No soldering iron, no problem
Is there a small leak in your copper pipe? Help is on the way. If you have some plumbing experience and are comfortable cutting pipes, you can solve the problem on your own. If not, you can temporarily fix your pipe until your plumber comes to save the day. This guide will show you how to fix a copper pipe leak like a pro—whether or not you have a soldering iron.
Copper pipes can leak for a number of reasons. The most damaging is typically when a copper pipe bursts in freezing temperatures. If you’re not home to turn off your water, this can lead to significant water damage. Other types of leaks generally start slowly, but even the common type of pinhole leaks caused by corrosion can eventually widen and become serious without repair.
Older pipes are especially prone to corrosion if you have hard water, acidic water (water with a high pH), or water that is very basic (water with a low pH). This compounds with high water pressure, as minerals can wear against the inner lining of the pipe. The most vulnerable areas are around fittings and elbows. Other common causes of copper pipe leaks include:
Clogs
Damaged joints
High water pressure
Turbulent water flow
Uneven or shoddy plumbing work
Loose connections
Age
The cost to fix a leaking pipe is usually between $150 to $850, with the average homeowner spending $500 on a professional job. You can expect to spend more if you need to repair the drywall or flooring because the pipes aren’t easily accessible. Burst pipe repair costs tend to be the highest. Expect to spend up to $5,000 if you have significant water damage.
In your home, copper pipes are typically found inside your walls, under your floors, in utility closets, connected to water heaters and boilers, or exposed in unfinished basements. One set of pipes will carry hot water, and another set of pipes will carry cold water. Because they’re well hidden, you may not notice a leak until it’s been leaking for a while. That said, there are some signs to look out for:
Water stains on walls, ceilings, or floors
Green corrosion around pipes
Water collecting on the outside of pipes
A mold or mildew smell
Want to learn how to fix a leaking copper pipe without soldering? Try a temporary fix. Temporary fixes tend to be more DIY-friendly, but you’ll eventually need to bring someone in to replace a portion of your pipe. The good news is that a quick temporary fix can save you on the cost of an emergency plumber.
Before you attempt to fix a leaky pipe, make sure you turn off the water using your home’s main water shut-off valve. If not, both you and your home will end up pretty wet. Water damage remediation is never fun.
Repair clamps are sold in hardware stores and create a tight seal around a small pipe leak using a rubber gasket. Make sure you purchase a clamp that’s the same size as your leaking pipe, then:
Line up the gasket with the leak. The gasket is the rubber, rectangular part of the clamp.
Fit the metal portion of the clamp around the gasket.
Tighten the bolts until they will no longer tighten, and the clamp sits snugly against the pipe.
If you only have a pinhole leak, you can temporarily solder the copper pipe to close it. You’ll eventually need to replace the damaged portion of the pipe, but this fix will buy you time. Follow these steps:
Clean and smooth the pinhole using an abrasive pad.
Apply flux to the pinhole.
Heat the flux gradually until it changes color.
If this didn’t solve the problem because the pinhole expanded, use electrical wire to create what’s essentially a pipe Band-Aid. Just wrap the electrical wire tightly around the pipe and solder the wire in place over the small hole.
Pipe repair tape—or polypropylene adhesive tape—can provide a quick, temporary fix for a copper pipe leak. These tapes are a great solution for residential pipes because they can withstand more than 100 PSI of water pressure, and you can apply them to a wet pipe. All you have to do is tightly wrap the tape over the hole and around the pipe. Make sure you choose a non-toxic tape if the pipe provides your drinking water.
Epoxy putty, which is common in pipe repair kits, is another temporary solution. Keep in mind that the putty is a little hard to remove when you need to replace the pipe. You’ll have to sand it off later down the line. Regardless, it doesn’t require much plumbing know-how to use. Follow these steps:
Put on latex or nitrile gloves to protect your hands from the putty. It heats up during application, so it could hurt your hands.
Mix the putty per the manufacturer’s instructions. Generally, you’ll have to knead it between your fingers until the dark part of the epoxy mixes with the lighter part of the epoxy.
Once the epoxy is light gray in color, wrap it around the leaking pipe in a 1/2-inch layer.
Taper the ends and create a watertight seal.
For an extra-secure seal, apply adhesive tape to the edges of the epoxy.
Let the putty set for five to 10 minutes before turning your water back on.
There are a few different ways you can go about fixing a copper pipe leak long-term. Most methods require you to cut out a portion of the pipe, add a fitting, and/or use a soldering iron. Before you start, make sure you turn off the water at your home’s main water shut-off valve.
Even if you have a larger leak, you can still solder a copper pipe to fix the issue. You’ll just need to cut out the damaged portion, and solder in a new piece with a pipe fitting called a repair coupling. If your hole is on the smaller side, the coupling may be long enough to cover the gap on its own. Use these steps:
Cut out the damaged portion of the pipe using a tubing cutter and discard it.
