Copper pipe repair being carried out in a domestic setting

How to repair a copper pipe is 1 of the most oftentimes asked questions that we receive hither at PipeRepair.co.united kingdom.

That'south not really a surprise. Along with PVC, copper pipe is the most ofttimes used type of piping in domestic settings. Plenty of homeowners will need to know how to fix a copper pipage at some betoken in their life.

Corrosion, freezing temperatures, even home DIY tin can all lead to problems with pipes. If nosotros had a pound for every fourth dimension we'd heard of somebody accidentally drilling through a copper pipage while carrying out their own home improvements, then… we'd still be writing this pipe repair weblog, but we'd be a whole lot richer.

When plumbing does go wrong, most people remember that they are in for an expensive repair that needs to be carried out by a qualified plumber. When money is tight or you simply don't accept the time to wait around for a professional to visit, this can pb to panic and worry.

The practiced news is that you don't e'er need a plumber to bear out a repair. There are diverse products on the market place and available to the general public which can allow for repairs to be fabricated to domestic copper pipes speedily and easily without the need for formal training.

Some of these repairs will give temporary respite, others can provide solutions which final for many months and years. Here are 4 easy ways to fix a leaking pipe made of copper.

Pipe Repair Clamps

Pipe repair clamps have provided a popular solution for fixing copper pipe in the domicile for many years now. Repair clamps are metal sleeves lined inside with rubber. To apply a piping repair clamp, you identify the clamp on the area of pipework requiring repair then that the rubber is directly over the hole.

Y'all then tighten the screws on the clamp and information technology will slowly seal itself effectually the pipe, compressing the safety into the leaking hole. When applying the clench, you must be careful not to overtighten information technology. Otherwise, you may stop upward bending the copper pipage out of shape and causing more than damage than you started with.

Pipe repair clamps are popular because they are both easy to apply and reusable. Once the damaged area of pipework has been replaced or been treated to a more permanent solution, then you can keep the clench in question and apply it again for any future leaks.

Epoxy Putty

Epoxy putties are made up of two components. When mixed, they class a fabric which can be used as an adhesive or to plug holes before it sets into a hardened material. That makes epoxy putty perfect for sealing leaks or filling cracks in copper pipe.

The ease with which epoxy putties tin can be used and the speed with which they piece of work is their most attractive characteristic when it comes to fixing a copper pipe. With a fast-working putty, you can hand knead Role A and Part B together within minutes.

Yous then push the epoxy putty into the pipe, plugging the hole or crack. It will ready hard within ten minutes and h2o menses through the piping can be turned dorsum on within an hour.

One important gene to consider when it comes to using epoxy putty to repair a copper pipe is that some putties can contain harsh chemicals.

If the pipe yous are fixing is one that supplies water that could be consumed, y'all should always cheque to ensure that the epoxy putty product you are using is WRAS approved, meaning information technology has been certified for apply with drinking water.

Pipe Leak Tape

There are many different variations of pipe repair tape on the market, all with different levels of effectiveness. Plumber's tape will ofttimes exist the cheapest and tin provide a temporary repair until a plumber can look at the issue.

Plumber'due south record is water-resistant, hence the name. To utilise, you lot just wrap it around the surface area of pipework requiring repair and information technology will assistance to seal the leak. It won't withstand much pressure however, which is why it is only suitable as a short-term solution.

If you're after a more permanent solution, then there are more advanced self-fusing pipe repair tapes on the market. These are fabricated from materials such equally silicone and other advanced polymers, which will fuse into a solid rubber ring over the leak when wrapped around the pipe.

Such self-fusing piping leak tapes can frequently withstand big amounts of pressure, far more than you'd find in the average domestic copper pipe. This ways that they can provide a longer-lasting repair.

The one negative when it comes to Piping Leak Tape is that it does crave a large working area with enough clearance around the pipe for wrapping to take place.

If you're trying to repair a copper pipe in a confined space or upward against a wall, so y'all won't exist able to wrap effectively around the problem area – especially when using self-fusing tapes which require maximum stretch to exert maximum pressure over the leak. If that'due south the instance, so another repair method is required

Soldering

We find that many people are put off using soldering as a technique for repairing holes in copper pipe because they don't have the confidence to attempt it. In that location'southward also something nigh the word soldering which makes information technology sound much more complicated than it is.

To solder a copper pipage, the first affair you have to do is shut off the main h2o valve. You lot then need to bleed the pipe in question from a point below where the pigsty is, tilting the pipage if possible so that any water sitting within is drained out.

Clean the damaged expanse with an abrasive pad and then add the flux for soldering copper pipe which you will be using. The flux helps facilitate the soldering process. Y'all heat the flux with a blowtorch until it begins to modify colour, then add together solder into the hole which volition block it off, sealing the leak.