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DIY | DIY
plumbing | Emergency pipe repairs
The first thing to remember when dealing
with a plumbing emergency is DO NOT PANIC. You should familiarize
yourself with where the Main Stopcock is situated, there are normally
2- one underneath the Kitchen sink and a Further one on the outside
of the property. Here is what the main stopcock could look like.
If you discover a burst pipe or water falling from the ceiling, turn
off the main stopcock underneath the sink, if that for some reason
has seized turn off the main stopcock outside of the property!
If it is a tank, cistern or toilet that is leaking you may be able
to isolate the water independently to the main supply. If you cannot
isolate the water supply you can flatten the pipe so it is closed
on the supply side of the pipe as long as the pipe is lead or copper
(see below).
Place buckets beneath the Leaking water and turn on all the taps in
the house, this will drain the system faster.
If you find it is a burst pipe then you have 4 choices:
1. Cut a length of hose pipe long enough to cover the hole in the
pipe plus 3 inches longer at both ends, Slit the hosepipe down it's
length. Wrap the hose around the pipe and secure it with at least
three Jubilee clips. This Method is only temporary.
2.Clean the pipe and wrap it well with self amalgamating tape or similar
pipe repair kit. This again is temporary but will suffice until a
permanent repair can be made.
3. Use an off the shelf push fit pipe repair (this is my favorite
method), you will have to cut a section of the damaged pipe away to
the correct length and remember that the pipe you are cutting will
slide inside the pipe repair by about 20mm each side before locking.
4. Cut a section of the pipe away and install a new section of pipe
with either compression fittings at each end or push fit connectors,
solder joints do not work well unless the pipe is completely dry.
Courtesy of Ultimatehandyman.co.uk
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