Repairing plastic pipes using soldering or adhesive fittings requires shutting off the water. However, old, worn-out faucets can leak, so it is impossible to work on the pipeline as usual when it is leaking. In this case, the tricks of old plumbers will help.
1. Clamp connection
If water flows from the pipeline, you can connect to it using a clamp coupling for polyethylene pipes. Due to the rubber gaskets, it is pressed tightly, giving complete tightness.
This method will help not only if the water leaks a little, but also in an emergency when it comes out under high pressure.
2. Shut off the water with a spacer plug
A leaking soldering pipe can be blocked with a homemade plug. It consists of a bolt with rubber bushings put on, pressed with a nut through washers. The device is inserted into the pipe and tightened. The nut compresses the bushings, and they burst apart.
As a result, they turn off the water.
The bolt protruding from the pipe does not interfere with soldering a threaded fitting onto it.The plug is then released and removed, and a tap can be attached to the pipe.
3. Repair holes
During repairs, you can inadvertently drill a pipe hidden in the wall.
In this case, you can stop the leak by screwing a short self-tapping screw into the hole.
After this, the damaged area must be sealed with cold welding.
It will provide additional protection and will continue to hold the hole when the screw rusts.
4. Clamping the pipe with a clamp
You can also clamp the pipe in front of the open edge with a clamp. The plastic will shrink and the flow will stop.
After soldering, the clamp is released, and the crumpled area is trimmed with pliers. It will not become round again as before, but this will not affect the cross-country ability.
5. Pressing in the bread plug
You can press bread crumbs into a leaking pipe. It will be able to hold water until it gets wet.
This is enough time to solder the fitting. After this, you need to wait a little, and the soaked bread will flow out with water, unblocking the tube.
