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Emergency pipe repair: A lesson from Hampshire in why you should always be prepared to fix a leak

A carpenter accidentally cut through a water pipe at a home in Essex but with no emergency pipe repair solution available, significant damage was caused

Why flooring and carpeting companies should always be prepared for pipework disasters

Emergency pipe repair is not just for plumbers. Pipes are everywhere and many trades encounter them on a daily basis. Electricians, builders, decorators, gardeners, carpenters, carpet fitters… the list goes on.

Having contact with pipes means that there is always a danger of accidentally cutting into one. When this happens, the damage can be severe, as a family in Hampshire discovered to their cost.

The Newton family were settling into their new home with their 12-month-old baby. Their kitchen had been refurbished and extended, the property newly decorated and new carpets fitted. Only one thing was bothering them – a loud, creaking nose from the floorboards in the bedroom.

They thought it may have been caused by all the construction work below. To get to the bottom of the problem, they called in a trained carpenter to investigate.

The upstairs flooring was chipboard rather than floorboards, so a section had to be cut away to gain access to the RSJ below. It was then decided that additional screws in the joists might reduce the creaking.

Unfortunately, the carpenter had not fully investigated what was lurking underneath the chipboard, resulting in the screws being placed in a perfect line down the centre of the mains water pipe supplying the tank in the loft.

Initially at least, the screws were not a major problem. Worse was to come however when the carpenter went to remove another section of chipboard, only to end up cutting through the pipe with a circular saw.

  • Damaged caused by a carpenter who accidentally drilled through a pipe with no emergency pipe repair kit available
  • Damage caused to a water pipe by a carpenter when no SylWrap Emergency Pipe Repair Kit was available
The carpenter drilled screws into the pipe located underneath floorboards in the bedroom before cutting through it with a circular saw

Catastrophic damage had now been caused to the already perforated pipe. With mains water gushing into the floor space, the family rushed to turn off the supply, only to find that the stopcock was seized up and could not be operated manually.

After some time, a wrench was found and the water turned off. The family then called a plumber to shut off the damaged section of pipe so that the home could still run other water services.

The plumber cut the pipe, plugged what he thought was the end leading to the mains, and turned the water back on. Alas, he had plugged the wrong end and so once more mains water was pumping into the floor space from an open-ended pipe.

Supply was again shut off and the plumber rectified the error. Still, several more gallons of water had been released, adding to the destruction of the home.

The damage led to damp and water ingress in the new kitchen and dining room. Much of downstairs had to be replastered and redecorated, as did the master bedroom where the pipe breach had occurred.

New carpet and underlay had to be fitted and a new living room ceiling. The home was also without water, heating and electricity for four days – hardly a good situation at the best of times, but catastrophic with a 12-month-old baby.

The water damage caused by the leaking pipe was extensive

Had the carpenter kept a SylWrap Pipe Repair Kit on his van in case of emergency, then all of that could have been avoided. SylWrap enables any user to permanently repair a leaking pipe in less than 30 minutes even when water flow cannot be turned off.

A SylWrap Kit can make repairs pressure resistant to 30bar and temperature resistant to to 200ºC. They are WRAS approved so can be used safely on pipes carrying drinking water and are effective on pipes of any size made from copper, PVC plastics, steel, stainless steel, malleable iron, GRP, ceramic, clay, concrete, lead, and rubber.

With SylWrap, the leak could have been minimised within minutes, preventing it wreaking such destruction. A full, permanent repair would have made the pipe serviceable and mains water could have been reinstated.

Accidents happen, as the Newton family, the carpenter and the plumber involved found out to their cost. Being prepared for emergencies by carrying a SylWrap Kit can help prevent them turning into the sort of disaster seen in Hampshire.

To speak to a Sylmasta technician about how your company might benefit from stocking SylWrap Pipe Repair solutions in case of an emergency, then please contact Sylmasta via email or on +44 (0)1444 831459.

SylWrap Emergency Pipe Repair Kits

The SylWrap Universal Pipe Repair Kit enables anyone to fix a leaking pipe inside of 30 minutes

SylWrap Universal Pipe Repair Kit
Contains Superfast Epoxy Putty, Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape and SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage for permanent live leak repairs

SylWrap Pipe Repair Contractor Case
Easy-to-store, robust red case with enough SylWrap Pipe Repair products to make up to six permanent live leak repairs

Repairs Made With SylWrap

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How much waterproof pipe repair tape do I need to seal my leak?

Wrap & Seal waterproof pipe repair tape can make high-pressure live leak repairs to pipes capable of holding up to 30bar

Introducing the Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape Repair Calculator

Using a waterproof pipe repair tape to fix a leaking pipe just became that little bit easier thanks to the introduction of the Sylmasta Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape Repair Calculator.

