Hidden Plumbing Problems: What to Look for

What Can You Do About A Small Leak Until The Plumber Arrives?

15 July 2019

Herbert Chambers

If you notice a small leak in your pipe, you will need to call a local plumber and have them make repairs. Fixing a leak is harder than it might seem; there are a lot of mistakes you could make that would make the damage worse, so DIY repairs are not recommended. However, there are some short-term fixes you can use until the plumber arrives.

Turn the Water Off

If the leak is in a branch of your plumbing that you can turn off without a major inconvenience, just do that. For example, if it is in a pipe leading to your bathroom sink and you have a valve that stops the flow to that sink alone, just turn the valve off. 

In older homes, there are not always separate valves associated with each plumbing branch. You may just have one large main valve that controls flow through all of the pipes. If the plumber is coming soon and you can do without running water until then, you can just turn the water main off. But if that's not feasible, there are a few other methods to try below.

Apply Some Epoxy

Plumber's epoxy usually comes in a tub. It's flexible like Play Dough. You can take a small handful of it, squish it against the part of the pipe where the leak is, and allow it to harden and seal the leak. Hold your hand on the epoxy for at least 3 minutes to give it time to firm up and into place. Don't run the water for an hour. The epoxy is not a permanent fix, but it should do the trick for a week or two until the plumber is able to make more permanent repairs.

Use a Clamp and Tape

Another option is to use electrical tape and a clamp to keep the leak from spewing more water. Wrap electrical tape around and around the pipe; use several layers. Then, use a bug clamp to hold the tape in place. The pressure of the clamp will help hold the crack closed, too, which should slow the leak even further. This method works best on lower-pressure water pipes, such as those carrying hot water. 

With the methods above, you can keep a small plumbing leak from making a huge mess before the plumber arrives. The best repair really depends on how easily you can access the pipe and other supplies. Contact local plumbing services for more information.

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