Author: Scott McCarthy

At some point, most homeowners will need to find an answer to the question of how to fix a leaking PVC pipe. After all, plastic piping runs water in and out of bathrooms, kitchens and drainage systems in domestic properties all over the county.

Thankfully, you don’t have to be a fully trained plumber to fix a leaking plastic pipe. There are several products available which allow repairs to be carried out quickly and with no formal training needed – even when water flow cannot be turned off.

Here are some of the ways in which you can fix a leaking PVC pipe – without having to call out a plumber.

Pipe Burst Tape

The most common method of repairing leaking PVC pipes is with pipe burst tape. This specialist repair tape is made from silicone and is self-fusing, meaning that it bonds to itself when wrapped around a damaged pipe to form a permanent bond over the leak area.

The extra stretch which pipe burst tape provides – Wrap & Seal stretches to 300% – even allows it to seal live leaks where water flow cannot be turned off. This can be particularly useful if you cannot locate your home’s stopcock or the water valve happens to be too old, damaged or tight to use.

To apply pipe burst tape, you simply stretch and wrap it around the damaged area of the pipe enough times to permanently seal the leak. Repairs can be carried out in under 30 minutes, making this a quick and easy way to return leaking PVC pipes to full working order.

Epoxy Repair Putty

If you are trying to repair a pipe in a tight space, then you might not have enough room in which to apply Pipe Burst Tape. When this is the case, you should instead use an epoxy repair putty to seal the leak.

Epoxy putties are designed to bond different materials together and they can be used to plug holes with a working time of anywhere between 10 minutes and an hour depending on the product being used.

Superfast Copper Stick for example bonds to pipes of all types and sets in 5-10 minutes with a full cure in one hour; Superfast Plastic Stick – which has been used in countless PVC pipe repairs – takes a little longer at 35-40 minutes to harden and form a cohesive bond and 2-3 hours for the system to be put back into service.

Pipe Repair Bandages

If you want to carry out a longer lasting repair to leaking PVC pipes, then you should combine either pipe burst tape or epoxy repair putty with a repair bandage.

Pipe Repair Bandages are fibreglass wraps coated with a water-activated resin which set rock hard in minutes. They are dipped in water and then wrapped over the top of the pipe burst tape or epoxy putty for a permanent repair.

Pipe Repair Bandages can be smoothed down as water is applied and are coloured white, meaning that they will blend in with PVC pipework which is also white in colour.

Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape, Superfast Epoxy Putty and SylWrap Bandages can now all be purchased in one SylWrap Universal Pipe Repair Kit, providing all the equipment needed to fix leaking bathroom pipes.

Corrosion is one of the most damaging and costly naturally occurring events seen today. At its simplest level, it can cause a water tank in a back garden to rust or a domestic pipe to start leaking.

At its most damaging, it can weaken structures to the point that buildings and bridges collapse. Oil pipelines can break, containers that store radioactive waste can leak and beautiful monuments around the world can become damaged. Only emergency repair works saved the Statue of Liberty from the jaws of corrosion in the 1980s.

In 2016, a study carried out by NACE International put the annual global cost of the problem at around $2.5 trillion, or 3.4 percent of global GDP. It’s as dangerous as it is costly, and that’s why many individuals and businesses view corrosion protection as a worthwhile investment.

How does corrosion occur?

Corrosion happens as a result of chemical reactions between a metal and its environment. In most cases, the three components that cause the problem are the metal itself, oxygen and water.

Most metals found in manmade structures occur naturally in ore. In order for these metals to be turned into pipes, piles and beams, the metal must be separated out from the ore, a process which leads to reduced stability.

It is when these extracted metals react with their environment and begin to return to their natural states that corrosion occurs. Iron for example comes from iron ore and as a result, it will corrode quickly. In contrast, metals such as gold, silver and platinum – which are found in nature in their pure form rather than as an ore – corrode very rarely.

That’s what makes them so valuable and is why, unless you happen to be very, very rich, you don’t have water running through gold pipes in your home.

Types of corrosion

There are four common types of corrosion, all of which can have a devastating effect on metalwork if left untreated.

