"Had a client once who used chewing gum to seal a tiny leak under his sink."
Haha, chewing gum's a new one for me. Reminds me of my neighbor who once tried sealing a cracked pipe with candle wax—worked just long enough for him to brag about it. Personally, I lean toward eco-friendly fixes, like using plumber's epoxy putty. It's quick, reliable, and doesn't leave you with a bigger mess later. Still, gotta admire the ingenuity people show when they're desperate...
Personally, I lean toward eco-friendly fixes, like using plumber's epoxy putty.
Chewing gum and candle wax... creative, but definitely not my first choice. Reminds me of a tenant I had who tried duct tape on a leaking pipe joint under the bathroom sink. It held for about two days before flooding the cabinet again—lesson learned the hard way.
If you're stuck in a pinch, plumber's epoxy putty is indeed a solid temporary fix. Here's how I'd usually handle it: first, shut off the water supply (obviously), then dry and clean the area around the leak thoroughly. Knead the epoxy putty until it's uniform in color, press it firmly into place around the leak, and smooth it out to ensure a tight seal. Give it at least an hour or two to cure properly before turning the water back on.
Still, these quick fixes are just band-aids. Eventually, you'll want to replace or properly repair that section of pipe to avoid bigger headaches down the road. Trust me, I've seen enough DIY disasters to know when it's time to call in a pro...
"Still, these quick fixes are just band-aids."
Yeah, epoxy putty's okay for a short-term fix, but honestly I've had better luck with those rubber pipe repair clamps. Had a cracked copper pipe in my basement last winter and slapped one of those on—it held solid for months until I could afford a proper repair. Cheaper than calling out a plumber immediately, too. Ever tried those?
I've used those rubber clamps too, and honestly, they're pretty solid. Had a pipe burst in the laundry room a couple years back—middle of winter, freezing cold, total nightmare. I didn't have any epoxy putty handy, but I did have one of those clamps lying around from an old project. Slapped it on, tightened it up, and it held surprisingly well. Got me through until spring when I finally had the time (and cash) to replace that whole section properly.
But I gotta say, for anything involving water pressure or hot water lines, I'm always a bit hesitant to rely on temporary fixes for too long. Had a friend who tried to patch up a hot water line with epoxy once... let's just say his basement got an unexpected indoor pool. Ever had one of these quick fixes fail on you at the worst possible moment?
"Ever had one of these quick fixes fail on you at the worst possible moment?"
Yep, learned that lesson the hard way. Had a tenant call me at midnight once—water spraying everywhere because a temporary clamp I'd put on months earlier finally gave out. Here's my quick-and-dirty guide now: temporary fixes are fine to buy you a day or two, but if it's pressurized or hot water, bite the bullet and call a pro sooner rather than later. Cheaper than replacing drywall and carpet, trust me...
