Repairing Leaking Pipes on Your Own
Repairing Leaking Pipes on Your Own
Leaking pipes, no matter how big or small it is can create extreme changes on your water bills, negative changes to be specific. However, fixing minor leaks is actually easy and is something that you can manage to do without calling a plumber. Here are some ways on how you can repair pipe leaks by yourself.
Fixing Leaks on Drainage Pipes with Tape
This is considered to be the easiest and cheapest way that anyone can do to fix small pipe leaks. All the material you would need is an electrical or duct tape. The basic principle here is that you should cover the leak using the tape. To effectively stop the leak, you should make sure the pipe is clean and dry then start wrapping the tape before the leak itself on your water pipe. Wrap in a diagonal manner around the pipe until you have covered the entire leaking area and a small portion extending before and after it.
Fixing Leaks by Epoxy
This method is best used if your leaking problem is situated at pipe fittings and joints. You can get epoxy from your local hardware store. First off, you should cut off the water supply. Then you need to drain all the water from the pipes. Water purging can be done by letting the faucet run, until no more water comes out.
After purging the water, dry out the pipes and clean them using steel wool. Make sure that the pipes are dry and clean, since applying epoxy on a wet pipe can give unpleasant results. If you are sure, then apply the epoxy and let it dry. Refer to the epoxy’s packaging on how long you should let it stand to dry up. Avoid using the pipe line if the epoxy has not set.
Fix Leaks Through A Pipe Clamp
You can use pipe clamp to fix your leaks. However, you should buy a clamp that has the right size to fit your leaking pipe. Once you have purchased a clamp, clean your pipe. Be careful in cleaning it, and make sure that you do this well. Wrap your pipe in a rubber pad which should be placed over the area where the leak is.
When you have the pad in place, put 2-3 pipe clamps over it and screw the clamp securely. If you have somewhat moderate leaks, you can also use this method to stop them.
Fixing Leaks Through Hose Clamps
Using a hose clamp is kind of similar to using a pipe clamp. However, this is to be only used on smaller leaks. You can start by wrapping the pipe with a rubber pad. Once the pad is placed over the leaking area, put one or two hose clamps over it and tighten the pad by securely screwing it. Of course, there are many types of clamps you can use for this type of project. The best ones would be stainless steel gear drive band style clamps. They provide uniform pressure and would work very well in this application. These clamps are made by several companies such as: Ideal, Qualihome, Glide Store, Lasso, iPower, Terra Bloom, Builder;s Best, Lokman, Breeze, Hiltichi, and Tech Team https://techteamproducts.com/. We have found their 4” clamp number 703 https://www.amazon.com/Band-Style-Key-Style-Stainless-Collection-Clothes/dp/B079RSJCJN/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1546285381&sr=8-7&keywords=dryer+vent+clamp and their 3” clamp number 727 https://www.amazon.com/Tech-Team-Band-Style-Key-Style-Collection/dp/B07GZZ1KHV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550509162&sr=8-1&keywords=tech+team+clamp have exceptionally good quality, are easy to work with, and are made from #304 stainless steel
Fixing Leaks Through C-Clamps and Blocks
If your pipe is of a small size, then you can make use of a small sized c-clamp to patch it. Start by placing a rubber pad directly on top of the leak. After that, put a small wooden strip or block on top of it. Get the c-clamp and place it over the fixture to hold everything on place. You use the blocks as protection for the pipe from the pressure given by the c-clamp.
Fixing Leaks Using Tin Can Clamps
Here, what you would need is a tin can. Start off by cutting the ends off the can and cutting it up one side. Get the half of the can and bend its ends so that they are flat and could meet. This is like a homemade pipe clamp.
Get a rubber pad and place it over your leak. Above the rubber pad, place your homemade clamp. A c-clamp and wooden blocks can also be used to tighten the fixture.
