Methods for eliminating leaks in water pipes. Fistula in the pipe: repair without welding, how to close up on a hot water pipe, in a water pipeline, what is it? Can a fistula break through on a pipe
The formation of a fistula in a heating or water supply riser mounted from metal pipes, is not uncommon. The situation needs to be corrected as soon as possible. Therefore, information on how to close a fistula in the pipe and what methods are available to eliminate it will not be superfluous.
The presence of a reddish-colored build-up on the pipe, which is called pitting, indicates a problem and that the pipeline can break through at any time (read also: “What to do if a pipe breaks and how to prevent it”). Damage occurs as a result of partial destruction or general wear of the line, or under the influence of stray currents. When a fistula is detected, the reason for its appearance no longer matters, the main thing is to eliminate it as soon as possible.
In order to properly deal with the problem, first of all, you should figure out what a fistula in the pipeline is. This is a hole in the pipe through which water flows out.
You can fix it in several ways:
- with a bolt;
- using a temporary bandage;
- with the use of adhesive bandage;
- cold welding method.
But at the same time, it is imperative to drain the water from the system by closing the valves and opening all available taps.
This option involves a number of steps:
- Expand the fistula in the pipe with a drill.
- Cut the thread with a tap.
- Screw the bolt into the hole formed.
This method cannot be used when the pipes are too old, since it will be impossible to thread them, and attempts to do this usually end in an increase in the size of the leak.
This method is used when the fistula on the pipeline has an oblong, elongated appearance.
A bandage is applied to the hole using sealing gaskets, which can be made from such products:
- tourniquet medical;
- thick glove;
- bicycle tire;
- boot shaft, etc.
The main thing is that the size of the rubber gasket significantly exceeds the size of the hole. To fix the bandage on the pipeline, clamps or bolts are used.
The elimination of the fistula by this method is carried out in stages:
- Clean the pipeline from dirt with a metal brush, treat its surface with acetone or gasoline and take 15 minutes to dry.
- Tapes are cut from fiberglass, the length of which depends on the diameter of the pipe - it is necessary that the winding has at least 6 layers. The width of the material must exceed the cross section of the pipeline by at least a third.
- BF-2 glue is applied to the edges of the tape, then one side of it is covered with an epoxy adhesive with a spatula.
- The tool is pressed firmly against the fiberglass so that it is well saturated with glue.
- Then the tape is tightly wound on a previously prepared surface so that its center covers the problem area.
- The bandage is fastened with a metal tape.
- After 24 hours, it is allowed to use the repaired pipeline.
In the case when the system is laid in an unheated room, where the temperature does not exceed 17 degrees, the pipeline can be used only after 4 days.
Repair of water pipes without welding is carried out using a special composition:
- The hole is enlarged with a drill.
- The surface of the pipeline is degreased and cleaned with acetone.
- When the pipe dries, a product called "cold welding" is applied to it and waited for it to completely harden - usually it takes about 10 minutes.
Using "cold welding" or epoxy adhesive composition You must use rubber gloves. If the glue gets on the skin, it must be removed with cotton wool and acetone, and then wash your hands. warm water with soap.
When the system is worn out, it is advisable to prepare several clamps having the same diameter as the pipeline. In addition, you need to stock up on rubber under them. In the event that the fistula of the water pipe appears at night, such preparation will not be superfluous, since the emergency team is unlikely to arrive in a matter of minutes.
If the hole is small, it can be sealed using a conventional vehicle clamp:
- A thin tape is cut from a piece of rubber - its width should be 2-4 millimeters more than the same parameter for the clamp. The length of the cut is measured by wrapping the material around the pipe. The excess piece of tape is cut off.
- The clamp is opened and placed on the pipe, then it is not strongly grabbed.
- A rubber gasket is placed under the clamp and carefully advanced to the place where the hole appears.
- After covering the fistula, the clamp is tightened with a screwdriver or wrench, depending on the features of the device of the protracted product.
If a fistula of a very small size is found and there is no clamp at hand, the hole can be closed with the end of a match. But this method is rarely used, since it is rarely possible to eliminate a leak in old pipelines - it only increases in size. Even if the gap is successfully sealed with a match, it must be repaired as soon as possible with a clamp.
To eliminate a serious fistula on the pipe hot water, you will need a more powerful clamp:
- First of all, turn off the water and drain it from the pipeline.
- Before installing the clamp, carefully inspect the pipe. When its surface is uneven, it should be smoothed out with sandpaper to prevent fluid from flowing through the roughness.
- A rubber lining is cut out under the clamp and placed on the hole.
From the above information, it is clear that it is quite possible to eliminate the fistula in the pipe with your own hands - neither special tools nor special skills are required. If there are metal risers, you need to prepare several clamps and rubber gaskets.
The sewer pipes, both for supplying and for draining water, in my apartment were sewn up with a removable plywood box, and I could only guess about their condition.
The removal of the box showed that the cast-iron sewer pipe, although it had a decent appearance, but on its surface there were several tubercles of wet rust, when touched, fistulas were exposed. By the way, I painted the sewer pipe 12 years ago with a primer for metal, and, as you can see, the primer lasted for many years, and the surface of the sewer pipe was preserved in excellent condition.
There are many recommendations on the Internet on how to close a fistula. The most common method is to put a piece of rubber on the fistula and press it with a clamp, it is also recommended to hammer a lead cone into the fistula, seal the pipe epoxy resin and all kinds of sealants, drill a fistula, cut a thread in the hole and tighten the screw with a rubber washer. In my case, it was impossible to use the clamp, since one of the fistulas was located at the branching point of the cast-iron pipes. And without knowing the condition of the walls of the sewer pipe, using mechanical sealing methods can cost more. At the site of the fistula, you can get a big hole.
The second fistula was on a straight section of the pipe, it was possible to apply a clamp, but the cost of pipe clamps large diameter pretty high.
I was not sure about the reliability of sealing the water-moistened fistula with rusty edges with epoxy resin and sealants. And it was not possible to forbid the neighbors not to temporarily use the sewerage system in order to prepare the fistula site for sealing and allow the sealant to harden.
It seemed that there was only one way to get rid of fistulas, to replace the cast-iron sewer pipe with a new, plastic one. But I had experience sealing underground water leaks in the corners of a steel caisson installed in a garage. The method allows you to quickly close up wet fistulas with your own hands, using improvised material.
To seal a fistula in a cast-iron sewer pipe from materials, you only need a little cement and silicate glue, which can be purchased at any office supply store. From the tool you need only one small brush, file or piece sandpaper.
Before sealing the fistula, you need to remove paint and rust from the pipe around it, which do not adhere well. This work is done with a file or sandpaper. After cleaning the surface of the pipe, the location of the fistula became invisible. Obviously, the fistula was very small and clogged with dust. If the fistula opening is larger, then you can close it with a layer of plasticine or any sealant. This will be a technological seal, which does not carry the function of sealing the fistula in the future, but serves only to be able to apply a cement coating.
If the cement mortar is made on water, then it acquires mechanical strength in a day. But if the water for the preparation of the cement mortar is replaced with silicate glue, the mortar will harden in a few minutes. In such high speed there is both a plus and a minus. While the solution is kneaded, it is already becoming solid. This difficulty is easy to get around by mixing the solution directly on the sewer pipe itself.
This is done in the following way. First, a layer of clerical glue is applied to the site of the fistula with a brush. I took the embedment area much larger than the size of the fistula in order to prevent the possible appearance of a new fistula nearby.
Then, with the same brush, a layer of pure cement is applied to the applied adhesive layer, and the cement is mixed with the adhesive layer. Since the brush is in the glue, cement clings to it well and it is convenient to apply and mix it. The amount of applied cement should be such that the layer of applied adhesive is covered by a dry layer of cement. Immediately after applying a layer of cement, to prevent damage to the brush, you need to thoroughly rinse it in water and squeeze out the remaining water with a rag. To do this, it is desirable to have a small container of water on hand.
After 10 minutes, when the cement hardens, a second layer is applied for reliability. To do this, you need to repeat the operation, paint over the previously applied layer of cement with glue and, mixing with it, apply cement again.
