Emergency Plumbing Repairs in Pipes

According to Murphy's Law, plumbing emergencies only occur on holidays, weekends, or in the middle of the night. A pipe that suddenly springs a leak can create a royal mess in your kitchen, bath or basement. Fortunately Mr. or Ms. Average Homeowner can make short-term repairs with things you can find around the house. One of these fixes can keep you dry until your plumber handyman comes to make permanent repairs, though you can't count on them to last for the long term.

What You'll Need

• Pencil
• Duct tape or wide plastic tape
• Bicycle inner tube or garden hose
• Utility knife or scissors
• 3 hose clamps or stiff wire
• Screwdriver or pliers

For a Pinhole Leak in Copper Pipe

1)  Turn the water off in the pipe, and thoroughly dry the area around the hole.
2)  Sharpen an ordinary No. 2 pencil. Push the tip ("lead") into the pinhole and break it off.
3)  Wrap duct tape or wide, waterproof plastic packing tape around the pipe. Start 3 to 4 inches from the hole and wrap tightly, overlapping on each round. Wrap past the hole for another 3 to 4 inches.

For a Crack or Small Split in Copper or Poly Pipe

1)  Turn the water off in the pipe, and thoroughly dry the area around the hole.
2)  Cut a short section of bicycle inner tube or garden hose, long enough to cover the hole and overlap by 2 to 3 inches in both directions.
3)  Cut the piece of tubing lengthwise with the utility knife or scissors.
4)  Wrap the patch around the pipe with the slit or overlap on the side opposite the leak.
5)  Place a hose clamp directly on the leak to hold the patch in place. Place one or two additional hose clamps to either side of the first.

6)  Tighten the clamps with the screwdriver. Don't let the patch wrinkle. If you have no hose clamps around the house, you can use short lengths of wire that you twist tight with pliers.

These are temporary, emergency repairs and are only stopgap measures. Be sure to call your plumber in the morning.

copyright © 2014-2019 scmrak