PVC pipes are used all over the house, and they’re great. They’re flexible, easy to work with, and won’t corrode when exposed to water. But sometimes they can leak. If you’ve ever had a pipe burst in your house, you know how inconvenient it can be.
The good news is that most PVC pipe leaks are pretty easy to fix. In this article, we’ll show you how to fix a leaking PVC pipe and get it back to life as normal. —and how to prevent future problems with your pipes by keeping them clean and maintained.
Tools you might need
- PVC repair tape (available at your local hardware store)
- Plumber’s tape or silicone tape
- Rubber tape
- A rug
- Bucket or bowl for water removal
- Rubbing Alcohol
Preparations before repairing
- Shut your water supply – First, shut off your water supply at the main valve. This will ensure that no water leaks out while you’re working on fixing your plumbing problem.
- Locate the entering point of the water supply – It should be near one of the corners of your house or apartment with access to an outdoor spigot—usually located in a small storage room next to where all your outdoor hoses are stored. In apartments with shared laundry rooms, it may be located near that area instead.
- Turn off the hot and cold water valves – Once you’ve found where your water line enters your house (or apartment), turn off both hot and cold water valves leading into that area. This will help keep any remaining water inside without causing damage.
- Find where the leak is – Look for any signs of water damage or moisture and try to find where the leak is. If you already located it, you can go to the next step.
How to repair it with tape?
This method is more of a temporary repair for small leaks and works best if the PVC pipe is not twisted or bent, as this can make applying the tape difficult.
If a pipe begins to split longitudinally, one benefit of repair tape is that it can be looped spirally over a long distance. However, using it in a tight space might be challenging. You might need to carefully cut the length of the tape and wrap it around the damaged pipe.
1. Clean and dry the pipe
First, make sure the water supply is off. Then clean off any old glue or tape residue on the pipe with rubbing alcohol and a rag and let the alcohol evaporate completely before proceeding to the step.
Remove any dirt or debris from around the puncture site by cleaning it with water and a wire brush. Dry all wet surfaces with towels or paper towels before proceeding with repairs.
2. Wrap the damaged area
This method works best if the PVC pipe is not twisted or bent.
First, wrap the pipe with rubber or silicone repair tape. If it’s leaking at a joint, wrap the tape around each side of the joint until it’s completely covered. Make sure there are no gaps and that you’ve completely covered the joint.
Press down firmly all along one side of the crack until it sticks firmly in place. Then press down firmly along the other side of the crack until it sticks firmly in place as well. This should create a seal between both sides of your pipe and stop any leaks.
3. Test the pipes
Next, test it out by running water through the pipe. If there’s still a leak, wrap more tape around that part of the pipe until it stops leaking.
How to repair a minor leak with fiberglass wrap?
1. Clean the pipes
If you’d like to fix your pipes with fiberglass, the first thing you need to do is clean off any debris from your PVC pipe. Then, dry it off with a rag or paper towel so that there’s no moisture left on the surface of the pipe. If you don’t do this, it will cause mold or mildew to grow inside your home.
2. Seal the pipes
Cut off enough fiberglass tape to cover the entire length of the pipe where it has been leaking. The tape should be wide enough to cover both sides of the pipe, but not so wide that it overlaps onto adjacent surfaces or other pipes. Next, apply adhesive on one side of the tape and wrap it around both sides of the pipe being careful not to overlap with other surfaces or pipes nearby.
Now, let the fiberglass resin tape dry for half an hour, and test it to make sure everything is good to go.
How to repair a PVC leak using repair epoxy?
1. Clean the pipes
The first step is to clean everything off of the pipe and remove any debris, then wipe down both sides with soap and water. Let it dry completely before moving on because it’s important that the glue sticks.
2. Mixing the Repair Epoxy
Mix up some repair epoxy according to the manufacturer’s instructions—they all work similarly, so follow those directions carefully. Stir gently until there are no lumps left visible in the putty. Pour this mixture into a plastic container with a lid on it, then mix in one part hardener (available at most hardware stores).
Use gloves when handling these substances! You can also wear goggles while mixing them so that any stray drops don’t get into your eyes accidentally.
3. Apply the epoxy
Spread a thin layer over the area where you think the leak is coming from (you may want a second pair of hands for this part). Let it cure for about 30 minutes before applying another coat or two until you’ve covered all areas where there are cracks or holes in your PVC pipe.
How to fix pipes using rubber tape and hose clamps?
1. Cut a Rubber Patch
You’ll want to use a utility knife (or a similar sharp instrument) to cut out a piece of rubber that will fit over your leaky section of pipe. The patch should be about 1″ wide by 2″ long but can vary depending on how large of a hole is leaking. Make sure your patch is thick enough so that it won’t tear easily when you stretch it over your hole!
2. Attach the Hose Clamps
Now that you’ve got your patch ready to go, attach one clamp onto each end of the PVC pipe using some duct tape or zip ties (if needed). The hose clamps should be placed near where they make contact with each other so they don’t slip out during use later on down the line.
How to replace a damaged pipe?
In some cases, it’s best to remove the damaged section of the existing pipe and replace it with a new PVC replacement pipe. You can then use proper glue on your new sections of pipe to ensure they stay together for longer.
- Remove old joints from the pipe. Use a wrench to unscrew and remove any joints that are leaking. If you don’t have any wrenches, use channel locks or another type of pliers that has a firm grip on them so they don’t slip off as you’re working.
- Clean out any dirt and debris left behind from removing the joints. Use an old toothbrush (or something similar) to scrub away any gunk from inside each hole where the joint was attached to the remaining pipe; this will help ensure that there isn’t anything obstructing your new connections when you go back later on in this process.
- Insert new fittings into holes left behind by removed ones; ensure they’re all oriented correctly before proceeding further with this step.
- Use a wrench to tighten down the new connectors onto their respective pipes, making sure that they are secure and won’t come loose later on; this is where your channel locks or pliers will come in handy.
Conclusions
If you’ve got a leaky PVC pipe, it’s probably because of two things: an improperly installed joint or damaged piping. But don’t worry—fixing a leaking PVC pipe is easy as long as you know what kind of damage has been caused, and how to get rid of it.
As long as you use the proper glue or tape and have good materials, the process will go smoothly. If the damage is too much, it is also a good idea to replace the whole section of the pipe.
Choose what works best for you, and if you still have questions, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments!