Look for the main water valve under the kitchen sink first. Then check the bathroom, basement, garage, utility room, and airing cupboard. [3] X Research source Sometimes it is under the floorboards near the front door. [4] X Research source As a last resort, look outside near your water meter, against the wall facing the street, and at your property boundary. This is often in a small concrete box or under a small cover. [5] X Research source Sometimes this is the only shutoff valve, but in other cases this is a second external shutoff valve that requires permission from your water supplier and/or a special key to use. [6] X Research source
In an emergency, you can use electrical tape or duct tape for a very short-term fix.
As with the other solutions, this is appropriate for both metal and plastic pipes.
While any epoxy putty should work, choose one formulated for the same material as your pipe if possible. [12] X Research source Don’t use plumber’s putty, a soft material used only for sealing joints. [13] X Research source
Pipe slice: Just place this around the pipe and turn it. Each tool only cuts one diameter of pipe. [15] X Research source Pipe cutter: Place the roller wheel against the mark, then tighten the screw until the cutting wheel makes contact. Rotate the tool 360º to cut a light groove confirming the tool is aligned, then make the cut by tightening the screw a quarter turn at a time as you rotate the cutter around the pipe. [16] X Research source
Remove burs from the inside of the coupling and the outside of the original pipe using sandpaper, or the deburring blade found on the back of some pipe cutters. Scrub the interior of the coupling with a wire fitting brush, or emery paper wrapped around your finger. Clean the outer surface of the original pipe with emery paper, plumber’s abrasive cloth, or fine-grit sandpaper until it shines. Avoid touching this clean surface.
If repairing water supply pipes, never use a solder that contains more than 5% lead. Lead-free solder is ideal. [19] X Research source Shield wooden ceiling joists, wires, and anything else flammable with a flame protector cloth or a piece of sheet metal before you begin. Keep a bucket of water nearby. Let the solder cool for at least a minute before restoring the water supply. Let run for about 5 to 10 minutes to flush out debris before using the water, while checking for leaks.
Turn off the water supply and let the water drain through before repairing. Keep the pipes as dry as possible during the repair. If you can’t reach a PVC pipe with a saw, cut a shallow notch on the back, then loop a piece of nylon string into the notch. Tie each end of the string around an object (to avoid cutting your hands), then saw back and forth to cut the pipe. [22] X Research source
Place one end cap, then one rubber bushing onto each end of the pipe. Fit the coupling over both ends of the pipe, then twist the end caps to form a watertight seal. Clamp or anchor it in place to reduce the chance of it coming apart during a high-pressure surge. [24] X Research source
Dry-fit the parts together to confirm a perfect fit. [26] X Research source Coat primer inside the wide end of the slip fix, and over one pipe end. Immediately brush the cement over the primer in an even coat. Immediately connect the coupling, hold in place for 30 seconds, then wipe off excess material. Repeat this to attach the telescoping end to the standard coupling. [27] X Research source Repeat this to attach the standard coupling over the other pipe end. [28] X Research source Let cure according to label instructions, or ideally 24 hours. Then flush out the pipe with running water for 5-10 minutes before using. [29] X Research source
You’ll want a “pin-type” moisture meter to probe the surface of drywall or wood, placing the pins into the material. [31] X Research source The exact numbers on the probe are less important than the relative measurements: look for spots that are wetter than their surroundings. A “search mode” meter can detect water behind a wall, but it takes some setup to calibrate and is mostly useful for bathrooms with many possible water sources. Some meters come with both modes. [32] X Research source Alternatively, use a thermal imaging camera to detect cool spots that may indicate pooling water.
Locate the wall studs first so you can cut between them instead of into them. Studs sound solid when knocked, and are usually located alongside switches and outlets.
Cut at a 45º outward from the hole to create a beveled edge. This makes it much easier to position the drywall back in place once the pipe is fixed. [34] X Research source If the leak is small and hard to find, try wrapping a cloth around the pipe and moving it until the cloth gets wet. [35] X Research source If you are forced to remove bathroom tiles to access the pipe, scrape out the grout with a utility knife, then chisel away individual tiles.
