When you find a plumbing leak in your home, your first thought could be to search for a DIY fix to save some money. And while there are some excellent pieces of advice out there, it is essential to know that many of the Internet tips are not going to fix your plumbing issues. Some will even make the repair process more costly.
Liquid Drain Cleaners
There is nothing good that will come from pouring a bottle of caustic chemicals down your drain pipe. Plastic and metal pipes alike are susceptible to severe damage or even destruction from these acidic materials. And even if the first bottle does not destroy your drains, it is not likely to provide any relief from the clog. But you will have a house full of toxic chemical fumes that can prove harmful to you, your loved ones, and your pets. You are ahead of the game to save the $10 on the drain cleaner and invest in the services of a licensed plumber. This smart choice ensures the safety of your drains and the removal of the clog.
Epoxy Putty
Several epoxy putty products claim to be the ideal fix for leaking water lines and fixtures. You wrap the putty around the leak and let it harden and dry to stop the leak. While some of these items will work for a very short time, they are not reputable or reliable. In most cases, they will last a few hours until the putty becomes saturated. Then the leak returns. But because you have been lulled into a false sense of security, you don’t see that the leak has returned and is creating massive water damage. Save your money and the potential damage to your home. Call a licensed plumber to repair any small leak before it gets larger and more costly.
Teflon Tape
Teflon tape is a legitimate tool in a plumber’s toolbox. But it is not designed to be used for leak repairs. A small amount of Teflon tape is used on threaded fittings to complete a proper threaded connection. This tape serves as both a lubricant and sealer, much like pipe dope. But when the threads are damaged from cross-threading, adding more Teflon tape is not a solution. New fittings or a visit from a licensed plumber are the only two reliable solutions.
Repair Tape And Spray On Sealers
Everyone has seen the commercials for the magic spray can of sealer or the sheet of a rubbery material that will stop any leak. They even show the product sealing a hole in a boat. The claim is that this material will stick to anything, even if it is wet. But it works on TV, so homeowners waste their time and money on these unrealistic products. If these items did perform as the commercial claim, plumbers everywhere would be using them. But that is not the case. There is no shortcut to properly repairing a plumbing leak. These tapes or spray-on repairs will do little more than slow the leak. And they can damage the pipe or fixture to make the proper repair more difficult and costly.
When you discover a small leak in your home’s plumbing or drain systems, there is no reason not to repair it correctly the first time. Minor issues that are addressed quickly are likely to have a small price tag. However, when you wait to address them or try to use a quick fix repair, you only waste money and time. Call (318) 202-9144 for a professional repair from the tea of licensed plumbers at Gordon AC & Plumbing.
