Ugh, woke up this morning to a lovely drip-drip-drip sound from under the kitchen sink. 😑 Turns out the pipe decided overnight was the perfect time to spring a leak. Of course, it's Sunday morning, and my plumber isn't picking up (can't blame him honestly, lol).
Anyway, I've got a bucket catching the water for now, but I need something that'll hold it in place or slow it down until I can get someone over here tomorrow or Tuesday. I'm definitely NOT handy (like, at all), so please nothing too complicated or fancy.
I remember once seeing my dad wrap duct tape around a pipe once in an emergency...but does that even work? Or is there something else around the house that's better? I read online somewhere about using some kinda putty or silicone stuff, but I'm not sure if that's something you just have lying around?
I don't wanna flood my kitchen or anything, but I'd really prefer not to spend my entire Sunday emptying buckets either, ya know? If anyone has any quick DIY fixes or hacks they've used successfully in a pinch, I'd be super grateful. Just need it to hold til Mr. Plumber decides to return my calls (fingers crossed he checks his messages soon). 🙄
Had a similar issue last year—duct tape alone didn't really hold for me. Ended up wrapping an old towel tightly around the leak, then securing it with duct tape to slow the drip down significantly. It wasn't perfect, but it bought me enough time without emptying buckets every hour. Silicone or plumber's putty would be better, but most people don't have that lying around... towels and tape should do for now. Good luck!
Good call on the towel and duct tape combo—it's definitely a step up from duct tape alone. I've seen plenty of leaks temporarily patched that way, and it usually does the trick for a short while. One thing I'd add, though, is to make sure the towel isn't too thick or fluffy. A thinner towel or even an old t-shirt wrapped tightly tends to work better, since it allows you to get a tighter seal around the pipe.
Also, if you happen to have any zip ties lying around, they can really help secure everything in place. Wrap your cloth or towel tightly first, then secure it with zip ties before adding duct tape. This helps keep everything snug and prevents the tape from loosening as quickly.
Another quick tip—if the leak is coming from a joint or fitting, sometimes gently tightening it with a wrench (just a quarter-turn or so) can slow things down significantly. Be careful not to overtighten though; you don't want to accidentally crack something and make things worse.
And yeah, silicone sealant or plumber's putty would be ideal, but like you said, most folks don't have that handy. If you're stuck waiting for a plumber and the leak is small enough, even petroleum jelly smeared around the leak under your towel wrap can help slow things down temporarily. It's not perfect, but it's another household item that can buy you some extra time.
Leaks are always frustrating... hang in there until help arrives!
