there is no visible leak from downstairs ceiling. But I am still not 100% sure.

Is there any way to tell if the nail has hit the pipe without lifting the floorboard? Thanks a lot.

 

[mickyg]

no

 

[doitall]

no

That should be Yes Micky

When the water comes through the ceiling.

 

[JayJay1978]

Tough one.

I hate using nails, I always use screws on floorboards. If there is a nail in the pipe it will be more or less keeping the water back (if its only gone through the top).

My advice is do nothing untill a damp patch appears underneath, then either rip up and repair (cut pipe and use straight connector if the pipes allow) or maybe take the nail out and insert of screw wrapped in PTFE.

Maybe practice the latter on a scrap piece of pipe first and see if it seals.

 

[mickyg]

no

That should be Yes Micky

When the water comes through the ceiling.

well he thinks he's gone into the top of a pvc waste pipe so I wouldn't expect to see any water tbh.

 

[doitall]

unless the pipe has shattered

 

[Newby2]

dear all, thanks for your replies. so a hole on top of the pipe may be okay - normally the water will not overflow from the hole (it is waste pipe so not much pressure)? So for the moment I just leave it?

 

[bengasman]

pressure test with drain test kit maybe?

 

[mickyg]

I'd leave it tbh. If it has gone through the nail will seal the hole anyway and even a small hole in the top of the pipe isn't gonna do much harm. If it shatters the pipe you'll see water pretty quick.