How To Patch A Leaking Pipe Until The Plumber Arrives
It is one of the most common horror stories that no homeowner ever wants to deal with. You wake up in the middle of the night to the sounds of running water or a leaking pipe and you need to rush to call an emergency plumber. Of course, they will come, but who knows how long it will take, and in the meantime, you have a leaking faucet or a burst pipe that is spewing water everywhere. So here is how to patch a leaking pipe until the plumber arrives.
To save yourself from having to deal with a lot of cleanups and the potential for a lot of damage caused by the leak, you can do a quick, temporary fix in order to stop your leaking pipe before the professional shows up to make sure the situation is handled and properly fixed. It is important to know that this patching is a very temporary fix and not a solution or an alternative to calling in a professional.
Stop The Flow Of Water
The very first thing you need to do before you patch a pipe – and probably before you even call the professional plumber – is to stop the water from flowing through the damaged or broken pipe. If you are unsure where the turnoff is for that specific pipe, go right to the source and turn off the water to your entire home. Next, run the tap until all of the water remaining in the pipe is drained.
Dry The Pipe
No patch job will hold – even temporarily – to a wet surface. So, once the water is shut off, you will want to make sure the pipe is completely dried off. While doing this, you should also dry up all of the cabinets, fixtures, and surrounding area in order to limit the amount of damage that can be caused by the leaking pipe.
Tighten The Pipe Joints
Grab an adjustable wrench, and then proceed to tighten all of the joints on the pipes near the leak. While some of these fittings may already be tight, making sure that they are is a good way to create a stronger seal, which will only help make your temporary patch stronger while you wait for the professional to arrive.
Prep The Pipe For A Patch
In order for your patch to work, you need to make sure that the pipe surface is clean and smooth. Grab some sandpaper or a file and make sure you remove all of the rust and rough spots on the pipe around the leak.
Patch Your Broken Pipe
When it comes time to apply the actual patch to your leaking pipe, there are numerous methods you can use to reduce the damage done to your home before the professional plumber arrives. The method that you will use to patch your pipe depends on what kind of materials you have on hand. Here are a few of the most common items and methods:
Epoxy Putty: You can break off a piece of epoxy putty and knead it in your hands, once it is right, you can push it into the broken pipe, as well as around the crack or hole.
Neoprene Or Rubber Hose: With these as well as some clamps, you can seal off a leak in a pinch. However, if you do not have clamps, duct tape can work to hold the seal until the professional plumber arrives to fix the problem.
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