So, you’ve just come to the conclusion that your copper pipe is causing a leak in the foundations of your home. First of all, this can be one of the most frustrating things to deal with for homeowners, so we sincerely sympathize with you.
Second of all, don’t panic, because it’s also relatively straightforward to deal with, and you can even do the job yourself.
It’s just a fact that copper pipes which have been looped under slabs in the foundation can develop leaks over time. These shouldn’t be left as they are, because this can cause a significant amount of damage to the house over time.
If you want to know how to fix a pesky copper pipe within your concrete foundation, then you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ve compiled a handy guide that shows you how to do just this.
In order to fix the leaking copper pipe in your home, you can replace it yourself by purchasing some copper couplings.
You’ll need to cut away the affected area, and then slot these in. After you’ve done this, you can then seal everything up using a soldering iron.
How Do I Find The Leak?
So, before we jump straight into repairs, first we need to actually locate where the leak is coming from.
If you want to figure out where the leak is emanating, then the first thing that you’re going to want to do is to find a hot spot on the floor. You can test this by getting on your hands and knees and feeling around in the location.
This advice is provided by the American Leak Detection Agency, who also point out that cracks in the flooring could be indicative of a leak.
One of the other key signs that you’ve got a leak in your home can be found when you switch all the water off.
This is a simple test, and after you’ve shut off all water supplies, and still hear the sound of water trickling, then this is a sure fire way to know you’ve got a leak on your hands.
In addition to this, we’d recommend that you take a look at your water bills, although not massive, with a leak, there will be some discrepancies between your regular water usage and the figure provided here.
Finally, if you want to detect whether or not you have a leak in your home, a key sign will be mold and mildew growing in the affected areas.
This is another reason why it’s so important to fix any leaks within your home, as these can be incredibly damaging to the respiratory system, and need to be eliminated right away.
How To Fix Your Copper Pipe
Now that we’ve taken a look at some of the key signs that you’re experiencing a leak, we can move on to discuss our instructions for fixing this issue.
We take you step by step, and provide some useful tips for dealing with your leak along the way.
Step 1
For our first step, the main thing that you’re going to want to do is to shut off your water supply. Some of you might find this to be tricky if your leak is happening in front of the main shut off area in your home.
If this is the case, then you’re going to need to contact the municipality, who are able to shut off the water at street level for you.
After you’ve done this, you can then go ahead and use copper tubing cutters, which you can purchase at any hardware store, to cut through the damaged portions of the pipe.
You’re going to need to make sure that all of this is removed before you can move forward with the task, so make sure to be as thorough as possible.
Step 2
For the next step, you’re going to need to replace the area of pipe that you’ve cut off with new pieces of replacement copper.
These replacement pieces are called copper couplings. You will need measuring tools in order to do this, as it needs to fit the area exactly.
Step 3
After you’ve measured your copper couplings, you’re then going to need to go ahead and begin soldering the affected area.
Bind everything together by connecting the old pipe, and the new copper couplings together.
What About Pipe Relining?
Some of you reading this article may have heard of pipe relining, and are wondering whether or not it’s a job that you can do yourself.
Unfortunately, you will require a professional in order to reline your pipes, the reason being because it requires a lot of specialized equipment.
Although, it might be worth paying the extra cash, as it’s a far less invasive and more modern approach to fixing any leaky pipes.
The way in which this procedure is conducted is by pumping a nontoxic epoxy through the pipes, which, in turn, seals any leaks along the way. This can be done in any type of residential home.
Final Thoughts
Although you can get a professional in to seal up any leaks, it’s totally possible to conduct the job yourself if you have the correct equipment.
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