Honestly, I’ve run into that same issue more times than I can count. Even after draining and using towels, there’s always that stubborn bit of water hiding in the elbow or a low spot. One thing I’ve found helps is tilting the pipe as much as possible—gravity does more than you’d think. If you’re dealing with metal pipes, warming them up a bit with a heat gun (carefully) seems to help the putty stick better too. Cold pipes just don’t want to cooperate sometimes... Anyone else ever try those little foam swabs? They work in tight spaces but aren’t perfect either.
Even after draining and using towels, there’s always that stubborn bit of water hiding in the elbow or a low spot.
Man, I swear those elbows are like little water traps designed just to mess with you. I tried the foam swabs once—ended up pushing the water further down the line instead of soaking it up. Not my brightest moment. Tilting the pipe helps, but sometimes I just accept I’m gonna get a little wet. The heat gun trick is gold though, especially in winter when everything’s freezing cold and nothing wants to stick.
Heat gun’s definitely a lifesaver, but I’ve had my fair share of “pipe showers” no matter what tricks I try. That bit you mentioned about foam swabs—been there, done that, and yeah, just ended up chasing the water further down. Sometimes it feels like those elbows are just laughing at you.
One thing I started doing is using a shop vac with a bit of electrical tape around the nozzle to get a tighter seal on the pipe. It’s not perfect, but it’ll pull out more water than towels ever could, especially in those low spots. Still, sometimes you just gotta accept a little splash. I remember trying to solder a joint once and thinking it was bone dry, only for a tiny bit of water to hiss out and ruin the joint. Ended up cutting out another section and starting over… lesson learned.
Tilting the pipe helps, but sometimes I just accept I’m gonna get a little wet.
Yeah, tilting helps if you’ve got room to maneuver, but in tight spaces it’s just not happening. I’ve even tried stuffing bread in the line as a temporary plug—old timer taught me that one. It works in a pinch for soldering, but you gotta flush it out after or you’ll be finding soggy bread bits for days.
Honestly, sometimes the best you can do is have extra towels ready and keep your sense of humor about it. Pipes always seem to have their own agenda when there’s water involved.
Pipes always seem to have their own agenda when there’s water involved.
Ain’t that the truth. I swear, I’ve had pipes that seemed dry as the desert, then you hit ‘em with the torch and—surprise—mini geyser. Shop vac trick is gold, I’ll have to try the tape for a tighter seal. Ever tried those little pipe freeze kits? I’ve wondered if it’s worth the hassle or just another gadget collecting dust.
Burst pipe panic: what would you do?
- Pipes have a sixth sense for drama, I swear. You think you’ve got ‘em all drained, then you get that “Niagara Falls” moment right when you’re least ready for it.
- Shop vac trick is a lifesaver—just don’t ask how many times I’ve had to empty the thing mid-job because I underestimated how much water was left lurking in the lines.
- Tape for a tighter seal? Works in a pinch, but if you’re dealing with old copper or those crusty galvanized pipes, sometimes nothing short of a full-on wrestling match gets them to cooperate.
- Pipe freeze kits… tried ‘em twice. First time, worked like magic. Second time, total flop—ice plug held for about five minutes before giving up and soaking my socks. They’re hit or miss, honestly. If you’ve got a clean run and can get the sleeve on tight, maybe worth it. Otherwise, feels like another “as seen on TV” gadget gathering dust next to my unused stud finder.
- One thing I’ve learned: always keep a stack of towels and a mop handy. No matter how prepared you think you are, water finds its way out.
- If it’s winter and you’re worried about freezing, those little heat cables can be a game changer—just don’t forget to plug them in (ask me how I know).
- For real emergencies? Main shutoff valve is your best friend. Label it bright red if you’ve got tenants who panic at the first drip.
Funny how plumbing keeps you humble. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, there’s always some new trickle waiting to surprise you...
