Photo Gallery A2:  Pipe Repairs

The primary action in every piping failure is to stop the flow of water and the damage it causes as soon as possible.  Where shutting down service is not an option, this is often accomplished by the application of an emergency clamp and even the use of duct tape for lower pressure events.  A knife sharpened pencil or broom handle has actually saved the day for many engineering personnel having no other immediate means.  Rubber gasket material and band clamps work remarkably well for some smaller pinholes.  Emergency repairs buy time to schedule pipe replacement, conduct shutdowns, and make plans generally in proportion to the size and importance of the failure event.

For many leaks, a quick temporary solution is found, but then left in place until a much larger and more damaging failure occurs – to no real surprise.  A temporary fix in the form of a catch basin and garden hose to a floor drain only lasts until the pipe corrodes sufficiently to rupture.  As this gallery shows, having some form of emergency repair bandage on hand or an inventory of pipe clamps of varying sizes is never a bad idea – unless it becomes a permanent repair.