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Would you trust a temporary clamp on a small pressurized leak?
A clamp or repair tape might slow a small leak long enough to limit water damage, but I wouldn’t treat either as a repair. How much does the answer depend on the pipe material and where the leak is, such as a straight section versus a joint? Are there clear signs that a temporary patch isn’t holding and the bathroom supply should be shut off instead?
I’m also curious what people consider a reasonable stopgap before getting a plumber to make a lasting repair, rather than leaving a temporary fix in place.
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2 replies
I’d treat renewed dripping, a patch that shifts or bulges, or water spreading beyond the pipe as a reason to stop relying on it and shut off the bathroom supply if the valve is safely accessible. If water is near electrical equipment, avoid touching it and get help; a patch is only a bridge to repair.
I’d be more comfortable treating a small leak on an accessible, straight section as a short stopgap than trying to patch a joint, where the shape and movement make a dependable seal less plausible. Pipe material still matters too, so I wouldn’t assume one clamp or tape suits every pipe. Either way, I’d arrange the lasting repair rather than let the patch become the plan.
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