Water pipes may burst for varied reasons, however, this generally happens when water within them freezes and expands, thereby putting excessive pressure on pipes leading to a burst.

Begin by turning off the main water before beginning the repair.

When you have a burst pipe, your priority should be the quickest pathway to repair and reactivation. If it is feasible, a temporary repair can be done. Many products are available for temporary pipe repairs including fiberglass tape, epoxy putty, and clamps with sleeves.

Temporary fixes can serve the purpose of a weekend, but when you’d rather go ahead and do a permanent fix, you’ll need the correct products and tools for the job. Regardless of which repair approach you select, avoid shopping for repair kits before you determine the pipe’s diameter and material.

A good initial fix is using epoxy putty. Epoxy putty will seal a leaking pipe but will only work as a short-term fix. Fiberglass tape combined with a polyurethane type of resin offers a more durable patch and is often used together with putty. A sleeve and clamp is another helpful repair and is advantageous as it is quick and affordable.

Fixing the leak with a slip coupling can be said to be a relatively permanent solution, but it demands unblemished and straight pipes made of a specific material and precise diameter. Whichever product you prefer, you need to follow the directions of the manufacturer, or else the product may not work.

WARNING:

When replacing any section of the pipe that has already been patched, the natural movement of the pipe may cause further leaks.

In case of pipe bursts, don’t panic and follow these guidelines:

• First, shut off the main water supply to that pipe

• If there’s no shutoff valve near the leaking pipe, then shut off your home’s water supply from the main shut-off valve

• Proceed to dry the affected pipe by draining any water in it. You can do this by opening all faucets connected to that pipe

Pipe Material

Some repair products work best on specific pipe types and materials. It is crucial to ensure you know your pipe material before shopping for a repair product.

Outside Diameter

If you want to use slip couplings and clamps, then you should know the exterior diameter of your pipe. You can measure the pipe’s exterior diameter by tightening a pipe wrench around the pipe and measuring the distance from one jaw to the other.

• Metallic file

• Adjustable wrench

• Channel pliers

• Tuning cutter

• Disposable gloves

• Sleeve and clamp

• Tape measure

• Fiberglass tape that has polyurethane resin

• Epoxy putty for plumbing

• Full slip type of repair coupling

Required Skills:

• Making compression joints

• Using tubing cutters

Difficulty Level:

The difficulty level for this task is easy to moderate. Taking into account all the details of the repair, you can get a better idea of how long the job may take to complete.

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