| The Problem With Pipes |
Pipes are an important part of 21st century society. We depend on them for so much - from bringing us potable water, to taking away our sewage. Unfortunately, pipes are not entirely problem free. This article dispenses a few tips for coping with leaky and frozen pipes.
Always turn the water off before you attempt to repair a leaky pipe. All hope is not lost if you can't turn the water supply off after a pipe develops a leak. In such situations, you can use a pipe freezing kit to solidify the water and effectively stop the flow. After freezing the leaking pipe, cut off the damaged section and replace it.
It is not uncommon for compression fittings to start leaking. For compression fittings, try to re-tighten each nut slightly. Take care not to overdo the tightening, or else you might end up making the leak worse.
If after re-tightening the nuts, the compression fitting still leaks, the next step will be to dismantle the fitting, and wrap the pipe in self amalgamating tape. Reassemble the fitting, and then check for dripping.
If a soldered joint develops a leak, a hot blow lamp can be used to remove moisture from the drained pipe. A hair dryer can be used in place of a blow lamp. Melt some self cleaning flux in the pipe joint by heating the joint. You will then use the flux to seal the leak in the joint.
You can use a sealant such as epoxy resin to temporarily stop the leak in a pipe. Since epoxy resin is difficult to remove after it has set, a better alternative for compression fittings is silicon paste. After applying the sealant, you will need to turn off the water supply before eventually dismantling the pipework and fixing the leak.
Depending on which part of the world you reside, frozen pipes may or may not be as common as leaking pipes. Don't bother with the rest of the article, unless you live in a country where snow is a common occurence.
Frozen pipes are part and parcel of winter. The problem is that most of us are not well prepared for dealing with a frozen pipe. This article will give you a quick heads-up on what to do when faced with a frozen pipe.
Keeping the water temperature warm is one of the best ways to prevent frozen pipes. If you would rather not leave your water heating on, a good alternative is to use a small portable heater, or even a high wattage bulb.
Another good tip, especially when you are going to be away from the house for a while is to leave your taps dripping slightly. This make sure that the water in the pipes keeps moving, and this movement will stop the water in the pipes from freezing.
If you are going to have new pipework installed, avoid having them fitted to the outside of external walls, as they will be more susceptible to the hazards of winter. Most of us, unfortunately, will not have this ideal option.
For the majority of us with existing pipework, we can still combat the hazards of winter by insulating the pipes. Fibre glass and heat tape are known to give very good results.
Obviously, situations will vary in complexity ranging from the dead easy to overwhelmingly difficult. If you are a resident of Kingston in Surrey and have more awkward jobs that need the help of a good plumber, check out http://www.plumbersaid.co.uk .
Article Source: UnArchived Articles
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