How to undo a glued PVC fitting 

next episode he shows you how to replace the bent leaking copper pipe hes banging on.

People seem to miss that this is something you can do in an emergency situation where the supply stores are closed and you still need to return the customer's/ tenants water services. Good video thank you.

I was waiting for one of those copper joints to fail with all that movement.

I've done pool PVC plumbing for a half century and "Fitting Chipping" can sometimes mean the difference between a 30 minute and two hour plus repair due to how tightly a manifold's fittings are stacked. The observations that this is a "silly" repair are valid, but it was an easy and visible way to demonstrate the technique. The other half of my magic bag of tricks is several sizes of "Rambits", a propeller-like reaming tool that removes *just* the pipe from inside a glued fitting., leaving it ready for a new section of pipe to be reglued into the old fitting! My only suggestions are: I have found a single, 45 degree, diagonal slice down to the pipe makes it easier to sneak the chisel under the pointed end of the "collar". I can often get fittings to spin off in one piece by just working the chisel forward, a tap at a time. (Then again, I'm usually working in 1-1/2" or larger.) This has the benefit that you can make this cut first, leaving the connection intact and better supported, then make the through-cut last. Unless I actually need to compensate for shrinkage or expansion of a plastic part that must be reused, I've stayed away from teflon tape for about 40 of those 50 years. I find a joint stick or a PVC compatible thread sealant to be far less prone to leak. Even if properly laid and wrapped and with no evidence of "spinning" by the teflon with the female side, they can still disappoint. If the teflon *does* grab and spin with the female side...always start over. Nice video!

I can't believe that worked, but it did! I would do anything to avoid all that work, but like you said, if you don’t have the right parts, can’t get the right parts, and times a-wastin', you do what you gotta do. Amazing.

Thanks. I didn't know it would be so easy to take off a glued pvc joint. The only thing I would suggest here is that, before gluing, don't tighten the screw connection all the way. Leave about a quarter turn left. Then glue the joint and after mating, turn the screwed joint that last i/4 turn. If you read the manufacturer's instructions, they say to always turn the glued joint about a quarter turn when mating, which smears the glue and closes possible leaks. Thanks again for the video.

PVC tips and Tricks: From those of us who have had to manage this type of problem and everyone interested: Thanks for a very practical and satisfying video!

Cool that you used a wood saw blade figuring most people don’t have the proper tools. Glad you did this

He is using the chisel upside down. Flat side against work piece drives the chisel in further, use the angle side towards the work and you should end up with hardly any gouges....

Nice video. I've used a heat gun and been able to get fittings apart. Just take your time and it will work great.

Ive been an irrigation tech for a long time. The reason you dont do this is because pvc glue on pvc is considered a permanent bond. To reuse a section in this way means it will surly fail again. The pvc glue actually melts a layer of the pvc pipe and thearfore it will break or leak in the future. Dont do this please

You are the only person I have seen on RU-vid that wraps the Teflon tape the way I do. I find it easier to feed off the back and hold the starting end by holding like you do. 👍🤙✌️😃

Thanks for this. I can't tell you how many times I've been faced with the same problem and I just cut off the whole pipe and reconfigured it.

My pops showed me this trick when i was young. There are many scenarios where this may come handy. Will also give you props for putting that towel to catch the adhesive. Great job, bro.

I have been working with both conduit and water lines for over thirty years, but I still like to see if someone knows a better way to do things. I have had to learn much on my own, but i have also learned better ways to do something and it helped me increase my own skills by looking at how someone else does it. Sometimes I find my way is best, sometimes I find another's way of doing something is best, so I either stick to my way, or adopt another way, but I appreciate it when someone shows their way of doing it, and it helps a new Tech to learn. Thanks for showing this!