Gone are the days of trying to manually work out how many tapes are needed to make a repair with high enough pressure resistance. Simply enter the data about your repair into the Sylmasta Wrap & Seal Calculator and it will do the rest for you.

For fixing pipes in domestic plumbing, using one 25mm x 2m Wrap & Seal has usually been suitable. This small version of Sylmasta’s waterproof pipe repair tape holds pressure up to 5bar and with most plumbing applications operating at between 1bar and 2bar, there has never been much confusion over the quantity of tape required.

When it comes to larger, industrial repairs however, clients have not always been sure of the number of Wrap & Seal required. Factors which influence the number of tapes include pipe pressure, pipe diameter, the dimensions of the crack, and the size of Wrap & Seal being purchased.

For complex applications, this would often lead to clients having to contact Sylmasta before procurement to ascertain the quantity of waterproof repair tape required.

A combination of extensive testing at Sylmasta HQ and the introduction of the Pipe Burst Tape Repair Calculator removes that additional layer from the buying process. Sylmasta’s clients can now simply enter their repair data on the relevant product page, discover the number of Wrap & Seals their repair requires and then order accordingly.

To use the Calculator, a customer enters the water pressure of the repair, the diameter of the pipe in millimetres, and the length of the crack. For pinhole leaks, the repair length field is left blank.

Once they have entered their data, selecting the size of a specific Wrap & Seal Tape will show the quantity of that specific tape recommended for completing the repair. You can try the Calculator for yourself:

Wrap & Seal is made from self-fusing silicone, is twice as thick as most other waterproof repair tapes and stretches by 300 percent. It features a unique tapered profile which prevents water tacking underneath.

As it is wrapped around a pipe, Wrap & Seal forms a solid rubber band over the leak area for a high-pressure repair. Additional tapes will bond to previously applied layers, enabling a repair to be built capable of holding up to 30bar.

The Repair Calculator has been added to the product pages of Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape, the SylWrap Universal Pipe Repair Kit, and the SylWrap Pipe Contractor Case.

Wrap & Seal is available in three sizes when purchased as a standalone product; Small 25m x 2m, Large 50mm x 4m, X-Large 50mm x 11m.

The Universal Pipe Repair Kit contains one roll of Wrap & Seal alongside Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty and a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage. Additional Wrap & Seal can be purchased separately to increase the pressure resistance of repairs made with the Universal Kit. The Repair Calculator now formulates how many additional tapes are required prior to purchase.

A SylWrap Contractor Case features multiple Wrap & Seal and SylWrap HD along with Superfast Steel. It allows regular pipe repair users, including water companies and facilities management, to make up to six live leak repairs at a cheaper-cost-per repair than when using individual kits.

Contractor Case users can now determine the number of Wrap & Seal they require from their Case to carry out a high-pressure repair. They can also order any additional tapes as recommended.

(Calculations serve as a guide to potential maximum pressure resistance only. Actual pressure resistance depends upon pipe material, condition, hole size, leak type and tension maintained during wrapping. If you are unsure, then more than one Wrap & Seal can be used to stop the leak.)

If you have any question about making a repair using Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape or require technical assistance, then please contact Sylmasta via email or on +44 (0)1444 831459 and a technician will be happy to advise you.

Wrap & Seal Pipe Repairs

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Leakage in the UK hits record low levels thanks to innovation and pipe repair

Leakage has hit its lowest levels on Britain's water network since records began thanks to technology, innovation and pipe repair

Leaks on the water network were cut by 7% in 2019-20

Leakage levels in the United Kingdom hit a record low in 2019-20 as technology, innovation and pipe repair saw the amount of water lost on the nation’s water network cut by 7%.

216 million litres of water were saved per day – enough to fill 86 Olympic sized swimming pools – to bring the volume of water being leaked down to 2,954 million litres, the lowest since records began in the mid-1990s.

Britain has over 215,277 miles of water pipes, enough to go around the world eight-and-a-half times. Maintaining such a vast network provides a significant challenge for the nation’s water companies, who have been set an ambitious target of cutting leaks by 16% over the next five years by the industry regulator Ofwat.

The 16% figure forms part of a broader target of halving leakage figures from their current levels by 2050.

To achieve this, water companies are adopting the latest technology and innovation to both identify and repair leaks quicker. The faster that a damaged pipe on the water network is logged and fixed, the less water that is lost to leakage.

Smart pipes capable of data capture, noise loggers which listen out for leaks, satellite technology and thermal imaging drones are being used by various water companies for the purposes of leak detection.

