by Francis Jock

Created on: April 25, 2009   Last Updated: December 13, 2009

Leaky pipes are the bane of every homeowner. They can appear quite unexpectedly, without warning and any sign of impending trouble until you notice the wet spot on the floor. You can't ignore a leaky pipe; you must fix it now or pay the price in terms of water damage, later. On the other hand, they are a plumber's favorite emergency repair job, as they keep them employed, especially during the freezing temperatures of winter.Here are five ways to fix a leaky pipe before you have to call in the plumber.

1. If the leak is sprouting forth from a pinhole leak you can turn off the water supply, dry off pipe and wrap plastic tape around it several times. Cover an area around 4 6 inches on either side of the pinhole. Turn the water back on and check the pipe. If the pinhole has been encased by the plastic tape, the leak should be sealed off for awhile.

If the pinhole leak is located at a fitting, try using epoxy plumber's putty to form a water tight seal around the leaky connection. Be sure to give it an adequate amount of time to cure before turning the water back on.

2. Direct pressure applied to a rubber seal can put a lasting stop to many leaks. Try using an automotive hose clamp and a rubber patch found in a tire patch kit.

3. A leak is not a leak if it's really just condensation caused by high humidity and cold pipes. While annoying, the best way to prevent condensation from forming on cold water pipes is to insulate them. Inexpensive foam insulating sleeves are available from most hardware and plumbing supply stores. These can also be used to keep hot water pipes from losing their heat content in exposed areas, as well.

4. If the culprit is a waste water pipe fitting, try resealing the fitting with Teflon pipe tape. If the fitting has an O-ring seal, lubricate the O-ring with petroleum jelly and tighten it down firmly. Be careful not to damage the seal by over tightening.

5. Frozen pipes are likely to leak severely, or just plain split in the most inconvenient locations. Before repairing the leak, be sure to turn off the water supply and then warm up and dry the pipe. Chances are any ice remaining in the pipe will melt and turn into water when you apply heat from a propane torch to it. A good way to thaw a frozen pipe safely is to use a hair blow-dryer. When using a torch to sweat a new fitting or splice together a new section of pipe, be sure to open the nearest faucet in the line so that steam and water can escape.

Most hardware and plumbing supply stores have repair kits available for making temporary repairs to leaky pipes. These are more effective than using hose clamps and can be used underground as well. It's a good idea to always have a spare repair kit on hand in the event that your pipes start leaking at an inconvenient time.

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