How to Stop a Cracked Plumbing Pipe From Leaking
When a plumbing pipe cracks and starts leaking, the clock starts ticking. Every wasted minute means more water damage, destroyed property and mess. Even before you call a plumber, it's worth your while to try to patch the leak. A temporary fix, if applied quickly, will save you a lot of headaches and expenses farther down the line. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- 2 automotive hose clamps
- Heavy rubber material
- Heavy-duty scissors
- Electrical tape
Instructions
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1
Gather your materials. You may have some or all of the required materials in your home, but if not, they can all be purchased at hardware stores. If your leak develops in the middle of the night, you should also be able to get these materials at most 24-hour big-box retailers.
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2
Use heavy-duty scissors to cut two pieces of rubber material. Each piece should be long enough to cover the entire length of the crack plus about two inches and wide enough to wrap all the way around the leaking pipe.
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3
Wrap one piece of rubber around the leaking section of the pipe. Position it so that the middle of the rubber piece, not the seam, is covering the crack.
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4
Wrap the second piece of rubber around the first one, making sure that the seam on the second piece of rubber is on the opposite side of the pipe from the seam of the first piece of rubber.
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5
Use the automotive hose clamps to clamp the rubber patches on tightly. Install one clamp on each side of the crack.
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6
Seal the exposed seam of the second piece of rubber with electrical tape.
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Tips & Warnings
As soon as you patch the leak, call a plumber. This is only a temporary fix; welding, soldering or pipe replacement will be required for a more permanent fix.
If the crack is substantial and water is rushing through, shut off your property's main water valve.