SES Water have partnered with Vodafone to create an intelligent water network which helps them detect and fix leaks while Yorkshire Water are currently piloting the UK’s largest smart water network.

Northumbrian Water have begun using satellites to detect and pinpoint leaks in Suffolk and Essex and Anglian Water have adopted thermal imaging drones for the same purpose.

Affinity Water had the best published leak reduction results across the industry, cutting their amount of lost water by 15%. Affinity achieved their figures through data capture and analysis, state-of-the-art technology and innovative ways to find leaks.

Detecting leaks is only half the job; once a leak has been found, it must also be fixed. Sylmasta’s pipe repair technology is helping in the battle against leakage, having been approved for use by Anglian Water, Southern Water and Affinity Water.

Anglian, Southern and Affinity contractors are now carrying SylWrap Pipe Repair Contactor Cases on their vans. More water companies are set to follow suit in the coming months as pipe repair becomes a pressing issue if those ambitious leak reduction targets are to be met.

SylWrap Contractor Cases enable up to six permanent repairs to be carried out to leaking pipes of all types and sizes, even when pressure cannot be turned off.

A repair can be made in less than 30 minutes, significantly cutting the amount of time which a damaged pipe is leaking water for. With a cost-per-repair as low as £18.77, SylWrap Kits provide excellent value-for-money.

Their versatility means they can be deployed in tight spots for difficult repairs, making them more user-friendly and lightweight than traditional pipe repair clamps.

Commenting on the leakage figures, Water UK Chief Executive Christine McGourty said,“Enormous progress has been made in tackling leaky pipes, and that’s brought leakage levels down significantly in the last year.”

“But the water industry is committed to doing much more, and companies are putting innovation and technology at the heart of a commitment to radically reduce leakage over the long-term”

“Intelligent networks, smart sensors, satellite technology and drones are all part of the armoury that’s being deployed to detect and fix leaks faster than ever and at lower cost.”

The improved picture on leakage in the UK came as part of a wider update published on the Discover Water website. It was also revealed that interruptions in water supply were now down to an average of just 12 minutes and the amount of water used per person has fallen slightly from 143 litres to 142 litres per day.

Pipe Repair Contractor Case

The Pipe Repair Contractor Case is easily stored on the vans of water company contractors. When a live leak is detected, vans equipped with a Case can carry out an emergency repair to pipes of any size and type in 30 minutes.

Cases contain enough products to make up to six live leak repairs. They provide a lightweight, user-friendly and much more versatile alternative to traditional pipe clamps.

SylWrap Pipe Repair Contractor Case
Easy-to-store, robust red case with enough SylWrap Pipe Repair products to make up to six permanent live leak repairs

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Preparing your business for a safe reopening after lockdown from a pipes point of view

Business owners should take some steps to ensure their pipes are in good working order ahead of a safe reopening

Three pipe repair and maintenance tips to get your business ready for reopening

As lockdown restrictions in the United Kingdom continue to be lifted, business owners including those who run pubs, restaurants and cafés are preparing for a safe reopening of their doors.

The government have issued COVID-secure guidelines which must be followed to ensure a safe return to work. These directions deal with how to prevent the spread of the disease, but not much attention seems to have been paid to other dangers caused by the extended shutdown of premises, shops, and offices.

We all know that copious amounts of hand sanitiser will be required for clean and healthy hands to stop transmission – but not what should be done to ensure that pipework systems for example do not end up causing health problems after laying unused for over three months.

Here are some steps that business owners should take to ensure a safe reopening relating to pipes.

Flush out your pipes to prevent Legionnaires disease

Legionnaires disease poses a very real threat for businesses whose premises have been completely shut throughout the three-month lockdown period.

Legionella, the bacteria which causes the fatal disease, grows and thrives in stagnant water between 25°C and 45°C. If a business has left water to lie in pipes and tanks for three months, then conditions will have been ripe for legionella to form – especially given the warm weather of recent months.

People contract Legionnaires disease when they inhale droplets of water containing legionella through mist or vapour. Individuals with underlying health conditions, weakened immune systems, respiratory problems and lung disease are most at risk. One in 10 people who become sick with Legionnaires disease will die due to complications from their illness.

Removing legionella from pipes and tanks ahead of a safe reopening for business is thankfully straightforward. By turning on your taps for between 10 and 30 minutes (depending on the size of the premises), you can flush out any stagnant and contaminated water so that it does not come into contact with customers or employees.

Beware of lead leaching into water

Another threat posed by pipes being out of use for a significant period of time comes from lead. If your business is located in an older building which still contains lead pipes somewhere in the system, then you need to flush stagnant water in the same way as the method for removing legionnaires.

