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How To Repair A Leak

How To Repair A Leak

Instructions

Leaking pipes are a depressing fact of life. They can be an "emergency, water-spraying-on-the-floor" situation, or a slowly dripping, damp spreading nuisance. In either case, you need to deal with the leak immediately to stop further damage being done to your home, and Homeserve are going to show you how.

Step 1:
As soon as you spot a leak, put a bucket - or anything you have to hand - underneath to catch the water. Then turn off the water supply to that area. This is done by finding the valve on the supply pipe, and turning in it clockwise. If you can't find this turn the water off to the entire house at the main stopcock, which you can find where the cold water pipe enters the building.

If the leak is a big one, stop watching this video and call the experts out immediately. But if it's just a few drips you can temporarily fix it yourself.

Step 2:
The best thing to do is to apply a pipe clamp. But if, like most, people you don't have one of these handy, improvise with a piece of rubber cut from a hose pipe. Make sure it is longer than the damage in the pipe, then slice lengthways and wrap it around. Alternatively you could even use a bicycle inner tube. Hold it in place with a hose clamp..... or even a C-clamp and small blocks of wood. This should hold the leak until the professional arrive

Step 3:
This easily moulded stuff is good for leaks at joints and fittings. Clean the pipes with a cloth first to get rid of any dirt and dust, then mix the putty as per the manufacturers instructions on the packet. Press it around the leak making sure there is a good coverage. It will take anything from a couple of hours to a day to dry depending on the make.

Step 4:
This is a strong, water tight tape that can be easily wrapped around leaking pipes. Read the instructions on the packet carefully, and apply.

Step 5:
These quick fixes will stop the water dripping for now, but the only way to really prevent further damage if to replace the faulty pipes. Book in a good plumber and get the problem sorted for good. Nice Work.