awesome video! practicality first class. everyone is in a hurry these days, they'll pass over an option to learn, and save enormous time but revert to the standard form a line, gotta stay in line and follow the leader, hahaha, gotta think outside of the box sometimes, i've built good truck motors from 2 i'd found in the desert, one had a piston crown stuck sideways from the wrist pin coming out of the piston. the cylinder on that one had a 1/4 inch gouge in the liner. the other motor had a crank pin that wore past the bearings (the owner of that one must of drove an hour with a pretty good knock. just by luck the motors were the same bore, it was a datsun 1600 pair. did some swapping of good pistons onto the good rods and crankshaft, i used all the old seals, main seals, rings and bearings and gaskets except for the head and exhaust gasket, i bought an oil filter and oil. the cost was 17 dollars, i did it on the garage floor. the motor had slightly low compression but was consistent across the board, good oil pressure and no leaks. i did the same thing to 2 different transmissions by swapping the tail extensions and transmission shafts to fix a cracked case, on the coffee table in the house, it took a couple weeks, the house smelled 90 wt for a month, but i didn't have to hold the stick shiift to keep it from popping out. i put a yamaha IT 250 piston in a honda Odyssey motor just by putting the yamaha ring in the honda cylinder bore, it showed almost no clearance, i filed the ring, the piston was very tight (i used a bit more oil and raised the needle a notch, the differences on the piston intakes were one had a split window and the other was a complete cut out. i didn't even check the exhaust port timing by measuring the pin to the top of the piston, had it been off just a fraction it wouldn't have ran at all, it didn't cost anything, i had the yamaha piston laying around. wait come to think of it i even used the old base gasket that had crack in it, glued it with some shit. compression was a beast, to pull start it, was like thump...thump...and crack it was running, i rode that for a couple years. and sold it. sometimes just winging it works better that all the time worrying about following the rules and directions.

I have read a good number of the negative comments about this repair video. I for one, am thankful for any small bit of information I may someday need to use in an emergency. Please, cut this guy some slack, he demonstrated a method that will work if you do not have the proper parts, nothing more nothing less. I am from the US and I think most repair techs in first world countries will agree and understand what I am about to write. I have lived the past 5 1/2 years in the Philippines. I see things in plumbing and electrical work almost daily that will make PRO installers (and code enforcement) cringe. Still, it functions and works for these folks. In my own retirement project home and just one day ago, a shower unit fell from its holder and broke off a deteriorated valve on the wall. The water supply to the home had to be shut off as NOTHING is installed with cleanouts, shutoff valves etc. etc. I had to open a hole with a brick hammer and pointed chisel and dig out some room around the plastic supply line. I was able to cut off the jagged pipe with a mini-hack hacksaw blade holder and a hacksaw blade. A very tight fit in the solid cement wall. My "repair" was made from parts on hand in the middle of the night while I was placing trades in my IRA accounts. A 90-degree elbow, a plastic ball valve and a few small odds and ends restored water service in the CR (comfort Room). I would call my efforts UGLY AS HELL but it is beautiful to my wife and family. NO ONE in my home complained when they woke up for school with water available in all three CRs, "dirty" kitchen and the main kitchen. My wife kissed me and commented how blessed we are to have the home we own, the smarts to repair/ remodel and "even municipal running water." A large number of folks here have no idea what "real" running water is. Chill out guys and appreciate the high standards of life you enjoy.

Every workman has their style. I would use a small chisel to get a grip on the edges, then a nose plier to twist off the portions. I've had to do this several times. The pipe is what you have to protect. The fittings are expendable. Good job!!

I was plumbing on Midway Island which is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean 5000 miles from Kawaii and I had to make a 3" MIP so we glued a piece of pipe into a coupling so we could insert into the pipe threader and threaded 1 1/2" from end of coupling and then I did what you just showed to get rid of pipe from my new MIP. Dremels and oscillating tools are really nice today for doing this type of work. Thanks for sharing

This worked perfectly to repair and replace my union connection on my pool pump. It was easy like you described, I carefully used a dremel to make the cuts due to lack of space to work. Great video thanks

I've made a similar repair and used a flat head screwdriver to pry off the old fitting after cutting channels into it. Less chance of gouging the pipe I'm guessing. Also used Blue Lava PVC cement. Great job!

Very good job son. There are those of us out here that understand what you are talking about .Thank you for this video .

This video is meant to help the people who have the time and feel like saving some cash!! Thank you uploader , I learned a new trick today!!

I like the idea of union couplings, but most valves can be rebuilt on site without having to replace the entire unit.

Wow seems to be a lot of critics on this video. I have used the procedure you have described and 5-10 yrs later it's still water tight. I stock all size fittings and pipe I need but a few times I have found myself without the needed part and this technique will work if you are careful. I use heat to remove pipe from a "need to save" fitting up to 6" and it works great. Maybe if you started off stating that this technique is good for an emergency situation or a non critical repair that won't flood a house or waste huge amounts of water if it does fail then there would have been less critics. The main problem I have would be to use this technique if fresh fittings and pipe are available.