Lead leaches into water which it has extended contact time with. This can happen in as short a time frame as overnight, so a three-month period in which water has not moved presents a huge risk when it comes to contamination.

Exposure to lead is harmful to infants and children in particular with studies showing adverse effects on their mental development and behaviour. Subsequently, the World Health Organisation advises that exposure to lead is kept at a minimum.

The British government prohibited the use of lead in many products with the ban encompassing water supply pipes in 1970. Most business owners will therefore not be effected by water contaminated with lead, but if you have any doubts about the makeup of your pipework system then it is advised to flush them ahead of a safe reopening.

General pipe repair and maintenance

Three months is a long time for a business to have been shut and while your pub, restaurant, café or shop has been in lockdown, problems might have developed within pipework systems.

That PVC plastic pipe which needed repair because of a small leak might have developed a larger leak. Issues that were seen as minor back in March may have become more pressing over the course of the last 15 weeks.

The last thing any business owner wants is to be affected by pipework problems, especially if they are then force to scale back services or close altogether just a matter of days after a safe reopening.

You can avoid that fate by checking your pipes before reopening to make sure everything is in good working order. If you spot any holes, cracks, leaks of problems then take steps to fix them now before throwing open your doors rather than risk a bigger problem down the line.

The SylWrap pipe repair and maintenance range contains products for fixing leaking pipes and strengthening and protecting old and worn pipework systems.

SylWrap pipe repair solutions are easy-to-use, do not require the costly services of a plumber or other expert and are effective inside 30 minutes, making them ideal for preparing a business’ pipes ahead of a safe reopening.

To speak to a Sylmasta technician about how your business pipe repair and maintenance needs before reopening after lockdown, then please contact Sylmasta via email or on +44 (0)1444 831459.

Leaking Pipe Repair in Under 30 Minutes

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What is epoxy putty, how does it work and what is it used for?

Epoxy putty is a repair compound with many uses in DIY, maintenance and plumbing

Welcome to the wonderful world of epoxy putty

Epoxy putty is one of those repair materials that every household should have a supply of. Why? Because it is so versatile that you can use it in almost any job you can think of.

Need to fix a leaking pipe? Use putty to plug the hole. Have a cracked concrete paving slab that requires repair? Use putty to fill the gap.

Bathroom tiles or ceramics that are chipped? Epoxy putty. Wood that could do with filling in? Epoxy putty. Hole in metalwork caused by rust? Epoxy putty.

It is a powerful adhesive. It bonds to virtually any surface. It is waterproof. It can be shaped, moulded, sculpted, drilled, sawed, cut and painted. And perhaps best of all – it is one of the easiest repair compounds to use.

What is epoxy putty?

Epoxy putties are made up of two soft parts. When these two parts are mixed together, a chemical reaction takes place, causing the putty to harden.

Whilst soft, epoxy putty can be kneaded by hand and moulded into use for the repair or bonding task it is required for. By the time it has cured and set, you have a material which can be as hard as steel when measured using the Shore rating.

How does epoxy putty work?

The key component in an epoxy putty is the hardener. The chemistry of the hardener determines how quickly the putty will cure. Some users may want a rapid working putty while others carrying out larger projects or more detailed work might need longer to work with the material.

Take Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty. It has a cure time of five minutes, offering a rapid repair solution for steel, iron and other ferrous metals. It is the perfect epoxy putty for when time is of the essence.

When epoxy putties are used by model makers, sculptors and restorers, they in contrast require time to be able to shape the putty and carve intricate details into their creations.

Over on Sylmasta’s craft, restoration and model making site SylCreate.com, the putties on sale therefore come with a much longer working time of up to two hours – Green Stuff, Magic Sculp and Geomfix Original A+B.

AB Original is Sylmasta’s super-strength repair putty. It also comes with a two working time, allowing for more putty to be mixed without wastage for use in large-scale repair and maintenance tasks.

Because the cure speed of epoxy putty is impacted by heat, putties with long working times are more suitable for warmer climates. AB Original has proven a popular product with Sylmasta’s pipe repair customers in the Middle East.

Types of epoxy putties

Different epoxy putties are formulated for different tasks and use on certain materials. Specialist wood putty for example is coloured brown and will often be wood-filled, allowing it to bond more effectively.

Concrete putty cures to grey to match concrete. Milliput, a Welsh epoxy putty manufacturer, produce a terracotta putty which can be used to repair terracotta and clay ornaments.

Epoxy putties are not just formulated for colour. Specialist formulations are produced for high temperature applications, such as Titanium High Temperature Epoxy Putty which is resistant up to 280°C for use with steam pipes and other pipework in industry.

