Water supply and sewerage systems of a residential building and apartment consist of pipes connected to each other different ways, including fittings. Over time, a leak may form at the pipe junction. If the fault is not corrected in time, flooding may occur in the apartment, which will lead to the need for repairs. There are several ways to eliminate leaks at pipe joints, which will be discussed in this article.
Causes of leaks
A leak at a pipe junction can occur as a result of:
- natural wear and tear of the pipeline system;
- mechanical impact on the joint. This is especially true for plastic and;
- corrosion when it comes to metal pipes;
- poor-quality connection during pipeline installation;
- incorrectly selected fittings;
- water hammer;
- wear of insulating material and so on.
Whatever the cause of the leak, it is necessary to eliminate the malfunction as soon as possible.
Eliminating leaks at the junction of a cast iron pipe
If it leaks sewage pipe at the junction, made of cast iron, the problem can be eliminated using:
- cement mortar;
- lead cones.
In both cases, the work procedure is the same and consists of the following steps:
- All unusable residues (residues) are removed from the joint cement screed or lead);
- the joint is cleaned of dirt and corrosive deposits, and then dried with rags;
- if lead is used to seal the joint, then new cones are placed in the resulting hole and then covered with cement mortar prepared in a ratio of 1:10 (10 parts of cement are needed for one part of water);
- procedure for sealing a joint without lead:
- being prepared cement mortar and a regular medical bandage;
- the bandage is dipped in the solution and placed in the hole between the pipes;
- The final filling of the connection is made.
It takes approximately one day for the cement to dry completely.
Eliminating leaks at the junction of other types of pipes
To eliminate leaks at the joints of a pipe made of metal, plastic or metal-plastic, you can use one of the following methods:
- replacement of fitting;
- cold cooking;
- adhesive bandage.
Replacing fittings
The following can be installed on pipelines:
- welded fittings. Mainly used for connecting plastic pipes;
- compression fittings. Can be used for joining both plastic and. Unlike a welded fitting, the connection is more reliable and durable;
- threaded fittings. Applicable for various types pipes if it is necessary to arrange a detachable connection.
If a pipe connection is leaking and it is necessary to replace the welded fitting, proceed as follows:
- disconnect the pipeline from the water supply;
- cut the connecting element with special scissors;
When cutting the connecting element, it is important to take into account that the total length of the pipeline is reduced.
- prepare a pipe section of the required length and two new fittings;
- sequentially weld the elements using special equipment.
You can use the finished pipe after the pipes have completely cooled. This time is required to strengthen the newly created connection.
If there is a leak at the junction of pipes with compression fittings, then the connecting element is replaced according to the following scheme:
- the connecting element that has become unusable is removed;
- the pipes that need to be connected are chamfered and calibrated;
- crimp rings and nuts are put on the ends of the pipes, which act as clamps;
- the pipe is inserted into the fitting until it stops and the fixing elements are tightened.
You can use the repaired pipeline immediately after replacement compression fitting.
The process of correctly installing a compression fitting is presented in the video.
If a pipe leaks at a joint equipped with threaded fitting, then you need to act in the following order:
- first of all, you can try to simply tighten the thread with a wrench, since in some cases a simple loosening of the tightening occurs;
- if tightening does not help, then the connecting fitting is completely removed;
- the thread is treated with FUM tape or any other insulating material;
The insulating tape is wound along the thread in the direction of twisting.
- the new fitting is tightened into its original place.
If a leak is detected in pipe connections that are not equipped with a fitting, then the pipeline can be repaired using the cold welding method. To fix the joint, you need to purchase a special compound.
This tool must be used according to the following scheme:
- the fragment of the pipeline in which the leak has formed is cleaned of contamination. If the composition needs to be applied to a metal pipe, then the damaged area is first cleaned using sandpaper;
- the mixture in the package is mixed until smooth and applied to the damaged area and carefully leveled.
Until complete drying, which occurs after approximately 3 hours, the pipeline cannot be used.
Adhesive bandage
If joints of plastic pipes made without the use of special leaks connecting elements, then you can eliminate the leak using an adhesive bandage. To equip the bandage you will need to purchase:
- a piece of fiberglass;
- special two-component glue.
You can organize the bandage as follows:
- the pipe joint is cleaned of dust, dirt and foreign particles;
- fiberglass is impregnated with glue;
- the impregnated material is wrapped several times at the leak site;
- expected until the material dries completely.
There are a lot of ways to independently seal pipe joints when a leak occurs. Each master can independently choose the most best option solving the problem.
Currently, the formation of a leak in a heating system can most often occur when the owner of a house or apartment has metal pipes installed for heating. If the entire heating system is made of polypropylene pipes, then you can forget about possible coolant leaks as a result of metal corrosion. On such stainless pipes Cracks and breakthroughs will never appear as a result of iron oxidation under the influence of oxygen, as on pipes. It is only necessary to accurately select and correctly connect polypropylene pipes for cold and hot environments and the possibility of leakage will be completely eliminated.
Leak location in the pipe
IN heating system(not to be confused with pipeline hot water for ) coolant leaks are possible in the following three areas:
1. On the straight part of the pipe in case of an undetected defect when purchasing the product.
2. In the area where pipes connect to each other and to the heating device. The reason for a possible leak when connecting polypropylene pipes to batteries is the use of a connecting element such as an American one, one end of which is made in the form of a thread; without sealing it, a breakthrough is possible.
3. In the area where battery sections are connected to each other.
Thus, a leak can form not only in steel heating systems as a result of iron oxidation, but also in stainless polypropylene parts. In the pipes different material there may be a leak in areas of high resistance to the coolant, turns, joints, etc., in which the pressure increases and the flow rate of hot water for heating or steam decreases, which causes mechanical stress pipes and reduces its wear resistance in such areas.
How to get rid of a leak in a straight section of pipe?
First of all, it is necessary to accurately determine the point of leakage and immediately disconnect this section of the network from the water supply in order to avoid the development of an emergency situation with the ensuing costly consequences, as well as unpleasant conversations with neighbors in the house. In addition, it seems possible to eliminate a leak in a heating system pipe under pressure from a hot medium only for a short time and partially.
There are several techniques to stop a straight part of a pipe from leaking.:
1. It is necessary to cut a rubber rectangle with a width exceeding the throughput hole in the pipe by 23 cm and a length equal to the circumference of the pipeline. Wrap the rubber blank tightly around the leaky pipe, tightening it well exactly at the leak site, and firmly clamp it on both edges with wire or a clamp. A piece of high-quality rubber can be a bicycle tube.
2. If available, you can use an industrial clamp for factory pipes, a bandage that has an elastic band for sealing and. Once installed at the leak site, it must be tightened tightly.
Such methods for eliminating holes in tubes are short-term and unsafe. For more reliable, trouble-free and long-lasting leak cessation, up to overhaul with the replacement of all steel pipelines, there is a third method:
3. The use of metal polymer to eliminate leakage occurs as follows:
Clean the section of the pipe in the area of the hole from rust and paint;
produce an active metal polymer. To do this, use a spatula to mix the base with the activator on any horizontal surface until smooth;
press the initial layer of mass firmly into the resulting hole;
spread the next layer over the already walled up hole, as well as around it with a radius of 2 cm and let it dry completely;
sand the dried polymer layer with sandpaper;
apply a reinforcing layer of polymer mass made in the manner described above to the sanded area of the break to be repaired, as well as around it with a radius of 45 cm;
spread the reinforcing layer of metal polymer evenly and carefully over the surface of the hole;
let the last layer dry completely;
paint the treated area of the pipe to finally secure the layers.
Elimination of leaks in areas where pipes are connected to each other and to components of the heating system
In case of leaks at connection points various elements pipelines, it is necessary to disconnect them from each other and change the seals (gaskets) or connecting fittings. To seal connections, it is recommended to use a special thread Tangit Unilok, which is popular in modern world repair.
If a leak forms in the area where two sections of the heating device (battery) are joined, it is necessary to make a sealant from a small piece of fabric, about 3050 cm long, purchase a special epoxy glue and proceed according to the following scheme:
1. Stop the supply of coolant to the emergency section of the system;
2. Dry the damaged joint area.
3. Treat the prepared piece of fabric with epoxy glue. The width of the fabric is selected taking into account the size of the damaged joint and with a margin on the sides of about 2 cm or more.
4. Wrap the glued fabric around the emergency joint several times.
5. Let the glue dry completely. Only after this can you turn it on.
6. If epoxy glue is not available, the fabric can be treated with regular oil paint, wood varnish. Such compaction is allowed only for weak drip leaks.
You can also fix the leak using improvised means such as salt, cement and a bandage. Two bandage tapes are made, one with salt, the other with cement, and both are wound onto the damaged area of the part, first a bandage with salt, on top a bandage with cement mortar.
The proposed options for combating leaks in sections of the heating device are operational to prevent a flood and temporary (up to 23 months), in order to avoid unexpected and untimely costs. It is recommended to replace the battery before the start of next winter.
Most often, in our city apartment buildings, pipes that are not new are installed as heating systems. modern materials, but steel or cast iron. Not everyone can replace them with new ones, and this is not justified everywhere. Metal pipes good and reliable, but they have one weakness. For various reasons, they tend to leak, and no one is immune from this. What to do if a pipe leaks? In this article, we will tell you how to fix a leak in just a few minutes and get away with it before you flood your neighbors.
1. Why do pipes leak?
2. Weaknesses of the heating system
3. Tools for “treating” old pipes
4. How to block a leak
1. Why do pipes leak?
To deal with the problem, you first need to understand why your pipes are leaking. One of the most common reasons- corrosion of metal. Typically, rust eats away at the pipe and makes it thinner. Over time, the pipe wall becomes so thin that water begins to seep through it. Most often, hot water pipes suffer from corrosion. This is due to the fact that condensation forms in large quantities on such pipes - when the hot surface of the pipe comes into contact with the cool external environment. Such pipes are almost always wet, which cannot but contribute to the development of rust.
Secondly, injury can lead to leaks heating pipes from impacts or strong vibrations. Plastic pipes suffer especially from mechanical damage. To avoid this, try to protect them from physical impact.
Another reason for leaks is wear and tear of the material from which the pipe is made. This usually happens when the product reaches the end of its service life.
2. Weaknesses of the heating system
The weak points of the heating system pipeline need to be known by sight. This is where a leak is most likely to start. It's about about such pipeline fragments as spans, connections and joints. So, if a leak occurs on a section with a straight span, then most likely this section will have to be completely replaced with a new fragment. Leaks at threaded joints appear due to continuous water pressure due to weak connections between pipeline fragments. Another weak point of the heating system is the connections of the battery compartments.
Leak elimination technology
If a leak occurs in spans, connections and joints, then most likely the best measure will be to dismantle the damaged fragment and install a new product. Of course, this is not always possible. Moreover, there may not be a suitable replacement home. But it is quite possible to fix a leak in the heating system yourself. This will significantly reduce the potential damage while you wait for a specialist to arrive.
3. Tools for “treating” old pipes
If the pipeline in your home has not been changed for several decades, you simply must collect and keep a special “first aid kit” ready in case of leaks. Let's list everything necessary tools, which should be in such a “first aid kit”: these are clamps, glue, rubber scraps different sizes, lever and adjustable wrenches, bandages and silk ribbons and wire. You may have to cut threads on pipes, then it would be a good idea to prepare a thread-cutting die, taps, machine oil and a file. Don't forget also about protective glasses, gloves and cleaning material.
4. How to block a leak
You can eliminate the leak different ways. You can use a bandage, a clamp, a bandage, cement, or even a regular wooden wedge. So, in order. One of the most common ways to fix a leak is a rubber bandage. Let's talk in more detail about how to apply a bandage to a straight section of pipe. To do this, you will need a piece of non-rigid rubber, wire or clamps. First, measure the damaged section of the pipe and cut the rubber so that its area is larger. Then you should wrap the leak in rubber and secure it tightly with a wire or clamp. If you install a special plumbing clamp, the patch will fit more securely and you may not have to change the pipe until the end of the heating season.
Ordinary cement can help you survive until the end of the heating season. Simply clean and dry the joints, dilute the cement with water to the consistency of thick sour cream, soak a bandage or gauze in this mixture and wrap it tightly over and around the damaged area. Wait a couple of hours and the leak is fixed! To give the pipe a decent appearance, you can clean the edges of the joints and paint the pipe.
Another option is to seal the pipe. To do this, you need to thoroughly clean it from plaque and dry it, and then soak the silk ribbon with glue and pull it over the damaged fragment. You can use any glue, as long as it is moisture resistant.
If you don’t have rubber and cement at home, then there is another simple and emergency way - you can get by with a regular bandage and salt. Apply enough salt to the bandage and tighten the damaged part. Wet salt will briefly plug the leak.
Another temporary measure is to drive a wooden peg into the hole formed in the pipe. It should be sharp and fit well into the hole, push it in there lightly and tap it lightly with a hammer. The pipe will still serve for some time.
Remember, almost all of these measures are temporary. After stopping the leak using the last two methods, you need to urgently invite a specialist or replace the damaged parts of the pipeline yourself. To do this you will need a piece of new pipe and an angle grinder. And if you need to make a thread, then prepare a threading die, taps, machine oil, a file and a gas wrench. Don't forget also about protective glasses, gloves and cleaning material.
So, everything is prepared, you can start replacing the pipe. Shut off the water supply to the pipeline. Measure at least thirty centimeters from the damage site and saw off this part with a grinder. On the other side of the damage site, unscrew threaded connection and delete the fragment. Next, secure the remaining pipe and carefully thread it so you can screw the coupling onto it. Now all that remains is to measure and cut off the fragment needed for replacement, make a thread on it and install this segment into the pipeline.
5. When you can’t do without a specialist
Remember, the methods for eliminating leaks that we have described will help stop the leak for a while - some patches will last longer, some less. But it is undesirable to leave pipes in this condition without consulting a specialist. As soon as heating season ends, carefully examine the pipes for possible metal wear and corrosion damage. Suspicious sections of the pipe are best replaced.
Eliminating water leaks using accessible methods
A small leak in water pipes can, over time, lead to a burst pipe and flooding of the property. Therefore, it is recommended to eliminate leaks as quickly as possible. If water pipes are leaking, you can temporarily fix the problem without turning off the water supply. Subsequently, it is recommended to completely replace the damaged section of the pipeline.
Leakage locations
Leaking water pipe? It is necessary to choose a method for eliminating a leak depending on the location of its formation. The leak could be:
- in the body of the pipe. The causes of the problem may be mechanical stress (especially important for plastic pipes), rust, excessive condensation, and so on;
- to the fitting installation location. The threaded connection is the thinnest point in the pipeline, which leads to rapid corrosion. The causes of formation can also be wear of the insulating material and displacement of pipes (mechanical impact);
- at the junction of pipes by welding. Weld seam leakage can be caused by non-compliance with welding requirements, poor-quality seam, and so on.
Remedies
How to fix a leak in a water pipe? Knowing certain methods, you can carry out the work without the help of specialists.
Eliminating leaks on the pipe body
To eliminate a leak in a pipe body under pressure, you can use:
- self-tapping screw with rubber gasket. The self-tapping screw is screwed into the leak and prevents water from penetrating. This method has a significant disadvantage - a foreign object appears in the pipe, which prevents the free passage of liquid and over time can lead to increased formation of corrosive plaque;
For normal sealing, the diameter of the screw used should be slightly larger than the diameter of the hole on the pipe.
- a clamp that is installed on the pipe at the location of the leak. The clamp is equipped with a rubber gasket and is secured to the pipe using fasteners;
- emergency glue.
You can use a clamp to fix a leak yourself:
- purchase in a store;
- make it yourself.
For self-made clamp you will need:
- piece of rubber. You can use, for example, a section from a bicycle tube. The size of the rubber cut depends on the size of the leak. Rubber compressor the width should be 5–7 cm larger than the hole formed, and the length should wrap the pipe in 2–3 layers;
- wire or any other elements for fixation.
To eliminate a leak, you must:
- wrap the water leakage area with rubber;
- secure the rubber with wire. To tighten the wire more tightly, you can use pliers.
Emergency glue is two-component mixture, consisting of:
- epoxy resin;
- metal dust.
An addition to the glue is a hardener, which promotes rapid polymerization of the chemical compound.
Instructions for using emergency glue:
- The surface of the pipe is thoroughly cleaned. Paint and rust are removed;
- roughness is applied to the pipe using sandpaper;
- glue is prepared;
- the finished composition is applied to the site of the crack and left until completely dry. To speed up polymerization, you can use a hair dryer.
You can learn more about how to fix a leak using emergency glue by watching the video.
Fixing a fitting leak
If a pipe is leaking cold water(hot water) at the installation site of the fitting, then the malfunction can be eliminated in the following ways:
- tighten the threaded connection. For this you can use wrench suitable diameter or an adjustable wrench. Fixation must be done extremely carefully so as not to spoil it. In most cases, the described method allows you to get rid of the leak;
- If fixing the threads does not help, then it is necessary to add sealing material to the threads. To do this, you need to prepare an adjustable wrench and flax thread in advance, since all the work needs to be done as quickly as possible. Process of adding flax thread:
- the fitting is unscrewed approximately 1/2;
- A sealing material is wound onto the threads. It is recommended to wind in the direction of movement of the connecting fitting along the thread;
- the thread is tightened.