I get the impression that this young lad works for an irrigation company and is not a plumber or even had proper or sufficient training in plumbing materials and methods. I give him credit for holding a job and doing his best.

I like the unions at the valves. Didn't know about this option when I installed my irrigation system. More places to leak possibly though but definitely easier to change or repair it appears.

Brother thank God for you. You have no idea the headache I went through last week trying to fix my union. Mine broke on the opposite side and I had to repair the entire pvc pipe to put in a new union. Now my other union is breaking on the other side due to sun damage. I wish I saw this video last week. Would have saved me a boat load of money, time, energy and stress. Thank you for this video. I just ordered that part. Godbless you brother

thanks for the video. Nice tips. Of course everyone has an opinion. Remember the title is "How to undo a glued PVC fitting"

You can use a heat gun to heat the coupler you are removing. You only need to cut one slit. Heat it up so it’s slightly soft then use needle nose players to roll up the coupling you are removing. Kind of like the old sardine can. This helps insure from damaging the rest of the piping from the shock of hitting it with the chisel/hammer combo. Older pvc gets brittle and can easily crack where you don’t want it to.

Thanks needed that info. for the coupling I have!!!!

I learned a new technique.i once did a similar 5job.lucky for me i have a heating gun to use.i just heated that part with old glue and the glue had softened so i pulled the fittngs right away .took out the threaded part cleaned added a new teflon tape .then put all back together.THANKS for the VIDEO.

I'm 65 years old and never saw that done. This video was a great learning experience even at my age.

I live in a very rural area. Roads become impassable in big storms. Sometimes we cannot get out for a week. This is a good idea, I will remember it. As it so happens, my main water pipe (galvanized) had rusted all the way thru and broke off during a huge storm. Couldn't get out, the roads were out. I (single woman farmer) could not get the rusted pipe to unthread. I tried everything, cheater bars, rust spray, etc. So finally what I did was I went and got the Perma-Wrap I always keep on hand. I cut the vertical pipe off just below the rusted thru area. I JB welded a 3/4" PVC cap on. The I used the Perma-Wrap. Perma-Wrap makes two kinds of repair tape. One for pressurized and one for non. This repair is good for up to 300PSI. Life saver kind of stuff for me. Its nice to run across others who think outside the box and are familiar with all the constraints involved with making emergency repairs.

Thanks for the video! There are lots of videos showing how to remove pipe from fittings (preserving the fitting), but not many showing removing fittings from pipe (preserving the pipe).

I have done many plumbing jobs over the last 50 years and did not know you could do this and it seems to work better than I would anticipate BUT unless the joint comes apart where you can reuse it again with no leaks, it is far easier to start again with new pieces as they are not that expensive and plastic is cheap. I have reused copper before but in finishing a job and wanting no leaks after first assembly would be using new parts is the fastest and best way to do. Only if you have a dire problem and are 30 miles away from any Home Depot or others would I attempt this. Also if you are a real do it yourselfer and do home repairs you normally have "spare parts" you did not return and can accommodate your plumbing issue. But this video is well received and another idea to keep in mind because you never know when it could come in handy!

thank you very informative !

PIPEFITTER since 1981. What you did was especially awesome for someone in the field, short on time and fittings and need this job done. All the customer wants is it done fast and done good and that's exactly what you did! A quick way to make an easy $65 on this service call if you're an independent. Painting PVC exposed to the sun only does it good and extends it's service life, keeps the pipe fresh. Ignore the hater's coming on here, you did good!!

Nice work buddy. I've had to do that before on a male adapter coming out of a PVB just like you showed in the video. Tideous work and takes patience but it may save you from having to come back the next day to get the system back on. Don't listen to the haters, they don't get it....

Ive used a dremil grinder before and they work too.not critical of your methods just telling whats worked for me .thanks for video

Got to say a big thank you for posting this method for removing a already glued on PVC fitting. This saved me a bunch of work as I needed to what I thought was replace a leaking section of my pool pump 2" plumbing with a union on it. But it turns out the union has been discontinued so I had to keep and re-use the female part of the union which had a section of pipe on it with a broken slip-PT fitting on the end. I thought there was no way to get that fitting off the end of that pipe. But your method worked like a charm using a dremel tool to cut the grooves in the broken pvc fitting. It came off pretty cleanly with a chisel after that. I sanded the pipe, and re-glued it into a replacement fitting....whallah! Done! Thanks again !!