General corrosion is caused by chemical or electrochemical reactions and will attack the entire surface of a metal structure. It leads to an overall thinning of the metal but because it is a predictable issue that attacks whole structures, it is possible to plan for and manage which can help limit the damage.

Localised corrosion attacks smaller areas of metalwork. The most common form of this is pitting, which creates small holes, pits or cavities on metalwork. Because it targets single locations, it is harder to detect and therefore harder to prevent. Pitting often leads to pipework bursting or leaking and it can cause structural failure through cracking.

Other forms of localised corrosion include crevice corrosion and filiform corrosion. Crevice corrosion is found where there are gaps between two joining surfaces, such as where a screw or bolt has been drilled into metalwork. Filiform corrosion occurs when water is trapped against a metal surface by another layer, such as under a coating of paint.

Galvanic corrosion takes place when two different metals are located alongside an electrolyte which can carry an electrical current between the metals. One metal’s molecules are drawn towards the other, leading to a weakening in one of the metals.

It was galvanic which had such a devastating effect on the Statue of Liberty. The outside of the Statue is made from copper, the inner frame iron. With layers of paint and varnish holding water molecules applied between the two metals, conditions were ripe for iron molecules to travel over to the copper.

As a result, a survey in the 80s revealed that the iron frame was in some places half as thick as it had been when it was shipped over from France to Liberty Island 100 years previously.

Finally, there is environmental corrosion. This is where structures which are found in harsh environmental conditions such as in saltwater are gradually worn down over time. It can lead metalwork to become brittle, weakened, fatigued and ultimately, to crack.

How to protect against corrosion

There are numerous ways in which corrosion can be prevented. At a scientific level, resistant manmade alloys such as stainless steel have been invented. These alloys consist of two or more metals, making them stronger and giving them a greater resistance to corrosion.

Galvanic corrosion can be prevented by coating iron or steel with a more active metal, such as zinc. Rather than the iron or steel corroding, it is instead the zinc that gives up its molecules.

Another method for protecting and strengthening structures is by using protection wraps. SylWrap CR is a resin-impregnated fibreglass bandage incorporated with corrosion inhibitors. When wrapped around pipework, pillars or structures, it sets rock hard to provide an impact resistant-protective layer, extending the lifespan of metalwork which could otherwise by ravaged by corrosion.

Brushable epoxies can also be applied to structures which are already being afflicted by the problem. Standard Epoxy 19000 can be brushed onto damaged areas, offering excellent protection and helping to repair existing problems. When used alongside Fibreglass Tape or as part of a Fibreglass Repair Kit, damaged tanks and vessels can have their lifespan extended.

Corrosion costs money. In 2016, a study carried out by NACE International put the annual global cost of corrosion at around $2.5 trillion, which is about 3.4 percent of global GDP.

There has often been this misconception that you cannot prevent corrosion, nor control it. Whilst it is true that corrosion cannot be eliminated, there are ways in which its impact to structures and industries across the world can be limited. You can slow the sands of time.

Which is why SylWrap CR Corrosion & Protection Wrap has been developed. The newest variation of SylWrap is a resin-impregnated fibreglass bandage infused with corrosion inhibitors, making it the only water-activated wrap to offer corrosion protection.

SylWrap CR strengthens and protects structures in harsh and aggressive environments. It is used to reinforce underwater piles and pier supports in saltwater environments. It strengthens steel and concrete against the effects of environmental corrosion. It helps extend the lifespan of metalwork and machinery, preventing the need for costly and time-consuming shutdowns. It protects pipes and metal parts against abrasive wear and it prevents substrate corrosion.

The Wrap is designed to be easy to use in the field and requires minimal training. To apply the bandage, you simply dip in water and wrap around the structure that requires protection or repair. Because it is water-activated, SylWrap CR is ready to use underwater without any prior preparation. The cured wrap sets hard in 30 minutes to provide a permanent, impact-resistant protective layer.

In testing, SylWrap CR has returned a wrapped metal structure in a corrosion-free state after 1,000 hours of saltwater exposure. It can also be used to repair cracked or leaking pipework in high-pressure and high-temperature situations.

