How to TEMPorarily Fix a Leak Until the Plumber Arrives

As a homeowner or renter, we have to deal with many issues that spring up. One of those is a leaky pipe. But what do you do? If it’s something outside of your ability to fix, call the plumber right away to have them make an emergency visit. But in the meantime, what do you do to provide a temporary fix to keep the damage to a minimum?

First thing you’ll want to do when you discover a leaky pipe is to throw a bucket underneath it to stop water from getting all over the floor. Then quickly turn the main water valve off to stop the flow of water coming through the pipes. Then turn on the faucets connected to the leaky pipe to drain those pipes. Next, you’ll want to clean up the mess, by drying the wet areas with some towels. Including wiping the leaky pipe dry to prepare it for a temporary patch. 

Tighten the joints of the pipes with an adjustable wrench to fit it to the pipe’s size. If the pipe has loosened, then that may be a source of where the leak is coming from. So you’ll want to tighten them up. 

Depending on the items you have in your home or have time to pick up at your local hardware store, you can patch the pipe in a few different ways. The preferred way is to apply some epoxy putty. You’ll need some rubber gloves to knead the putty by hand, and then you can apply it to the source of the leak. Wrap the putty completely around the pipe where the leak is happening about an half inch thick, taper the edges so it has a water tight seal. You can turn the water back on after 5-10 minutes after it is dry. You can also apply duct tape, by wrapping it tightly around the pipe several times while you wait for the plumber to arrive.

When you’re in need of emergency plumbing services, give us a call at Tony’s Plumbing for quality service to help you in your time of need. We can get someone to your home and to fix the leak as quickly as possible!

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