subject: Plumbing Leaks 101 [print this page] There are household plumbing emergencies that happen at times when you cannot find a plumber to help you. Leaks are quite easy to control and stop temporarily until the plumber arrives. Simple and common sense tips are available to be applied when you have plumbing emergencies. Make sure that you read the whole article to learn about techniques in controlling leaks temporarily.
First thing that you can try is to turn off the main water valve. Turning off the main water valve or the valve under the sink only will depend on the spurt or leak. Turning off the one underneath the sink will give you access to water in other parts of your house. If you have water valve sin each of your faucet then you will have this option of turning off only the affected faucet's valve.
Now, how about if you do not have valves for each faucet? Epoxy can be utilized to cover off the leaks that you see. The main water valve should be turned off and then let dry before applying the epoxy to the affected area. You should dry the area thoroughly with a towel and then apply the epoxy to cover the leaks. Make sure the epoxy is dried off thoroughly before you turn on the main water valve again.
You can also utilize duct tape and electrical tape temporarily. Using a pipe clamp for big cracks will be helpful as well. Take a tire rubber and cut into the right shape which will cover the area where the crack is. To hols the rubber in place you can use a C clamp.
Remember that these are only temporary solutions and you still need to have it fixed by a plumber. Number one thing that you should do is to call a plumber first and ask for an appointment before you do any of these things. It is still best that you have professional plumbers working on your plumbing problems.