When it comes to epoxy for domestic plumbing, then finding a putty which is WRAS approved is vital to guarantee the safety of the repair. WRAS approval means that the material in question has been certified for use with drinking water.

Using putties that are not WRAS approved and which encounter water designated for human consumption could lead to contamination – the last thing anyone wants when it comes to fixing a leaking pipe.

Epoxy putty formats

Epoxy putties can come in several formats. The two most common formats are the putty stick and the two-part putty.

The Putty Stick is the easiest to use. It combines the two parts in one handy stick with the hardener running through the middle.

You simply cut off the required amount of putty and knead by hand until it feels ready to apply. Because the Putty Stick is pre-formatted, there is no need to worry about the mixing ratios of the two parts.

Some epoxy putties will come with the two parts kept separate. When this is the case, you take the required amount of each part and mix them together. This allows for greater control over the mixing ratio; including more hardener for example will quicken the working time and can lead to a less sticky putty.

Having such command over the properties of the putty is desirable when it comes to model making, sculpture and other creative tasks. It is much less important in the majority of general repair tasks however, which is why putty sticks are suitable for most maintenance jobs.

One alternative format is the epoxy putty tape or reel. The two parts are combined in one easy-to-store reel and just like with the stick, you cut off the required amount of putty and knead it by hand.

How to use epoxy putty

The biggest selling point of epoxy putty is how easy it is to use. Once you have mixed it by hand, you simply apply it to the material or area requiring repair.

It is soft enough to push into holes and cracks, fixing leaking pipes and creating watertight seals around faucets, drains, and other plumbing parts.

Repairing cracked and chipped masonry and concrete is equally straightforward; just mould the kneaded putty into place. As an adhesive, it can be used to stick one material to another in the same manner that you would apply blue tac.

Once the putty has cured, you can do practically anything to it. Paint it, drill it, saw it. It won’t shrink or pull away.

When you have finished carrying out the repair job or task at hand, then you can keep the remaining putty. All epoxy putties will stay fresh when kept tightly sealed in their original packaging, ready and waiting to serve you again in the future.

Sylmasta Epoxy Putties


If you have any questions about which product is most suitable for your repair or require technical assistance, then please contact Sylmasta via email or on +44 (0)1444 831459 and a technician will be happy to advise you.

Epoxy putty repairs

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No plumber, no problem: How to fix a leaking pipe in coronavirus lockdown

A leaking pipe may be hard to fix durng coronavirus lockdown as plumbers begin downing tools

Burst pipes are bad news at the best of times. During Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown, a leaking pipe can quickly turn into a disaster as plumbers and other tradespeople across the United Kingdom down tools.

In theory, all trades can continue with call-outs as their work cannot be carried out from home. They are also offering an essential service when it comes to emergency repairs.

In practice though it’s a different story. Many are choosing to shut down to help prevent the spread of the virus as well as protect themselves and their families from catching Covid-19.

This is a sensible course of action as Britain attempts to battle the pandemic. But it might leave households and businesses in something of a quandary about what to do if a pipe on their property develops a leak during lockdown.

Which is where Sylmasta come in. We’re still accepting orders and despatching them via next day delivery.

If you need to carry out an emergency pipe repair, then order a SylWrap Pipe Repair kit before 2pm Monday to Friday and within 24 hours you’ll have all the products and equipment needed to fix a leaking pipe, depending on courier performance during Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown.

There are two versions of the SylWrap Pipe Repair Kit. The Standard Kit contains Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty Stick and SylWrap Bandage and is used for repairing leaking pipes where water pressure can be turned off.

The Universal Pipe Repair Kit includes Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape in addition to the products in the standard kit. It is used to seal live leaks when flow cannot be turned off.

Both kits are easy to use and come with full instructions. The Superfast Steel Epoxy Putty Stick is hand-kneaded and used to plug holes. Wrap & Seal is a self-fusing silicone tape which stretches by 300%, providing maximum pressure when wrapped over the leak area.

The repair is then overwrapped with a SylWrap Bandage. When activated using water, the resin soaked bandage sets rock hard to provide a permanent, impact resistant layer.

SylWrap Pipe Repair Kits come in a variety of sizes depending on the diameter of pipe requiring repair. They are effective on pipes of all materials in domestic and industrial settings and are WRAS approved, meaning they are safe to use with drinking water.

If you suddenly find yourself needing to perform an emergency pipe repair and you can’t get hold of a plumber due to the Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown, then please get in contact with us today.

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Copper pipe repair – 4 ways to fix a leaking copper pipe

Being able to repair a copper pipe is a task that most homeowners will need to be able to carry out at some point in their life

Copper is one of the most frequently used materials for pipe systems in the domestic home. Which means that at some point in our lives, most of us are going to have to attempt to repair a copper pipe.

