Yeah, I hear you on the silicone tape—definitely more of a “buy yourself some time” fix than a real solution. I tried to stretch one patch for almost a week once (don’t recommend), and by day four it looked like a soggy band-aid. Those clamp kits are lifesavers though, especially if you’re trying to avoid calling in a plumber at 3 a.m. I’ve started keeping a bucket under my main shutoff just in case... learned that lesson the hard way when mine decided to leak too. Old pipes really do have a sense of humor, huh?
Honestly, I’ve had better luck with the self-fusing rubber tape than silicone—sticks tighter and doesn’t get as gross. Clamp kits are solid, but if you’ve got old galvanized pipes, sometimes nothing holds for long. I keep a wet/dry vac handy... buckets fill up fast.
Self-fusing rubber tape has saved me more than once, especially when I was trying to patch a pinhole at 3 a.m. in January—nothing else would stick in the cold. I do think silicone can work, but it always seems to attract dust and gets weirdly slimy over time. Galvanized pipes are a nightmare for leaks, though. I swapped out most of mine for PEX last year after a particularly bad flood... way less stress now, and supposedly better for water quality too. Wet/dry vac is clutch, but I’ve started keeping old towels around just in case—less plastic waste than buckets or disposable stuff.
Galvanized pipes are a nightmare for leaks, though. I swapped out most of mine for PEX last year after a particularly bad flood... way less stress now, and supposedly better for water quality too.
You're right about galvanized—once they start leaking, it's usually just the beginning. PEX is a solid upgrade, especially in older houses. Just make sure any connections are crimped properly; I've seen a few leaks from rushed installs. Old towels are underrated for cleanup, too. They beat the hassle of hauling out buckets every time.
Old towels are underrated for cleanup, too. They beat the hassle of hauling out buckets every time.
Funny you mention that—my last leak, I actually tried using a wet/dry vac instead of towels or buckets, thinking it’d be more efficient. Ended up just making a bigger mess somehow. About PEX, though... I’ve heard some folks complain about rodents chewing through it. Anyone run into that? Or is it just one of those internet myths? I’m still a bit skeptical about switching everything over.