Any Idea how to repair this hole?

Avc27528829
by Avc27528829
I have the 45 gal gas water heater on the left on a metal table and 2 ft to the right the A/C air handler and its attachment. the pvc was recently installed to take the dirty water from washer down existing drain smack in the middle of both heater and A/C.... the handyman was not so handy after all. He left me with this mess which I found after work.

Any idea how to seal this wall with copper pipes sticking out 2 inches from wall? I have contracted several handyman and no one wants to touch it. Please help!
  8 answers
  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Jan 23, 2018

    Get the original handyman back and tell him to finish the job he was paid to do, not the mess he left.

    • Avc27528829 Avc27528829 on Jan 23, 2018

      Hi Nancy as a female home owner I have tried to contact the guy

      he no longer has the same contact info. I tried to repair most of the hole as you can see the other pieces of attached drywall are my attempts to cover an unsightly space.

  • Ken Ken on Jan 23, 2018

    Thanks for the photo. I see a piece of drywall that appears to be unattached resting on pipes, correct? Can I ask why the wall would need to be sealed? If this is not living space, I would prefer to maintain access to the pipes. I assume that this is in a utility closet, or it should be.

    • See 1 previous
    • Avc27528829 Avc27528829 on Jan 23, 2018

      Remember all walls have open spaces and access to the entire house and this can become an entry point to many pests in my home.

  • Jamie Jamie on Jan 23, 2018

    My first question is why do you have a 45 gallon hot water heater on a table? You do have a mess there. For future reference, don’t hire a “handyman“ unless he has real good references for all aspects of repair. I have been in business for over 30 years, I understand why you want that covered, and I don’t understand why they needed to add the pvc pipe when it was never there before other than he didn’t know what he was doing or it was just easier to do it that way. My only suggestion if you want it fixed correct is to call a reliable plumber. I hate when I see this happen to customers and can’t do a thing about it. I wish you luck from JR

    • Avc27528829 Avc27528829 on Jan 23, 2018

      Hi Jaime,


      My big headed husband thought it was safer to have the heater installed on a metal table because the certified installer recommended it. I told him that is waste of extra money and useless space but he left it. The handyman I explained the pipe needed to go under the air handler and against the wall to the new installation of the waste water from my washer. The washer and dryer were both inside my kitchen for over 10 yrs and I decided to move it out to the Utility attached to the house with an exterior access door.


      When I got home from work the guy had taken the easy way out and decided to make a straight connection from new installation direct to old existing drainage he also attached the a/c drip pipe to same so I don't bite his head off when I see his lazy easy way out leaving me with wasted valuable space inconvenient eye sore pipes hanging around and his explanation was I would have to make a new drainage connection, i would have to dig and connect and open holes on wall and outside so to cut cost I made it this way.


      My husband accepted that crap when i got home the damage was done. I also do plumbing myself so I am just waiting a little to push my husband to invest in changing the ancient outdated air handler setup to a more compact one and i will cut and configure the drainage myself.


      Most repair guys think when they see a lady, she does not know A from B but in this case they get surprised when they try to take me for a ride and I even can quote prices for some repair stuff since I do live at homedepot a lot. The only thing keeping me from sealing my wall is that I don't fit (I'm a big bone gal :)) )


      Sometimes it's better to do it yourself than pay for a lazy crappy job.

      thanks for your advise.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Jan 23, 2018

    Look him up on facebook and see if he has a site and contact information. I would report him to the BBB and other places incase others want to use him. Finish covering the larger open hole and call it a day. It looks like all of this is in the laundry room. It is not a room all that many people see. Mine is not finished at all, no ceiling, cement floor and all. We are keeping that room and the storeroom/workroom unfinished for tax purposes.

    • Avc27528829 Avc27528829 on Jan 24, 2018

      I will look him up and give him one last try to fix his mess before I report him to BBB. Thanks for your help. Enjoy your day.

  • O.shag O.shag on Jan 27, 2018

    Maybe until you can get this fixed properly you could use metal sheeting to cover as much of the hole as possible and spray expanding foam in gaps to keep critters out.

  • Jamie Jamie on Jan 27, 2018

    I know what it is like, I woman with a tool belt. You would think after 30 years, it might have changed. But like you, I live at Home Depot and they are surprised at what I can pick up, I am only 5'1". Good luck with your mess. I am glad you can fix some of this your self. Good for you. You go girl. My problem is I get started and get in over my head just when my husband comes in the door. He just smiles and lifts off whatever is too big that I can't handle, smiles and has learned not to say a word. Got to love our husbands lol.

    • Avc27528829 Avc27528829 on Jan 29, 2018

      Hi Jaime,


      Yup! Let me give you some of what youtube and Hard Knocks University has taught me to repair. I have even gone up on my roof and replaced roof tiles on my home, always replace new light fixtures and have installed decorative moulding around all my windows and doors inside my house.


      I am currently getting ready to purchase new kitchen cabinets and wood look ceramic plank tiles floors in the entire house with the help of my friend who is a 43 yrs old woman I plan to install. My friend and I have built together the front porch and gave my 1950's home

      a fresh beach style look. I will get pics for you tomorrow.


      Guys please remember there is almost nothing we can't do. If it's to

      heave we find a way to pick it up by means of mechanical help or simply asking for help but we GET THE JOB DONE!

      right Jaime Wilmer....


  • John White John White on May 07, 2018

    Its better to contact to your HVAC provider or a professional HVAC contractors near you for quick and better solution.

  • Avc27528829 Avc27528829 on May 21, 2018

    Thanks John.