Patch Your Pipes Before Your Plumber Arrives
It happened—you have discovered a leaky pipe. So, you frantically contact your trusty plumber and just wait, right? Well, you may want to take some action instead of just anxiously waiting! After all, you don’t want to risk additional damage to the area surrounding the leak. Take a few deep breaths and patch that pipe temporarily to help until the plumber arrives. It’s really not as complicated as you might think, especially with these easy-to-follow steps to help.
Step One: Stop The Water Flow
The very first thing you should do as you wait for the plumber to arrive is to shut off the water supplying the pipe. This may seem like common sense, but a large number of people forget this very important step! If you don’t know which valve to shut off, it’s okay to find the main water supply valve and shut it off until help arrives. Once you’ve turned the water off, you need to turn on the faucet closest to the leak in order to drain any residual water from the pipe.
Step Two: Clear The Area Out
Now that you have made sure the water is off, clean the area surrounding the pipe. Dry the pipe by wiping it clean and also clear off the surrounding fixtures and cabinets, mop up any water on the floor, and remove any items that you don’t want damaged by water. This also clears the way for the plumber to work quickly and efficiently once they arrive. You are paying them by the hour, after all.
Step Three: Pipe Prep
Before you apply the temporary patch, get the damaged area ready. Use a section of rough sandpaper or a file to even out the area that leaked. You want to make sure there is not any limescale, rust, or rough edges. Remembering this step will make the patch more effective if you need to turn the water back on prior to your plumber’s arrival.
Step Four: Apply The Epoxy To The Pipe
The best method to patch a leaky pipe is to apply epoxy. This is easily found at your local hardware or home improvement store. Rip a piece of epoxy off that you think will adequately cover the leak, then work it in your hands until it’s mixed enough to apply. Shape it so it covers the leak and press it to the area. Once applied, smooth the edges and let it dry for as long as the guidelines on the packaging say.
An additional tip is to place a small piece of rubber over the newly applied and dry epoxy. You can keep the rubber in place with a pair of pipe clamps.
Patching a leaky pipe isn’t a permanent fix, but it will keep things together until the plumber can get to your home. This way, you don’t have to go without water or risk more damage to your home in the meantime. Follow these tips and you will apply a pipe patch that any plumber would be proud of!