To the uninitiated, this can seem like a daunting task. Your first reaction might be to reach straight for the phone and call a plumber under the mistaken belief that only a trained expert can fix the problem. And they will charge you an average price of £100 for the privilege.

There is another way. Or several other ways, to be more precise. Fixing a leaking copper pipe can be a straightforward task carried out by anyone willing to spend a few pounds on one of the many pipe repair products available on the market.

Copper pipe repair epoxy putty

Copper repair epoxy putties provide one of the easiest ways to fix a leaking pipe. Epoxy putties consist of two components, a resin and a hardener. When mixed together, these components form a material that can be used to plug holes before setting into a hardened material.

The Superfast Copper Epoxy Putty Stick combines the two components in one ready-to-use stick. You simply break off the amount of putty required and mix it by hand. Once the epoxy putty has been completely mixed, the two contrasting colours will blend into one.

When mixing has finished, the putty can be placed over the area requiring of copper pipe requiring repair. It will fill the hole or crack, offering a complete seal within one hour.

Pipe Repair Tape

If you need to fix a leaking copper pipe which cannot be turned off, then the water pressure running through it may make a repair with epoxy putty difficult. If this is the case, then pipe burst tape can be used to seal the live leak.

The most popular types of pipe burst tape on the market are those which self-fuse as well. These tapes are made from silicone and other advanced polymers and will seal the leak by forming a tight rubber band around it.

Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape is one of the most effective pipe repair tapes on the market. It stretches by 300% and is extremely easy to apply.

You start by anchoring the Wrap & Seal next to the leak area before stretching the tape to its full length and wrapping it around the copper pipe until the leak is sealed.

Repairs can be carried out in under 30 minutes. There are however limitations to where pipe repair tape can be used; it can be difficult to achieve the required stretch around inaccessible copper pipes which are positioned up against walls or inside cupboards.

Pipe Repair Bandages

For a longer lasting repair of a copper pipe, then you should overwrap either the epoxy putty or the pipe repair tape with a SylWrap Pipe Repair Bandage.

These bandages are fibreglass wraps coated with a water-activated resin. Once dipped in water, they set rock hard in less than 30 minutes to provide an impact resistant layer over the original repair material and a permanent repair.

For convenience, Sylmasta now sell Superfast Copper Epoxy Putty Stick, Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape and SylWrap Pipe Repair Bandages in one Pipe Repair Kit for fixing a leaking copper pipe. All of the products in the Universal Pipe Repair Kit are WRAS approved, meaning that they are safe to use with drinking water.

Soldering

Another way in which you can repair a leaking copper pipe is through soldering. It’s harder work than the other three methods which we’ve listed and it does require a degree of practical ability, but it can provide a permanent solution to fix a copper pipe.

Before soldering, you have to shut off the main water valve and then drain the pipe in question from below where the hole is. Any sitting water needs to be removed before you begin the soldering process.

Clean the damaged area with an abrasives pad and then add the flux which you will use for soldering to the pipe. Heat the flux with a blowtorch until it changes colour and then add solder into the hole. This will block up the hole, sealing the leak and returning the pipe to full working order.

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WRAS approved: What is WRAS approval and why is it important?

WRAS approval guarantees that WRAS approved products and materials will not have a detrimental impact on water taken from public supply lines

WRAS – Keeping Britain’s water supply safe

If you’ve ever bought from our range of SylWrap Pipe Repair Products before, then you will have heard about WRAS approval or seen the WRAS logo on our website. Beyond that, you might not know much about what being WRAS approved means.

That is understandable. After all, it isn’t exactly exciting. But it is important. WRAS approval ensures that the pipes, appliances and fittings which are responsible for bringing water in and out of buildings through connections to the public supply provide water of the highest quality.

Here’s how it works.

What is WRAS approval?

WRAS stands for the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme. The scheme grants its approval to products and materials only after they have undergone extensive testing to ensure that the application in question will not cause waste, misuse, undue consumption or contamination of the water supply.

When a customer buys a product or fitting which has WRAS approval, they do so knowing that they are installing applications which are safe and of a high standard.

Gaining WRAS approval itself is voluntary. Companies like Sylmasta submit their products to testing because we want our customers to know that our pipe repair solutions do not contaminate water supplies and are not hazardous to human health. We take our responsibility to clean and safe water seriously.

How many types of WRAS approval are there?

There are two types of WRAS approval: WRAS Product Approval and WRAS Material Approval. Product Approval is where an entire fitting has been WRAS approved, such as valves, showers and boilers.

