Figure 5-39. - Adding connections to an outside vitrified clay sewer pipe.

EMERGENCY TEMPORARY REPAIRS

At times, a pipe may start leaking and the materials needed to repair it permanently are not on hand. Here, you may have to use a temporary or emergency repair. Keep in mind that a permanent repair should always be made when the proper tools or materials are available.

One simple method of making a temporary repair of a leaky pipe is to use a length of rubber hose. After turning off the water supply, remove the defective section of the pipe by cutting it with a hacksaw. Then take a piece of rubber hose, slightly longer than the section of pipe you removed, and slip it over the ends where the cut was made (view A, fig. 5-40). Ensure the inside diameter of the hose matches the outside diameter of the pipe. Hose clamps hold the hose securely in place.

Another temporary method of repair for a leaky pipe is to wrap the leaky area with sheet rubber. Then place two sheet metal clamps, one on each side of the pipe, on the sheet rubber covering, as shown in view B, figure 5-40. Now, fasten the clamps with bolts and nuts. Sheet metal clamps for this type of repair can be made from scrap material from the sheet metal shop. You may want to make up a few of these clamps to keep on hand for an emergency repair job.

You can also secure the water supply, drain the water from the pipe, clean the pipe surfaces thoroughly, apply flux, and then wrap clean copper wire over the rupture and solder.

Figure 5-40. - Temporary type of repairs of a leaky pipe.