How Do You Fix a Large Copper Pipe Hole in The Copper Pipe?
One of the most frequently asked questions is how to repair a copper pipe.
That really isn't a surprise. Copper pipe, along with PVC, is the most frequently used pipe type in domestic settings. At some point in their lives, many homeowners will need to know how to fix a copper pipe.
Corrosion, freezing temperatures, even home DIY can all contribute to pipe problems. If we had a pound every time we heard of someone accidentally drilling through a copper pipe while making home improvements of their own, then... we'd still be writing this pipe repair blog, but we'd be a lot richer.
When plumbing goes wrong, most people think they are in for an expensive repair that a qualified Colorado Springs Plumber Near By Me needs to carry out. This can lead to panic and worry when money is tight or you simply don't have the time to wait around for a professional to visit.
The good news is that to perform a repair, you do not always need a plumber. There are various products on the market and accessible to the general public that can enable repairs to be made quickly and easily to domestic copper pipes without the need for formal training.
Some of these repairs will provide temporary respite, while others can provide solutions that last for many months and years. Here are four simple ways for a copper pipe to be fixed.
Pipe Repair Clamps
For many years now, pipe repair clamps have provided a popular solution for fixing copper pipes in the home. Metal sleeves lined inside with rubber are repair clamps. You place the clamp on the area of pipework requiring repair in order to use a pipe repair clamp so that the rubber is directly over the hole.
The screws on the clamp are then tightened and it will slowly seal itself around the pipe, compressing the rubber into the leaking hole. You must be careful not to over-tighten it when applying the clamp. Otherwise, the copper pipe can end up bending out of shape and causing more harm than you started with.
As they are both easy to apply and reusable, pipe repair clamps are popular. Once a more permanent solution has been replaced or treated in the damaged pipework area, you can maintain the clamp in question and use it again for any future leaks.
Epoxy Putty
Two components make up epoxy putties. When mixed, they form a material that can be used before it sets into a hardened material as an adhesive or to plug holes. That makes epoxy putty perfect for sealing copper pipe leaks or filling cracks.
When it comes to fixing a copper pipe, their most attractive feature is the ease with which epoxy putties can be used and the speed with which they work. You can hand-knead Part A and Part B together within minutes with a fast-working putty.
You then push into the pipe the epoxy putty, plugging the hole or crack. Within 10 minutes, it will set hard and water flow can be turned back on within an hour through the pipe.
When it comes to using an epoxy putty to repair a copper pipe, one important factor to consider is that some putties can contain harsh chemicals.
If the pipe you fix is one that provides water that can be consumed, you should always check to ensure that WRAS is approved for the epoxy putty product you are using, which means that it has been certified for drinking water use.
Pipe Leak Tape
On the market, there are many different variations of pipe repair tape, all with distinct levels of efficiency. Plumber's tape is often the cheapest, and until a plumber can look at the problem, it can provide a temporary repair.
Plumber's tape, hence the name, is water-resistant. To apply, you simply wrap it around the repair-needing pipework area and it will help seal the leak. However, it will not withstand a lot of pressure, which is why it is only appropriate as a short-term solution.
Then there are more advanced self-fusing pipe repair tapes on the market if you are after a more permanent solution. These are made from materials such as silicone and other advanced polymers, which, when wrapped around the pipe, will fuse into a solid rubber band over the leak.
These self-fusing pipe leak tapes, far more than you would find in the average domestic copper pipe, can often withstand large amounts of pressure. This implies that they can provide a repair that is longer lasting.
The one negative when it comes to Pipe Leak Tape is that for wrapping to take place, it requires a large working area with enough clearance around the pipe.
If you try to fix a copper pipe in a confined space or up against a wall, you will not be able to wrap around the problem area efficiently, particularly when using self-fusing tapes that require maximum stretch to exert maximum pressure over the leak. If that's the case, another method of repair is required.
Soldering
We find that many individuals are put off using soldering as a technique for repairing copper pipe holes because they don't have the trust to try it. There's also something that makes the word soldering sound a lot more complicated than it is.
The first thing you have to do is shut off the main water valve in order to solder a copper pipe. From a point below where the hole is, you must then drain the pipe in question, tilting the pipe if possible so that any water sitting within is drained out.
With an abrasive pad, clean the damaged area and then add the flux you are going to use to solder the copper pipe. The flux helps facilitate the process of soldering. With a blowtorch, you heat the flux until it starts to change color, then add solder into the hole that will block it off, sealing the leak.