PVC piping has a lot of uses, from supplying drinking water to watering your garden plants. It is light, durable, affordable, and sustainable, making them a great material.
That said, being made of plastic, a PVC pipe can leak or be damaged out of the blue. In this case, you can easily patch it up at home.
So in this guide, we will focus only on repairing a PVC pipe using silicone or rubber repair tape and epoxy since they’re the easiest for homeowners to do.
How to Fix a PVC Pipe with Silicone or Rubber Tape
Follow the steps outlined below to fix a PVC pipe using silicone or rubber tape.
1) Gather the materials you need
For this method, you need not go to your local hardware store at all. All you’ll need are simple tools and items such as a clean rag, scissors or a utility knife, and rubber or silicone tape.
2) Clean up the pipe
Go to the problematic pipe and wipe it down with a clean rag. Let it dry for a few minutes or with a fan if you must.
This is so the tape will strongly adhere to the PVC pipe when applied.
3) Wrap the repair tape around the crack
The repair tape works best on cracked portions of the pipe, not on damaged joints, unfortunately.
So wrap the tape around the leaky part lengthwise. The advantage of the repair tape is it covers a great distance. So if the pipe has a long split, you can cover it easily.
However, you might find it hard to do this in tight spaces. In this case, cut smaller sections of the tape and put them on the pipe until the crack is completely sealed off.
4) Test the repair
Now turn on the faucet and see if there are still leaks. Keep in mind that rubber taping a section of the PVC pipe is only a temporary fix. Soon, you’ll need to replace the damaged PVC part so no water will flow out wastefully.
How to Fix a PVC Pipe with Epoxy
Epoxy comes in two forms: putty and liquid form. When applied, it will harden into a solid surface, and thus, it can be a permanent solution to pipe leaks and cracks.
Here are the things you have to do to repair a PVC pipe with epoxy sealant:
1) Gather the materials you need
As with using rubber tape, it’s not difficult to get the materials for this pipe repair method. You’ll only need a disposable putty knife, a clean rag, and a two-part epoxy repair kit.
2) Clean up the pipe
First, clean the PVC pipe with a clean rag and let it dry. This is to allow the epoxy to bond with it effectively later on.
3) Mix the epoxy formula
You’ll have to mix the epoxy formula as specified by the supplier. Usually, it is a two-part process in which epoxy resin is mixed with the hardener.
However, some epoxy products provide you with a special syringe to mix the ingredients. For this, you only have to press down on the syringe’s top part to combine them.
And some require you to put together the formulas manually. This type will produce a putty or clay-like mixture that is then applied to the troublesome area of the pipe.
Just a tip: if the pipe is situated in a cramped space, liquid epoxy will make your job easier compared to using the putty form.
4) Use the epoxy on the pipe
Remember that mixing epoxy will dry quickly. So once you’ve done so, use it on the pipe before it solidifies altogether.
Coat the leak or cracked area thoroughly with epoxy. If the joint is the problem area, apply the mixture around the diameter of the pipe.
Afterward, let the epoxy harden. Most epoxies harden in just 25 minutes, but others can take an hour or more to dry.
5) Test the pipe
Finally, test the repair work. Just turn on the faucet on the sink and see if there’s any leaking coming from the newly repaired pipe.