Post thought; ...and for you 'pros' out there who thought he was nuts for illustrating this method for 'quick' fixes, try being three hours from your shop, after hours, and having your last hack saw blade break. I wound up using a piece of "string" to cut a 6" pvc pipe off that I was plumbing on. Worked great! Learned it from a missionary who had to do it in South America.

Recommendation. Before reglueing your pipe. I would sand it with your wet n dry sand paper you use for copper piping. Emery cloth. Maybe even rough up your fitting with a wire brush then do all your priming. You did a very good job in explaining how to do your pvc water repair with piping that has pressure applied when finished. Your technique is also very useful with plastic drain piping. One very good technique you are using is when a plumber has to replace a toilet flange. We have all seen that rotted out toilet flange. Your technique can be used for a street type fittings also. Good job.

I just learned something. Thanks!

Don't mind the hate. The same plumbers who criticize you (who clearly don't know what they're talking about) are the "real plumbers" that do shit jobs that force us to hire people to redo. This is why I hate contractors in general & choose to do most jobs myself because a majority of them are garbage. The comments here only confirm it! I enjoyed learning a new technique. Thank you!

Really useful video - thanks. This was the only way I could have done the job on a 2 inch PVC pipe where the fitting was flush back to the wall of a sewage tank with no spare pipe without the need for expensive excavation. Saved me a lot of unnecessary cost. Thanks again!

The video subject was helpful as it met his need. And, it takes courage to put your work up for others, especially if you get torn apart by folks who don’t know a gimbal from a spindle. What drives me nuts is that so few presenters actually practice by going through the motions a couple of times. In addition place tools in order and then edit the video. There all sorts of free easy to use editors and add audio to the finished video. Sure it takes a little more time, but hey, this made it to at least 3,800 viewers with over 660 comments.

I love working with pvc , this video very helpful👍🏻👏

BRAVO! Excellent Presentation!!!

Nice work...thanks 4 your video..✅

I really liked this, there are times when you only have a few fitting around the house and don't want to waste half a day going to the store.

Good tips, thanks. I am not a plumber, but for the few things I have done I try to plan for the future, so I would have added some unions and work space in the design if possible.

Takes less time & effort to just cut the pvc, add a coupling, elbow and new male adapter

Nice option. Not everyone has a heat gun. However, when using the chisel, use the angled edge against the pipe. It won't gouge the pipe you want to save.

People read THE TITLE of the video!!!!!!! We all know how to do the job the normal way, He's taking the time to show us what to do if we are in a situation where we can't get a part "Like Right Now" "Great Video".......... ~PVC Tips and Tricks~

Not how i would have made the repair but for someone with little to no experience, great tip to get them started in repair plumbing. I would have used my torch to heat up the fitting and peal it off the pipe. Just dont burn up the pipe. Threading plastic to metal, I use pipe dope. Teflon tape has caused cross threading on me in the past.

Thanks for this good video ... If available, it seems a Dremel tool would make the cutting of the notches easier.

I've been a plumber for over 40 years. I've does this on occasion, but IMO its not worth the effort on this particular job. Just cut below the 90 and add a coupling and short piece of pipe. There have been jobs where this procedure was necessary though. Nice video.

Really cool man,thank you,i may try this next time i replace my hot water heater.

i'm 61 never knew you could do that. thanks for knowledge

this is good for 3 or 4 inch pipe where it would save a lot of time and money ,I have used this method for 30 years ,but in this case just replace the pipe

Well, he got the idea across, but to avoid the gouging of the pipe he should have turned the chisel over with the taper against the pipe so the cutting edge would be flat against the pipe he was cleaning. Just a thought!

Job well done. Thanks for sharing this tip.

You were talking about using unions where you can't unscrew something. I use a "poor mans union" under all my sprinkler valves: Pipe-Female, male-pipe, short piece of pipe, pipe-male, female-pipe. Then when you need to change the valve, cut out the short piece of pipe, unscrew the two male-female joints. Then to replace it, screw in the two m-f's and slide in a short piece of pipe as you shove the valve down on the new short piece of pipe. actually it takes twice the number of parts as I mentioned, because you do the inlet and the outlet at the same time. It doesn't look as bulky as the unions, and I always have these parts on hand, unlike unions.

good idea..