If none of the above actions helps, then the fitting needs to be replaced, which is done only after disconnecting.
Repairing Weld Leaks
To eliminate a leak that has formed in a weld, you can use emergency glue or a homemade clamp. How to use these tools was described earlier.
Any of the described methods for eliminating a pipe leak under pressure is only a temporary measure. To eliminate the problem completely, it is necessary to replace the damaged section of the pipe, replace the fitting, or repair the weld. All of these operations can only be carried out when the water supply is turned off.
How to fix a leak in a heating pipe? What to do if the radiator starts to drip between sections or on the liner? Is it possible to take any measures if the radiator plate has leaked?
Let's look at a few of the most common problems that you can actually fix yourself.
Disclaimer
It's probably worth starting with a warning. Most of the operations are carried out by you at your own peril and risk. Still correct solution plumbing problems in apartment building- call a specialist.
It's not a matter of more high level his qualifications: this, unfortunately, is not a universal rule. You see, for a number repair work you will have to reset the heating risers. After the risers in the apartments have cooled down, at any moment anyone going down to the basement can start them up.
Imagine this happening with the radiator removed. Hot, dirty water will hardly decorate your apartment.
If the heating is turned off officially, with notification to the dispatcher of the local housing and communal services service, anyone who calls there will receive information that work is underway at your address, which is planned to be completed by a certain date.
Advice: if you decide to turn off the risers yourself, do not be too lazy to hang a cardboard or thick paper sign on the valve asking you not to turn on the heating until the work is completed.
If someone opens the valves, you will definitely not be happy.
Typical faults
Pipe leaking in an area without a thread
Given: a heating pipe is leaking in a straight section or branch. There is no opportunity to wait for housing and communal services representatives; welding is not available.
Reason: water and gas pipes according to the production method are electric welded. It is a poor-quality weld that is destroyed by corrosion in the first place. Where it's thin, that's where it breaks...
Remedy:
- Purchase a factory-made clamp at any plumbing store, designed specifically for eliminating leaks.
It is disassembled and put on the pipe so that the rubber gasket is located at the leak site, and is tightened on it with bolts.
Attention: if paint streaks are visible at the leak site, carefully clean them off with a knife. Be prepared for the leak to increase somewhat.
- An aluminum clamp designed for tightening hoses on fittings will also solve the problem. An improvised gasket made of thick, dense rubber is placed under it at the leak site; then the clamp is clamped with a screwdriver. The price of a clamp does not exceed 5-15 rubles depending on the diameter.
- If you can’t visit the store, you can use thick copper or annealed steel wire instead of a clamp. Folded in half, it attracts the gasket to the leak site and is twisted first by hand, then with pliers.
Thread leak on radiator hose
The problem with plate radiators is thin walls. Sooner or later fistulas appear in them.
What to do if for some reason it is not possible to replace the plate?
Will help cold welding— two-component epoxy adhesive with the addition of fine steel shavings.
- Reset heating risers.
- Clean the leak area from paint, rust and degrease with gasoline or acetone.
- Apply glue. Instructions on how to mix it are always on the package. Try to cover an area of at least 3-4 square centimeters.
- Allow enough time for it to harden (usually about half an hour).
- Start the risers and bleed the air.
Radiator leak between sections
This problem manifests itself when the coolant temperature decreases. In general, if the leak is small, you can wait for frost: the temperature of the battery will rise, and the expanded sections will again compress the gasket that has lost its elasticity.
However, you can take care of eliminating the leak.
- Reset heating risers.
- Disconnect the radiator from the connection and remove it.
Tip: substitute your basin when you disconnect the eyeliners. Water will inevitably hang in some amount in the riser.
- Measure the distance from the nearest end of the heater to the leak and insert a radiator key into it - a thick steel bar flattened at the end. You need to hook the problematic nipple. Please note: the directions in which the nipples are unscrewed and tightened depend on the side from which you inserted the key. Take the time to study the threads on the end sections.
- Tighten the nipple as far as it will go. Don't be afraid to damage it: great effort is allowed when assembling the radiator.
- Having screwed in the blind (farthest from the liner) plugs, connect heating device to the riser and start it. Don't forget to bleed the air.
Conclusion
We must admit: some of the listed jobs will seem difficult to you. In the video at the end of the article, several simple repair operations are clearly shown. We hope that after a visual acquaintance with the upcoming work, it will no longer frighten you.
Good luck with the renovation!
