Quick Fix! How to repair a Small Leak in a PVC Pipe
How to Repair a Small Leak or Nick in an Irrigation Pipe
Hi, this is Skip with Father and Son Pest and Lawn Solutions. Today I want to show you how to repair a small leak or nick in an irrigation pipe.
This happens a lot with in-ground irrigation systems, especially around the valve boxes where several pipes come up out of the ground. If you weed eat around those pipes, the string can wear a groove into them over time. The same thing can happen if you're digging in your yard and accidentally nick a pipe with a shovel.
Your first thought might be that the only fix is to take the whole valve assembly apart and replace the damaged section of pipe. That's a big job. But if the damage is just a small nick or crack, there's a much easier way to patch it without digging up or disassembling anything.
What You'll Need
- A short section of thin wall PVC pipe (same diameter as the damaged pipe)
- PVC cutters
- PVC glue
Important: This method only works with thin wall PVC pipe. Thick wall pipe, sometimes called schedule 40, is too rigid to flex the way this repair requires. Make sure you're working with thin wall pipe before you start.
Steps
- Cut a patch piece. Using your PVC cutters, cut a short section of thin wall pipe, about one inch long, that matches the diameter of the damaged pipe.
- Slice it open. Cut the patch piece lengthwise so it splits open down one side. This lets it flex and snap over the damaged pipe.
- Apply the glue. Coat the area around the nick or crack on the damaged pipe with PVC glue. Then apply glue to the inside of the patch piece as well.
- Snap the patch into place. Pull the patch open slightly and snap it over the damaged section of pipe. Move it around a little to make sure the glue makes good contact all around.
- Let it set. The patch won't close completely in the back, and that's fine, as long as it fully covers the damaged area. Let it sit for three to four minutes. You'll see it start to set up quickly, and once it's cured, the leak is fixed.
That's a quick, easy way to fix a small leak in an irrigation pipe without tearing into your whole system.