Saturday, August 8, 2009

Plumbing Problems - Leaky And Frozen Pipes

By Scott Rodgers

Pipes are used in our daily lives for various purposes like bringing the potable water, carrying away the sewage. So, efficient working of pipes is very important. But sometimes you might face problems with these pipes like leaks or freezing problems. For such issues, following information will be helpful.

The very first step to remember is: always turn the water supply off before you attempt to repair a leaky pipe.

It is not uncommon for compression fittings to develop leaks. In many cases, leaks in compression fittings can be resolved by re-tightening the nuts slightly. Do not over-tighten the fitting, as this could worsen the situation.

If re tightening the nut does not work, open up the fitting, cover the leak area with some tape and then reassemble the fitting. This is another temporary and a fast solution to the problem.

If you have problem at the joints, drain the pipe, remove the moisture using a hair dryer or a blow lamp, put in some self cleaning flux into the dried pipe join, melt the flux by reheating the joint and seal the joint using the flux. Silicon paste, epoxy resin are some of the sealants that can be used to stop the leaks.

In areas with very low temperatures, frozen pipes are a big problem. Use a portable heater or a light bulb to keep the water warm. This is the most convenient way to prevent freezing of pipes.

Another thing that you can try out is, keep the taps slightly open. This continuous dripping of water will keep the pipes from freezing. Insulate the pipes that are installed on the exterior walls. You can use heat tape an d fibre glass for this purpose.

With these above tips you can easily handle leaky and frozen pipes. But there can be times when you are unable to proceed with the solution, then call a qualified plumber so that the needed repairs can be made immediately.

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