When cured, SylWrap CR has a lifespan of 10-20 years depending on a variety of factors. It comes in different sizes depending on the diameter of the framework and it is coloured black for minimum visual impact.

To find out more about SylWrap CR and how it can help to prevent corrosion, then visit our SylWrap CR Product Page.

Corrosion costs the global economy around $2.5 trillion a year – which is why we’ve developed SylWrap CR Corrosion & Protection Wrap #Corrosion

Find out more 👉 https://t.co/xaEdsKw5jN pic.twitter.com/pfgq23WrGp

— Sylmasta Pipe Repair Solutions (@Sylmasta) November 21, 2019

With winter on its way, now is the time to start thinking about how you can prepare and protect pipes and tanks from the damage that can be caused by plummeting temperatures.

As water freezes, it expands. What this means for pipes or tanks is that as they are exposed to colder temperatures, the water inside begins to exert extra pressure on the structure in which it is being carried or stored. This in turn puts the whole system at risk of rupturing, increasing the likelihood of damage and breakdowns during the winter months.

Which is a problem. The last thing that anybody wants to be dealing with in the depths of winter is cracks, bursts or reduced flow rates – especially as water damage resulting from leaks can cause serious harm to property and belongings.

Thankfully, there are several measures you can take to prepare pipes for winter. Here are the steps that we recommend so that your property is ready for when freezing temperatures arrive.

Drain outdoor pipes ahead of winter

One of the easiest ways to prevent exterior pipes or tanks from breaking down is to drain those that will not be used during winter ahead of the freezing temperatures arriving. If appliances such as hose pipes can be moved indoors, then you should bring them in during the winter months.

If you have exterior taps, then close the indoor valves but leave the outdoor valves open. This allows the water to expand safely when it freezes due to the lack of pressurisation.

One step that you should not take is to pass antifreeze through these pipes. The chemical can damage the pipework as well as having a significant detrimental impact on the environment.

Insulate your pipes to prevent freezing

Insulation of exterior pipes is one of the most effective ways in which you can protect and prepare pipes for winter. On the face of it, this may seem like a costly and time-consuming exercise, but it can actually be relatively easy and cheap to carry out.

Most DIY stores will sell pipe lagging which can be used for insulation. The lagging is fitted around pipes to prevent them from becoming damaged or bursting. The lagging works by keeping heat inside the pipes. It can also help to reduce gas and electric bills by cutting the amount of energy needed to heat water throughout a property.

Leave the heating on

For interior pipes, one of the easiest ways to ensure that water temperature does not drop too low is by leaving the heating in your property on. Setting your thermostat to between 12-15C when you away from the property ensures that the air inside remains warm to prevent pipes from freezing.

Water cannot freeze when it is on the move, so turning your taps on regularly to flush the system can also prevent interior pipes from freezing. Those not on a water meter could even consider letting their taps trickle so there is a constant flow when temperatures really plummet.

Repair leaks to protect and prepare pipes for winter

If your property is already suffering from leaking pipes, then it is imperative that you repair them before winter in order to prevent the problem becoming worse. A tiny leak now can easily turn into a burst pipe in the depths of December or January thanks to the freezing temperatures.

Repairing leaking pipes has never been easier. A SylWrap Pipe Repair Kit contains all the equipment needed to permanently seal leaking pipes.

The kits are extremely easy to use, offering a permanent repair inside 30 minutes with no formal training needed. You simply follow the instructions provided. SylWrap kits are WRAS approved, meaning they have been certified as safe to use with drinking water.

Take steps to prevent draughts and cold air flows

Interior pipes in locations such as garages and warehouses may freeze if those areas of a property are not draught-proofed or are subjected to cold air flows.

Small gaps between doors or in structures allows the cold to get in, which in turn will cool down and potentially freeze pipes. This is because the colder air speeds up the process of ice formation.

You can prevent this from happening by draught proofing areas which may have otherwise been neglected because they are not habitable or well-used. Plug up gaps using insulation, wood or plastic to try and keep the cold away from interior pipes or tanks.