I for one enjoy watching others make mistakes so that I dont have to repeat them.

I got to get me one of those saws, I usually use a hack saw but that saw you used is way quicker, I think I've seen those saws but didn't know they could be used for cutting PVC pipe. And I just did some PVC drain plumbing on my kitchen sink and bathtub drains but the pipe was very old and brittle so I really needed new pipe anyway but this is good to know.

That's helpful and I hope I never have to do it. I got these fittings that are called pipe extenders, but they are really space savers (my name for them). One end fits inside a PVC pipe and the other end fits inside a fitting. I got them for 1.5 and 2 inch PVC. I don't know if they are available for smaller diameters, as is the case this guy is demonstrating. They are supposed to add Zero length to the situation, but usually add about 1/8 to 1/4 inch. In this case, you would cut the male adapter where it meets the pipe, slip the 'extender' in, screw in a new male adapter and then glue the extender into the new fitting. I love 'em. But, like I said, I don't know if they come in 1" or 3/4". Thanks for the Video. G

This would be good to know after the apocalypse when there is no hardware store

You taught me a new technique. Wonderful! I’ve never seen this before. There’s a million ways to do anything. This is one of the million of ways that can help someone. Thanks for an excellent video. You did a fantastic job!

There are fittings that will glue into the pipe. You have to specify class 200 or schedule 40 since the inside diameter is different. Much easier and probably less likely to fail.

Thanks for the great advice.. very useful.

Alternatively to chiseling would be using a flat blade screwdriver nested in the cut channel, then simply twist while prying up the cut piece. Using the screwdriver to pry up the fitting remnants as gently as possible as the pipe may be very strongly adhered in places around the fitting. I've had to set a hack saw blade next to a protruding piece,flush with the pipe, and saw away the last bits of fitting, then a utility knife cleans the pipe for re-attachment. Tedious but doing what must get did is how we roll.

Hey come on guys give this youngman alot way more credit than what you people is giving him he is teaching his way his video to teach people a way of doing this great job well done

Nice job. Thank you very much!

it's unreal to see how many people think they're so smart in criticizing this guy when all he is trying to do is give another option to deal with a glued fitting IF in a jam. If you think in life you'll never need a plan B you're either delusional or have been breathing too much pvc glue. Thank you for this video. I glued pvc fitting for years and always thought they were fused by the glue into one piece. At least now I have another option IF I'm stuck but of course plan A (new fittings) is always the better option.

Ensure you have some brace or support for the pipe you are trying to remove the pieces off or you will end up with more of a problem by breaking that pipe. Always walk with a piece or two of 2x4’s. Removable couplings are always recommended for major areas like the area shown here or pool joints by the filter or pump as well.

This particular situation isn't an emergency, and that's a lot of work to repair a drip just to save a few dollars. Be that as it may, you didn't replace a nipple, you replaced a male adapter. Also, when you glue two pieces of plastic together you're supposed to push them together tightly, turn the piece 1/4 turn and hold it for thirty seconds so the fitting is seated correctly and the glue doesn't push the fittings apart. Using unions to install valves in an excellent idea. You should have used a union to replace the male adapter as well, that way the job would have been done easier, faster and properly.

I would have just cut the long vertical pipe and then just made up a new elbow piece to fit. The last connection would of course be the piece you screw in, just like you did at the end here. Less work and less time and what you spent in extra PVC would be a lot less than the labor you spent screwing around with the existing pieces. I would actually have investigated changing the thread to a compression fitting type connection, so it could be removed at any time. I'm pretty certain they make adapters like that, check any pool supply.

Thanks! Very helpful!

for people with negative comments remember the title "How to undo a glued PVC fitting" not try to save $1.50 or time. Good vid thx

Nice! A good trick fo those "Aw, Shit!" occasions.

Excellent video...I really appreiate your very clear explanations. As a homeowner, I will use your technique a lot. Thanks!!!

