Discuss Do professional plumbers use tapes to seal leaks? in the Plumbing Tools area at PlumbersForums.net

Messages
6
Hi Everyone,
I was wondering whether a professional plumber would use a tape to seal a leak temporarily so you have time to actually carry out the repair/ purchase parts?
How often do you use a tape for sealing a leak temporarily?

What type of tape would you use for this kind of job?
Duct tape?
Self-infusing tape?
High grab adhesive tape?

What specs or key things do you need to look out for to make sure you buy a good patching tape? Or do you just buy any stocked at a merchant?
 
Enquiring minds would like to know, Why?
Enquiring minds would like to know, Why?

Thanks for your response Simon.
I'm guessing you mean why I'm asking. I'm doing some market research for a manufacturing company to understand the tape market. They're thinking of reviewing their tape range.

There's loads of duct tapes, rubber adhesive and silicone tapes out there in merchants for patching leaks. I wondered whether these were actually used by plumbers when faced with a fracture in a pipe to stop the leak until they could carry out a permanent repair.
 
All depends, hot or cold water, under pressure or not, can customer do without or not.

Hi,
When would you use a patching tape - in what situation would it be handy?
Say there's a leak and there's alot of pressure behind it would you patch it up so you have time to assess and get the parts/tools you need? Actually, would you not just turn the water source off instead?
What product do you use?
[automerge]1604485562[/automerge]
I always use duck tape to seal my leaks .

Duct tape or the brand Duck Tape?
 
As you say you can already buy self amalgamating tape. I carry around a roll or two for a temporary fix as a last resort but it's not something I use very often but it can come in handy when I've completely run out of options. Thing is there are a variety of quick fix kits, patches, slips available made from copper or brass that are preferable to tape. I mostly carry around a bag of slip couplings which usually does the job if I have access.

https://www.NoLinkingToThis/p/self-amalgamating-rubber-tape-black-3m-x-25mm/2115v

 
My experience with self-amalgamating tape is it works but can need a "Jubilee" clip or bit of wire etc etc to stop it winding itself off, so not totally satisfactory.

However, I always carry a roll. Because a pipe freezing machine will only work when there is no flow and you might need the tape to hold for the 15 minutes it takes to freeze a pipe and - just in case - because an occasion might occur in which leaving the leak unattended while you drain a system or look for a stopcock isn't practical.

I have had a case when I filled a heating system and discovered a defective joint when checking my work over: had I not been able to contain the water with a pot or a cloth, that tape would have been very useful. One thing discovering a faulty joint and repairing it without damage to customer's property, quite another if you flood the house.
 

Reply to Do professional plumbers use tapes to seal leaks? in the Plumbing Tools area at PlumbersForums.net

Similar plumbing topics

  • Locked
Hi everyone. I hope this is the right section to post this, so here goes. If not, my apologies, newbie here. I am removing a radiator in my...
Replies
38
Views
8K
R
  • Locked
Hi All Permit me to introduce you to the the Johnson Magnetic Filter. Designed and built in the UK by registered gas engineer Neil Johnson, from...
Replies
38
Views
5K
smtplumbing
S
R
  • Locked
Here's the back up poll for people who were ineligible for the free boiler, but nevertheless put pen to paper in an orgy of rhyming couplets and...
Replies
26
Views
3K
Masood
M
    • Like
  • Locked
Aladdin EasyFit Isolator Review Newly renovated house with no isolation valves anywhere, and I mean anywhere. stopcock in the street was...
Replies
4
Views
12K
Barry98
B
S
  • Locked
I've had a very stressful and upsetting experience with a plumber that I employed after seeing good reviews for him on a trade website. I...
Replies
25
Views
5K
T
Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock