We all have encountered various house problems at least once in our lives. One of them is surely leaking pipes. Some of the most common leaks can occur around bathtubs and showers, sinks, washing machines, dishwashers, and toilets. Some leaks are obvious, but unfortunately, some of them can stay hidden for a long time.
This problem can cause a lot of damage if it’s not discovered and repaired on time. The best thing you can do is to call a plumber, but if you are currently unable to, here are some suggestions of what you can do by yourself while you are waiting for professional help.
The most important rule is that before any repair, the water must be emptied or drained by closing the valve from the part of the network where the fault occurred. So first you have to locate your main water supply and shut it down.
The type of material of the damaged line should also be determined in advance as the repair process depends on it. When you figure out what kind of material your pipes are made from you have to choose repair products that are compatible.
Some of the possible types of pipes are :

  • galvanized pipes
  • PVC Pipes
  • Copper Pipes
  • PEX Pipes

So after that, you need to see if the leaking comes from the middle of the pipe or from the joint.
The connection repair:
If the connections of the pipes are the problem fiberglass or patch product may be helpful. They are usually water-activated so you can mix ingredients in the package and wrap the leaking area, after a few minutes it becomes hard as cast.
Another solution may be epoxy putty. It is activated when you knead it. The surface of the pipe needs to be dry to apply epoxy right.
Self-fusing silicon tape is a possibility too. You just need to wrap it around the leaking place on the pipe. This should be used only if it’s a minor leak.
The mid-run repair :
Repair clamps work well on a leak in the middle of a pipe run. All you have to do is to press a flexible rubber pad against the leak and place the metal clamp over it. You have to be careful to not over-tight it.
Compression coupling seals up against the edge of the pipe as you tightened it. You can use a hacksaw or a pipe cutter to remove a damaged part, slip in the coupling and tighten and that is it.
Push fittings require a couple of tools specific to a manufacturer. Remove the damaged section of the pipe and install push fittings.

Although all of these methods can be helpful, do not delay the repair by an expert to avoid major damage.

 

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other towns in New Jersey, such as Lodi, Teaneck and Weehawken.