Material Approval is where specific materials which come into contact with water once it leaves the public supply line are certified as being safe to do so. These materials might include rubber sheet material and ‘O’ rings.

When a product has WRAS Material Approval, it guarantees that it won’t give an undesirable flavour or colour to water, impart toxic chemicals or create conditions in which bacteria can flourish.

How does a product become WRAS approved?

A product only becomes WRAS approved after undergoing rigorous testing on its mechanics and the way it interacts with water. These tests are carried out by independent laboratories.

To ensure that high standards remain, WRAS approval only lasts for five years, after which products and materials must be subjected to new tests. This guarantees that any fittings or materials which are WRAS approved are consistently produced to a safe, national standard.

Certain products have to be installed in a certain way in order to meet the standards of WRAS approval. The company manufacturing or installing the application will be able to advise you should that be the case.

Is WRAS approval a legal requirement?

The legality of WRAS approval is a complicated area. As already noted, seeking WRAS approval is a voluntary procedure. There are other similar schemes out there which companies can sign up to in order to get their products certified.

By and large, you should always seek to use WRAS approved products though. While the repair of a leaking copper pipe in your bathroom doesn’t strictly require a WRAS approved product, why would you not want to ensure that the materials which you are exposing your home’s drinking water supply to are certified as being safe?

There are no grey areas when it comes to connecting to the public water supply. No water company will facilitate a connection between their public supply lines and new builds or extensions without proof that every product involved once the water leaves the mains is WRAS approved.

The same goes for any upgrades of public buildings. Hotels, shopping centres, leisure facilities, hospitals – any building or facility which supplies water to the public through any means must use WRAS approved products. This guarantees that the supplies are safe for human consumption and will not harm the public.

What does WRAS approval mean for pipe repair?

When you see a pipe repair product from Sylmasta which has WRAS approval, you know that it can be safely installed anywhere which requires a WRAS standard installation.

Currently, the following products have achieved WRAS approval:

We are extremely proud of our WRAS approval at Sylmasta. The design and manufacturing process to achieve the standard is by no means easy. We will continue to work hard to achieve the accreditation for further products in our range, so that they might be used for repair solutions for pipes which carry drinking water.

If you have any question about WRAS approval or which product is most suitable for your repair, then please contact Sylmasta via email or on +44 (0)1444 831459 and a technician will be happy to advise you.

WRAS Approved Products

WRAS Approved Pipe Repairs

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What to do if you accidentally drill a hole in a pipe

What steps to take if you accidentally drill a hole in a pipe during home DIY work

There are plenty of dangers which come with home DIY projects. One of the biggest is to accidentally drill a hole through something you shouldn’t, especially if that something is either carrying electricity or is a water pipe.

Unintentionally cutting into a water pipe can be a chastening experience which happens far more often than you’d think. It only takes one screw hanging up one medicine cabinet to be one millimetre out of place in a bathroom renovation and it could cut through the plumbing which supplies water for the entire bathroom.

The natural reaction to accidentally drilling though a water pipe is to panic – but repairing the damage isn’t as difficult as you might think. In fact, with the correct procedures and the right equipment, you can carry out a permanent repair yourself.

Here’s what to do if you accidentally drill through a water pipe.

Turn the water off

Turning the water off is the number one priority after you’ve accidentally drilled though a pipe. Locate your home’s stopcock to turn off the mains supply, which will stop water continuing to flow through the damaged area. You should also open the faucet at the sink to allow water to drain out.

In older properties, the stopcock or mains water valve could be impossible to turn due to age or rust. If this is the case, then it doesn’t have to be the end of the world – there are means and ways to repair pipes even when flow cannot be turned off.

Gain access to the damaged pipe

In order to inspect and repair the damaged pipe, you need to gain access to it. If it is behind a wall, then remove the drywall around the area using a drill or a drywall saw. If it is underneath the floor, then take up the floorboards.

You should take extra care when attempting to reach the damaged pipework. The last thing that you want to happen is to drill accidentally drill another hole into the pipe.

Inspect the damage caused to the pipe

Once you’ve gained access to the pipe which you’ve accidentally put a hole in, you can get a better idea of the damage caused. A leaking pinhole for example is going to be a much easier fix than a deep longitudinal cut several inches in length.

You’ll also be able to see the type of pipe and the size which you’re dealing with. Sometimes, a copper pipe may be better suited to a different repair than a plastic pipe.

This is especially true if the pipe can be fixed using only epoxy putty, with Superfast Sticks for example having different formulations depending on the material that requires repair.

Decide if you can fix the leaking pipe yourself

After assessing the pipe type and the damage caused by you accidentally putting a drill through it, you can take a decision over whether to carry out a repair yourself or if the services of a fully qualified plumber are required.

