Don’t Use This TikTok ‘hack’ to Fix a Leaky Pipe
While plumbing emergencies are a problem, it’s not always worth taking the fastest route to fix them. In particular, the popular Tiktok hack that advises you to fix a water leak with a ball of plumbing epoxy doesn’t work. Plumbers have many tools and extensive knowledge of materials to suit any given situation. If you are not an expert, attempting to repair your plumbing yourself can be disastrous. That’s why you should hire a professional to fix your plumbing instead of looking for a quick fix on social media.
You won’t be able to see what’s going on
A popular Tiktok repair video recommends inserting a bead of kneadable epoxy into a plumbing line and using water pressure to push the bead of epoxy into place over the hole. This is a variant of what plumbers call “trenchless” pipe repairs, but it relies on positioning the epoxy under water pressure rather than using tools to manipulate it. Hiring a professional with tools and a camera to do the repair is a much better choice than tossing a bead of epoxy down the drain and crossing your fingers.
Water pressure may not be high enough
There are a few things about the epoxy bead method that can cause problems, but the most obvious reason it might not work is because the water pressure might not be high enough to force the epoxy into the hole reliably. If the epoxy is roaming the pipe and sticking somewhere else, such as in a seam or pipe bend, all you have done is cause a permanent blockage in the system. This can reduce the water pressure on the other side of the blockage, as well as put stress on the connections in parts of the system before the epoxy ball gets stuck due to the increased pressure. Digging out your pipes to replace a section due to epoxy clogging is the opposite of a simple fix.
This may not be a good print.
Because epoxies are not always completely waterproof before curing, using an epoxy bead in a pipe filled with running water may result in slow or incomplete cure, which will affect the seal. This can potentially lead to cracking or flaking of the epoxy, causing re-leakage or bits of epoxy to enter the plumbing. While a plumber may have the tools to make sure the process goes according to plan, if you don’t have a scope you won’t get a good look at the seal.
You can choose the right type of epoxy
Another thing to note when doing DIY epoxy repairs is that epoxies can release toxic chemicals into the water as they cure. While food-safe epoxies do exist, they usually only become safe once they have cured. Attempting to cure epoxy in an active plumbing system without the proper knowledge and equipment may result in exposure to the toxic hardeners contained in the patch.
Your repair may not match the code
The last important thing to note about epoxy plumbing patches is that your area may have building codes that govern the types of materials and testing required to patch water pipes. Sometimes damage can occur as a result of a leak, requiring you to excavate around the pipe. A certified plumber will be able to help you determine the extent of the damage and what is actually needed to repair it. You should not try to fix it yourself unless you are sure you can find adjacent damage and are familiar with local building codes regarding plumbing and water quality. Ignoring these rules can result in a heavy fine or more expensive repairs down the road.