How to Fix a Leaky Pipe: Tips and Tricks
Oh no! It is late on a Saturday evening, no plumber around you is open, and you noticed that your pipe is leaking. Okay, it may not be as bad as you think and often, you can temporarily fix a leaky pipe until you can get a plumber out to your home.
One thing you do want to keep in mind is that if your pipe is leaking, you will need a plumber to come out and fix it. The options that we talk about below are only temporary fixes and not meant to replace advice from a professional plumber. Okay, two things – the second thing to keep in mind is that if you do find that you have a pipe leaking, you want to make sure you get all the water cleaned up and the area that was wet dry. Otherwise, you may notice that over time mold develops.
Plug the Hole
One of the most common causes of a leaky pipe is a small hole in the pipe. This happens quite often and can be temporarily repaired by placing a small object in the hole. For example, you can place a sharpened pencil into the hole to help seal the hole off. To make things easier for you, breaking the pencil in half is recommended. Once you have the pencil in place, you will need to wrap some duct tape around it to ensure it does not fall out or come loose.
Tighten the Joint
Another common reason for a leaky pipe is a loose thread joint on the pipe itself. The best way to tell is to look for where the water is leaking from and to feel the joint. If it feels loose, it probably is. To temporarily fix this issue, you should use a wrench to tighten up the joint. In most cases, this will stop the leak, but you may notice that it does not fully stop the leak and only slows it down to a minimum.
Use Some Epoxy Putty
If you find that your pipe has a small hole and the pencil plug option did not work or you notice that there is a crack in the pipe, you can utilize epoxy putty as a temporary fix. This type of putty is made to be used in your situation and will provide you with a good alternative while you wait for a professional plumber. Most big box hardware stores will have this putty on hand. It is important that you follow all the directions on the putty. In most cases, you will need to form the putty in your hands first and then mold it to the pipe. You do not want to rush yourself either.
Get a Professional Plumber Out to Your Home
The above options are temporary fixes and should NOT be used to replace the advice and recommendations from an experienced and professional plumber. Each one of the options above can help buy you a little bit of time until a plumber can come out.
It is possible that the leak may not fully stop with any of the methods above so you must be prepared for that. It is recommended that you place a bucket underneath the pipe to catch any of the excess water and avoid using the plumbing in that area until the leak is fixed.
As always, if you are in need of plumbing work, do not hesitate to call a professional plumber!