DIY pipe repairs have become incredibly easy over the past 10 years or so thanks to the introduction to the market of all-in-one pipe repair kits, such as our SylWrap range.

These kits contain all the products needed to permanently fix a leaking pipe inside of 30 minutes and they are effective on pipes of all materials and sizes – you simply seal the leak either with the epoxy putty or pipe repair tape provided and then overwrap with a pipe repair bandage.

There are multiple advantages to fixing damage yourself which has been caused when you accidentally drill a hole into a pipe. Calling a plumber will set you back anywhere between £40 – £60 per hour based on average rates in the United Kingdom in 2019.

Given that this will be an emergency call, you may also find yourself subjected to a call out charge which will be fixed around the same price. Already, you are looking at having to pay over £100 to get the problem repaired.

Contrast that to a pipe repair kit being available from as little as £13 and you can already begin to see the saving that you can make my repairing a broken pipe yourself.

If necessary, call a professional

Repairing a leaking pipe yourself is easy, but there could be a number of reasons why you don’t wish to carry out the task yourself. If that is the case, then you should find a reputable local plumber to come and carry out the work for you.

As always when hiring any sort of tradesman, be sure to carry out thorough checks on their credentials. If you’ve already done damage when accidentally putting a drill into a pipe, then you won’t want to compound it with a substandard repair.

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How leaking pipes can affect your health and make you sick

Mould and mildew caused by leaking pipes can be extremely damaging to human health

You’re probably well aware of the damage that leaks can do to the value of a property and its structural integrity. Everybody notices a rise in water bills too. But arguably the most damaging aspect of leaking pipes is the one that doesn’t get talked about – the effect on human health.

When pipes start leaking, conditions suddenly become ripe for the growth of mould and mildew – two organisms which produce spores that pollute the air and can do serious damage to long-term health.

Mould and mildew

Mould and mildew are fungi which can appear anywhere. Even in newly built properties, mould spores will find a way to appear in nooks and crannies. This isn’t a problem – when left in dry areas, the organism can remain dormant for decades, never posing a threat to human health.

It’s when conditions are ripe for mould and mildew to grow and thrive that they become a real problem. For this to happen, they require air, food, the correct temperature and – crucially – moisture.

How can you prevent mould and mildew?

There’s only one realistic way that you can prevent mould and mildew, and that is by preventing access to moisture.

The other conditions that mould and mildew needs to thrive are uncontollable. Oxygen is present in every home, the organisms feed off all types of household surfaces including wood, fabric, wallpaper and paint and the optimum temperature for mould and mildew to thrive in is between 5°C and 40°C.

Keeping your home dry and ventilated is therefore the best way to combat the problem – which means fixing leaking pipes as soon as problems occur.

What damage to human health can leaking pipes cause?

Failing to repair a leaking pipe can allow moisture to gather in your home, giving mould and mildew the conditions it needs to grow.

Mildew is considered the less severe of the two organisms. It forms only on surfaces rather than within them and can be easily removed with bleach or vinegar. Its spores can cause severe allergic reactions, but it is less harmful than mould.

When exposed to moisture, mould grows quickly, producing spores in 24 hours. Unlike mildew, it penetrates surfaces rather than simply forming on the top which makes it much harder to eradicate as it will eat away at materials such as wood and drywall.

Mould’s most damaging feature though is that its spores contain allergens and irritants which cause serious health problems when inhaled from residents of visitors to properties where the organism is present.

Health issues that mould can cause include throat and skin irritation, itchy eyes, frequent coughing and sneezing as though affected by an extreme allergy, respiratory infections, breathing problems, congestion, rashes, tiredness and fever.

These problems become more severe in those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma. Mould can even grow inside the lungs of people with severe conditions such as tuberculosis, emphysema, or advanced sarcoidosis. Children who grow up in a mould-infested house are also far more likely to develop asthma.

That’s why preventing mould and mildew from forming in the first place is so important.

How to combat the impact of leaking pipes on your health

Because mould and mildew cannot thrive without moisture, your best chance of preventing these organisms from growing and developing is to find and repair the leaking pipe which is causing the dampness.

One of the reasons that people fail to fix a leaking pipe is because they mistakenly believe that it will be a costly and timely consuming process which could involve hiring the services of a plumber.

This isn’t the case, however. With a SylWrap Pipe Repair Kit, the user can permanently seal a leak inside of 30 minutes with no formal training required.

Recognising and fixing leaking pipes as soon as problems arise can prevent the growth and spread of mould and mildew, in turn helping you and your family from suffering potentially serious health complications.

It’s just another reason why pipe repair is so important.