Nobody wants to have to deal with the horrid that is a leaky pipe. Not only are they frustrating and inconvenient, but they can also lead to thousands of dollars in damages if left untreated for long periods of time.
Luckily, there are many different ways to fix a leaking pipe that don’t involve expensive plumbing work or the need for an expert plumber.
This article will discuss how you can stop your pipes from leaking by following some simple steps!
Whenever you’re ready to discover the DIY methods for plumbing repair, keep reading.
How to Identify A Leaky Pipe
If you have a water meter with an LCD screen that displays useful information in real-time, make sure to keep a close eye on it. When the leak is occurring and water pressure is low in one pipe but normal or higher elsewhere (indicating that not all of the available water supply has been used), this may indicate a leaking pipe.
To identify a water leak, monitor the water bill and look for abnormal usage. One way to know if a leak is high-pressured or low-pressured is to monitor the water meter and see how much of your available water supply has been used.
Fixtures & Appliances
To identify a water leak, investigate fixtures and appliances that may use water, such as dishwashers and washing machines. If there is any visible sign of moisture on the ceiling or floor near pipes that are likely to be leaking (usually older cast-iron pipes), then the leak is likely high-pressured.
If there are signs of water on pipes that are not near leaking areas, but where pressure has been low and volume has increased to compensate for lower pressure (usually newer plastic or copper pipes), this indicates a possible water leak.
To identify a water leak, check under sinks in your house for any dripping faucets, toilets that have been running for extended periods of time without anyone using them.
Dye Test
To identify a water leak, perform a dye test on your toilet. To do this, put a couple of coloring drops into the toilet tank, wait a couple of hours. If there is any coloration in your toilet bowl at all, you have detected water leaking from somewhere near the top of the tank.
Bubble Test
To find out if it’s not simply discolored water but rather a leakage caused by a leaky pipe, you can also perform a bubble test. Place two small bowls of water on the floor nearby, and then fill one with soap bubbles while leaving the other empty. If there is a leak, soapy bubbles will appear only in the bowl filled with liquid.
Leak Detectors
If you need to find common leak problems in your home, you can use leak detectors which can be installed in places that think water would leak. These devices will help you save lots of money on your utility bills.
Leaky Pipe Fixing Methods
Water leaks are an ever-present threat to any home. You can avoid water damage by quickly identifying the kind of leak at hand and taking appropriate action on it, but this is easier said than done!
If you experience a joint leak that threatens to flood your house with every new day, tighten up those joints as soon as possible before they give way under pressure.
Alternatively, if a pipe repair has sprung some serious holes in its structure then replace them right away, or else risk losing all of your valuable stuff forever when disaster strikes again!
For instance, when you operate with a threaded galvanized steel pipe, you will have to unscrew it from one end.
By doing so, the other side gets tightened. With copper pipes, an entirely new section must be sweat-soldered in place which is best left up to professionals. Find a reputable plumbing repair service near you as soon as possible.
But as a do-it-yourselfer with patience and plumber’s tape on hand for repairs around sinks or toilets so that toxic fumes are not released near your head while working alone; consider using this alternative: the pipe patch.
Patch Kits
To find patch kits, you can visit your local hardware store. You can also make your own with some rubber from C-clamp and an inner tube for a bicycle/etc. Another possibility is to use a hose clamp with rubber screws.
Factory-made kits contain two metal plates that compress the leaky area over time as they twist against each other. These devices are effective but take a while before sealing up any given hole in one’s pipes (about 24 hours).
A quick and easy way to stop running water, something every homeowner should be prepared for on some level, factory-made fixers often come equipped with extra patches which makes them very practical even when used permanently around various household fixtures such as sinks or toilets!
DIY Resolves
If you need to prevent a leak in your pipes, there is no need to panic! Sometimes it’s as easy as using some basic materials.
For example, if there is water leaking from the pipe due to an external pressure break or burst pipe then try placing layers of towels that are soaked with all-purpose cleaner around the area and wait for 30 minutes before removing them.
You can also tape over bad spots on pipes by wrapping waterproof tapes until they cover where needed. You can also rub the holes with sticks of a special compound. Both temporary measures will help minimize leaks while waiting for repairmen.
You Can Only Do So Much
The problem with these DIY solutions is that any pipe is capable of springing a single leak and another leak in another place at a different time. You may fix one spot only to see the pipes burst somewhere else.
This often happens if the leak results from corrosion, as it does not take long for whole sections of piping to corrode through completely. That’s why you should always call a plumber when there are leaks or signs that something isn’t quite right!
The issue with trying any solution on your own is figuring out where exactly the trouble spots lie. Just because you fixed part of an issue doesn’t mean more won’t pop up another day down the line.
Household Content for You
Plumbing can be a daunting task. But, after reading this article and understanding the basics of plumbing repairs, you should feel more confident in your ability to fix leaky pipes or other household problems.
If you’re looking for even more resources on home improvement projects, our website has lots of articles about all sorts of DIY tasks from replacing old windows to building decking.
