|
Quick Fix for Burst Pipe
A burst pipe is usually met with screaming and hysteria, and that’s just from the men in the house.
So, first things first, stop screaming and turn the water off. Just a quick point about this. Whenever you enter a house for the first time, either because you’ve bought it, rented it, or are staying there for a holiday, make sure you know where the tap to turn the water off is situated. There’s no point waiting until you are knee deep in water the mains supply is flowing out through your burst pipe.
So, let’s assume the water is off. There’s basically two basic ways of sealing a pipe until you get to make a permanent repair, or you ring the plumber. But as these things tend to happen at the weekend, or late at night, it’s best not to have to rely on the Emergency tradesman.
Right, first method is to buy a repair kit from a DIY store and have it on hand under the sink with all the cleaning equipment. For more confident people, this might include a small length of pipe and a couple of compression joints. It allows you to saw off the leaking pipe and insert a new section. This is almost a permanent fix and if you feel handy, then give this a go. Another kit might include epoxy putty and its important, because they differ from brand to brand, to read the instructions carefully. But with most this consists of a putty and a hardener. Firstly clean the pipe, make sure its completely dry and with the small piece of emery paper that’s usually included with the kit, you rub down the holed piece of pipe to ensure a good fix between the putty and metal. Spread over the hole and ensure that it’s ‘fixed’ properly and that it is firmed down. There will then usually be a period when the putty has hardened. Switch the water back on.
If you don’t have a suitable kit, then the second method relies on a piece of hose and some jubilee clips, or anything to hands that has the same effect.
A piece of small diameter garden hose works well, but if you have none of this lying around, then you might have other bits of hose like material lying around. Get a couple, if not three jubilee clips (or anything of equivalent strength) and once the system has fully drained of water, wrap the hose around the leek and firmly tighten the jubilee clips. If tight enough, this usually creates a tight fit, so no water will escape. Turn the water back on and check for leaks.
As soon as possible, get it fixed properly. No matter how good your repair, fix it properly as soon as possible, because you don’t want to have to find a quick fix for a burst pipe again.
| |
^Top | |
 |
© 2011 | An Affiliate of British Gas |  RSS |  |
|