If you’re using a new piece of pipe because the coupling isn’t large enough to cover the gap you just created, cut your new pipe to size.
Smooth the sharp, freshly cut edges of the pipes using a pipe deburring tool.
Add flux to the end of the pipes and repair coupling. This will create a stronger bond.
Slide the repair coupling onto the pipes. If you have a larger gap, you can use one repair coupling on each side and then install a new pipe between them.
Solder the couplings and pipes together.
Once you’ve securely patched the pipes using the repair coupling, you can turn back on your water.
If you’re not comfortable soldering pipes, use a slip repair coupling (sometimes called a sharkbite slip). This method can fix a hole in water pipes made of copper, PEX, and PVC.
Follow these steps:
Measure the sharkbite slip coupling and record the measurement.
Mark this measurement on your piping with the hole you want to repair at the center. This is where you’ll install the coupling.
Use a tube cutter to cut away the pipe within your marked measurements.
Deburr the edges of the existing pipe.
Install the coupling between the gap in the existing pipes.
Make sure the coupling and the existing pipes are aligned properly and fit snugly together.
Depending on the model, tighten the coupling using your hands or a wrench.
Once you’ve tightened the coupling and it feels firmly connected, you can turn on your water.
A compression coupling (or compression fitting) is another type of pipe fitting you can use to patch your leaky copper pipe. It’s similar to a slip coupling or the type of repair coupling you need to solder. Use these steps to fix the copper pipe leak:
Use a tube cutter to cut away the damaged portion of your pipe.
Deburr the edges of the existing pipe.
Slip a compression coupling on each side of the existing pipe.
Apply a pipe sealant to the couplings (this helps make a tighter seal between the pipes and coupling)
Cut a new piece of pipe that fits in the gap of the section you removed.
Deburr the edges of the pipe.
Install the new piece of piping between the compression couplings.
Tighten the couplings with a wrench.
Once the couplings are secure, you can turn on the water. If you still have a leak, make your couplings even tighter.
Well-maintained plumbing systems can last 20 to 50 years, provided you prevent your pipes from freezing and deal with hard or soft water. The older they get, the more likely they are to spring a leak. Typically, age leads to smaller pinhole leaks, but corrosion can speed along the process. To prevent a copper pipe leak:
Prevent freezing by installing the proper pipe insulation.
If you have hard water, install a water-softening system.
Always use the right size pipes and make sure fittings aren’t too close together.
Check the fittings and replace them as necessary.
Lower the water velocity in your home.
To preserve the lifespan of your pipes, a plumber can test and adjust your home’s water velocity. Aim for the following fixed water velocities:
Cold water: 5–8 fps (feet per second)
Hot water (below 140 degrees F): 4–5 fps
Hot water (above 140 degrees F): 2–3 fps
When you’re doing plumbing work, it’s better to be safe than sorry. A simple mistake can lead to thousands of dollars worth of water damage. That said, you’ll save a good chunk of change by handling minor leaks (think: pinholes that require a simple patch) if you’re comfortable cutting a pipe.
If it’s an emergency, you can always patch the pipe with a temporary fix and then hire a plumbing repair service or faucet repair specialist near you during business hours. This will save you from emergency plumbing charges. In general, budget $45 to $200 per hour for a pro, and always consider hiring a pro if your pipes are old enough to need a larger replacement. You may want to consider replacing your copper pipes with PEX pipes, and larger plumbing jobs typically require a permit.
You should also call in a professional if your leaking pipe is coupled with some other issue or abnormality, like pipes making noise when your water is turned off—called water hammer—or a water heater that isn’t working properly.
You can temporarily patch a leaking copper pipe using epoxy putty or adhesive tape. These are not permanent solutions, and you will eventually need to remove and replace the damaged portion of the pipe.
For a smaller pinhole, you can actually solder it closed using plumbing flux. Again, this is only a temporary solution, but it will give you time to hire a plumber and go over your options.
If your copper pipe springs a leak, you don’t have to replace the entire pipe. You can replace just the damaged section, either adding a new portion of pipe or using a slip repair coupling. Nonetheless, you may want to replace your pipes if they’re more than 20 years old or suffering from severe corrosion. A pipe replacement costs somewhere between $400 to $2,000.
Soldering is a secure way to fix a leaky copper pipe, but if you don’t have access to a soldering iron, you can use a slip repair coupling or compression couplings. These types of couplings tighten with a wrench or by hand. If you’re looking for a temporary solution that doesn’t require soldering, you can use epoxy putty or adhesive tape.
You can buy a sealant spray for a leaking copper pipe, but it’s not a permanent solution and isn’t usually a good idea. For the best adhesion, you should drain the pipe, let it dry completely, apply the spray, and wait for it to dry before turning the water back on. Even with proper technique, a sealant spray is a temporary fix, so you should only use this technique in the interim to prevent water damage if you’re waiting for a more permanent fix.