PVC trips and tricks: Thanks for the instruction. I have a pressure gage threaded into a PVC 1" Tee between two 90's and only a few inches on either side of the 1" Tee. The PVC is split where the gage threads into the 1" PVC. The 1" Tee needs to be replaced. This idea might work better than cutting, coupling, gluing which will look really bad And as for some of the snotty remarks on this page, Some people just have to be argumentative or obstinate little babies and need to grow up. Thanks again.

Coupling, 90 and a male adapter it's done. Ha!

Good video and one more reason to own a Dremel tool .

You didn't think about applying a little heat? You're special.👌

I have done this in a pinch to get something going, but I look at it as a "temporary fix". There's a couple reasons why this won't achieve the full strength of a proper joint. Ideally, the dry fit is very snug, because the glue does not really hold it together. it is the PVC itself from the pipe and fitting that create a "weld" of PVC and the glue is more like the method of dissolving the PVC. Using this method on a very well made PVC joint, is not so easy because done right, the pipe and the fitting become one part. If it peels off easy, it really wasn't a great joint. Another downside to this repair is that without being able to twist the joint and work the dissolved PVC, you just have glue holding it together. This indeed will hold up, but you technically give up some of the spec strength. Odds are that you aren't going to use it at max pressure or max heat, so you'll probably not notice what spec strength you gave up. I've seen people glue up one piece after another without thinking about really needing the twist part of making a joint. Ideally, when this was assembled, the last glued section should have been the vertical pipe. But I've watched pros do it wrong and not just DIYers. Personally, I don't like using PVC pipe to make something that can't be dissembled. And your idea of putting a union in the vertical, is what should have been done in the first place. Or having a union or other fitting that can be dissembled in the steel pipe. I like to view it as if it were all rigid steel pipe and use the same function fittings but with PVC instead of steel. The one word you used that made me a bit uncomfortable was, "customer". I really hate the idea of a "pro" using these kinds of shortcuts and not doing it right. But plumbing is even worse than electrical in the US where we have "installers" vs, trained and certified plumbers and electricians. More often than not, we have general contractors who may buy a "license" but are not even skilled or certified in the trades they contract. And they employ "self proclaimed plumbers and electricians". In reality, these folks are really just "installers" without the in depth training and certification. Sometime you will find some of these guys who have a lot of experience and also spent their own time to learn technically proper theory and standards. But as a customer, you have no way of knowing this. It is far too common in the residential market while in industry, they tend to use trained and certified tradesmen.

I thought this was really cool and helpful!

Repipe with a union on the vertical run so next time you need to fix a leak or replace the valve it's a fifteen minute job.

Regardless of the cost of the fittings, when you don't have them and can't get them for whatever reason; this is a great solution! The naysayers apparently didn't hear him say that.

love the tip about using unions at the valves. Duh! Easy button time.

This video is to show that you can in fact undo a glued fitting and keep the same pipe that was glued into the fitting. It is not the easiest way to make a repair and not the best way either. I do most of my work with SCHD 80 PVC inside of medical facilities. These parts are generally not available at most hardware stores, so if you run out on a weekend there is no way to get more. I try to build things with no couplers unless the run extends beyond 10ft. My customers and I will generally see unions as a mess up or a place where a repair was made so we try and avoid them. This form of repair can help keep things looking perfect, but like I say in the video I only use it when I have no other option.

The guy put this on here to show someone who is in a bind a way to do a repair. It's pretty simple, if you don't like his method don't use it. But at the same time don't bash him for offering up some information. If you already know so much about that type of repair you shouldn't be looking up how to videos about it in the first place.

This is absolutely nuts. Third world for sure!

Thanks for the video, learned something good

I had a similar situation..I heated the outer fitting and took my time. Peeled the outer fitting off the stem...re glued a new fitting.

Love how you post a video to help people and they all suddenly become experts. Nice job👍

My method is different. I tell my wife I need to run down to the hardware store to get what I need to fix this. Then, on my way there, I stop at the store and grab a six pack of my favorite beer. Next, I go to the hardware store and spend $1.79 on the parts I need to fix this. Then I go back home, crack a beer, take a long drink, then spend 3 minutes cutting and replacing these parts, instead of the half hour I need to do it this way. Then, I go back in the house and kill a couple more beers while I watch the game.

When I screw metal into plastic, I always use a stainless steel hose clamp around the plastic. I tighten it down as I screw in the metal, and then finish tightening it down when I'm done.