A Quick Temporary Fix to Stop a Leaky Pipe

- Old bicycle inner tube

- Sandpaper/steel wool

- Silicone adhesive

- Duct tape

Oh no, you went down to the basement and wouldn't you know it, a pipe has sprung a leak. It's nothing major but it will need to be fixed, and quick. Right now all you need to do is temporarily fix the leak so it won't flood everything in your basement. Here's a quick fix that you can try to help stop that little leak from causing more damage. Whatever the case may be, you either don't have the funds or the time to get that leak fixed permanently, try this trick to temporarily fix the problem and buy you some time to fix it permanently down the road.

This trick works the best with smaller pipes such as the soft copper pipes that you mostly find in the basement, but can also be used on larger ones too. Start off with an old bicycle inner tube and cut a piece from the tube about an inch or so longer than the hole to create a patch. Make sure it is also wide enough so it will wrap properly all the way around the pipe for the best fit.

Next, you will need to make sure the water is shut off. Grab some light-weight sandpaper, 220 grit or higher, and sand the area where the hole is located and a small area around the hole. If you don't have any sand paper, steel wool will also do the trick.

Now grab some silicone adhesive (available at most hardware stores) and spread a thin layer on the inner tube patch and the area of the pipe where the hole is located. Wait for approximately 2 to 5 minutes to allow the silicone to become tacky. Now you are ready to wrap the inner tube patch around the pipe, wrap the patch around the pipe as tightly as you can to ensure a proper fit to stop the leak.

When wrapping the inner tube patch around the pipe, start at one end and then smooth the patch down towards the middle where the leak is located. Make sure that the middle of the patch is located over the hole and with the seam of the patch on the other side of the pipe.

Now take some duct tape and seal the patch in place. Start in the center of the patch while working your way out to one side. Make sure you are extending the duct tape beyond the end of the patch. Do the same thing to the other end of the patch.

After you get done with wrapping the duct tape around both sides of the patch, as long as the pipe isn't under too much pressure, it should hold until you can fix the leak permanently by replacing the pipe.

Sources: Vinegar, duct tape, milk jugs & more book