Repairing water pipe leaks is a project that the mobile-home owner can accomplish with a few tools and a basic knowledge of what lines are causing the problem. The project may involve crawling under the home or only removing a pipe from under the sink. Depending on the types of pipes either PVC (plastic) or copper, your tools may be limited. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
PVC Repair of Leaky Pipes
1. Locate the leak. Turn off the main water to the house. This will prevent a bigger disaster.
2. Cut the pipe using the hacksaw. You will have to make two separate cuts about 6 inches apart. This will leave you a 6-inch gap to work with.
3. Cut a section of pipe 5 1/2 inches long. This will be the replacement pipe to repair the leak.
4. Swab the inside of each one of the sleeves with the PVC solvent. Place each one of these pieces onto the cut ends of each one of the water pipes. Allow them to dry for about 15 minutes. This will cause the solvent to adhere to the plastic surface.
5. Wipe the inside of the sleeves with the PVC solvent. Push the small section of pipe you cut into the sleeves. Allow it to dry. After 15 minutes, turn the main water back on.
Repairing Copper Pipes
6. After turning off the main water supply, cut the pipe with a hacksaw where the leak is located. Cut another inch off of the same portion of pipe.
7. Clean the ends of both of these pipes with the sandpaper. You will have a 1-inch gap so you will need a 2-inch sleeve.
8. Clean the inside of the sleeve and place some flux on the inside of the sleeve and the outside of the pipe. This will help the solder seal and bind.
9. Hold the solder wire in one hand and the blowtorch in the other. Start the torch and apply the solder. Apply the solder at the seam where the two sleeve ends are. This will form a seal that will be waterproof. When soldering, apply from the top to the bottom.
Tags: This will, main water, inside sleeve, section pipe, sleeves with, sleeves with solvent
