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Temporarily Repairing Pipes (posted 4th June 08)
Leaking pipes within a
home often occur for a number of reasons. Some will be through
fatigue or external forces such as heat or cold, while others
will be through poor workmanship, mistakenly puncturing a
pipe while carrying out DIY work or maybe through simply hammering
home picture hooks etc. Whatever the reason, leaky pipes can
lead to many greater issues if they are not quickly dealt
with. With this article we look at some of the tricks that
can be applied to at least stave off the worst of any potential
damage that could result.
Assuming we are dealing with a small puncture,
one of the simplest sort term fixes can be achieve by using
a small length of garden hose. Around 5 – 6cm of hose
can be simply slit down it's length and wrapped around the
pipe and then secured with jubilee clips, one either end and
perhaps one centrally across the actual leak. This kind of
'quick fix' can save pounds from knock-on repairs and redecorating,
which might otherwise result. It's therefore always worth
keeping a few likely repair materials to hand…..perhaps
along side those fuses and flashlight. An alternative, but
nevertheless simple fix, can sometimes be achieved by using
just a lowly old screw. Wrapped in PTFE tape a screw of the
appropriate size can sometimes be just the right fit to affect
a temporary plug.
With the water switched off and the area
dry, a holed pipe can be temporarily fixed using epoxy putty.
It may be best to clean the area first using emery cloth or
wire wool, then mix a small amount of putty according to the
instructions and apply to the pipe. This fix could also be
carried out in conjunction with the hose or screw solution
outlined above….just to be sure.
For those who are a little more adapt at
DIY a more permanent fix could be embarked upon. If the pipe
concerned is not detrimental to the heating system or any
other service within the house a section of the pipe could
be cut and each open end then plugged with a plastic 'stop
end', usually available from DIY stores. Perhaps a better
alternative to isolating the pipe would be to use a push fit
- flexible hose or compression jointed – flexible hose.
Again these are available from DIY stores.
A trip to any plumbing merchant or DIY store
will reveal a multitude of practical solutions for not only
repairing pipes but also for extending and carrying out additions
to the array of water based services within the house. A more
professional repair to leaks and man made punctures may be
best approached through the use of 'slip couplings' and regular
'compression joints'. The mass of brass fittings available
nearly always offers long lasting solutions to all but the
most complicated tasks. Assuming you have the luxury of time
to sift though the offerings a solid brass connection will
not only look right but will last years if properly done.
If time is against you however, and the leak needs fixing
instantly then you need to think quickly. Even tightly bound
PVC tape, while not really recommended, may buy you enough
time to get the plumber in or take stock of how best to sort
the problem on a more permanent basis.
This article is free to republish
provided the resource information below remains intact.
Steve Hinks – www.shropshirebuildingskills.co.uk
Shropshire Building Skills :: Shropshire's No. 1 Construction
Training Centre
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