To have burst water pipes can be a very difficult problem. Aside from being messy, it can cost a lot of money to hire professional plumbing services. With the help of simple and inexpensive patch kits, anyone can now perform this easy task. For a little more than $10, you can solve this problem instantly by knowing how to fix burst water pipes.
Materials Needed
For this project, you need to bring a bucket of water, preferably one gallon. Next, protect your hands by wearing heavy-duty rubber gloves. Finally, prepare some patch kits for the leaks. Once you have gathered these simple materials, you can begin this job immediately.
Steps
The very first thing you have to do is to find the leak. Most of the time, this problem happens in areas that are hard to reach. This is the advantage of using a patch kit rather than cutting out the pipe to fix the damage. As long as it is possible for you to reach the damage, these steps will definitely work.
After locating the damaged part, sand it to make its surface more tactile than the usual smooth texture. For this step, you can use either 80-grit or 100-grit sandpaper. When the area is rough enough, get the patch kit and then unroll it. Try it first if it can be wrapped around the damage part easily. You have to work fast here because when the patch gets wet, it can bond right away.
Wear the rubber gloves and slowly moisten the patch. Go next to the burst pipe and then wrap the patch around it right away. When the patch is wet enough, it must be used immediately to prevent it from going to waste. Begin the wrapping process from the leak and then slowly work your way out and over it until the patch is secured tightly in place. This may take a couple or more rounds depending on the length of the patch and the size of the pipe to be fixed.
Get another patch and then wrap it around both sides of the initial patch that you applied. This can make your work more durable and longer lasting. You can move your way from one side and then over the first patch and then to the other side until this material runs out. Tighten up your work by pressing your hands over the patched areas. Squeeze out all the air just to be sure. Allow it to dry and then check if the pipes are working fine.
Additional Tips and Other Helpful Information
Usually, a patch kit comes with a pair of rubber gloves. It is important to wear them while working to protect your hands from the harsh elements found in the patch.