For reliability, I apply three layers of cement adhesive. It turns out the thickness of the seal is about 3 mm, which is quite enough for reliable sealing of the fistula. The work ends with the application of a layer of silicate glue on the last layer of cement. After a few hours, the last layer of glue dries, the surface of the cement patch becomes light and smooth to the touch. You can cover the pipe with paint and sewage pipe will look like new.
The term "fistula on the pipe" - refers to deformation changes in the form of a through hole in the pipeline. The main reason for the formation of this phenomenon on pipe rolling is considered to be pitting corrosion.
It is a clear signal that the pipeline needs urgent replacement. It is not always possible to perform a full range of pipe repairs with replacement, so it is only partially performed.
At the same time, we must not forget that such measures are temporary, and replacement of sites that have become unusable can still not be avoided. You can use the help of professional craftsmen, or you can repair everything with your own hands.
How to eliminate the "accident"
For termination, you need to prepare the following tools:
- Drill.
- Bolts (set).
- Brush for cleaning rolled metal.
- Bonding agent BV-2, and epoxy bonding type.
- Acetone and gasoline.
- Ketn.
- Putty knife.
Before closing the fistula in the pipe, water is drained from the network. To do this, you need to close the stop valve and open each valve. The system must be free of residual water.
After that, the cleaned area must be degreased with acetone. For the same purpose, you can use gasoline. When sealing, this stage of action is very important.
When applying a bandage to a workpiece with an uneven surface, it is impossible to obtain the most hermetic joint, and all sealing measures will have to be repeated again.
On a well-cleaned surface of the product, it is possible to accurately determine the amount of deformation. And, guided by the information received, they determine a way to further eliminate the deficiency. Fistulas according to the form of education are divided into: point And elongated. Eliminate each of them in different ways.
How is work being done
Troubleshooting on plastic products
A fistula on a plastic pipe is closed in two ways: threaded And soldering.
The threaded method can only be used for products where threading is possible. A piece of a pipeline with a fistula that has become unusable is cut off with special scissors.
An insert is prepared from blanks of the required volume. On the plastic materials the thread is cut with a lerkoy. Then, with fittings and couplings, another structure is attached to the pipe network.
Welding on plastic pipes omaterials begins with cutting off the flowing area. After that, a fitting and a workpiece of the appropriate size are prepared.
A heated soldering iron for welding plastic pipes is used to heat the outer edges of the plastic and the inner edges of the fittings. At the final stage of the repair, the prepared pipe is attached with fittings.
This should be done without delay, since plastic tends to solidify instantly, and it is not possible to redo an incorrectly fastened structure a second time.
Repair of copper products
A fistula of a copper pipe is not a rare phenomenon. In construction, copper pipes have been used for a very long time. They are not only suitable for all types of highways, but also have high ductility and resistance to corrosion.
Their service life is not limited, and they will easily stand without breakdowns for the entire period allotted to the house. But, sooner or later, situations arise when these products need to be repaired from a fistula.
The underlying causes of heating leaks are the following:
- Wear. It is tied up with a long period of use of the heating system. Most often, steel products suffer from leakage.
- Violation of the operating conditions of the heating system. These include temperature fluctuations and .
- Use of goods of dubious quality.
- Poor sealing of joints.
If a leak occurs on the heating pipes, it is necessary to act as follows.
It is necessary to prepare several clamps with rubber seals ( at the same time, the most important thing is not to forget to turn off the water, stop the heating boiler, disconnect the pumps from the power supply and turn off the necessary valves and taps). Repair of pipe assortment in the heating network depends on their type.
For example, steel pipes with a problem with a joint of a threaded variety will require disassembly of the joint and the application of a new winding layer.
If the destruction has formed on the heating pipe itself, then the problem area will have to be welded using gas or electric welding.
If a copper pipe is leaking, then it must also be welded. But, welding work with copper are quite complex, therefore, it is better to entrust them to specialists.
If the metal-plastic pipelines of the heating system are leaking, then it will be necessary to replace the entire area where the leak has formed. On this type of pipe rolling, it is most often formed at joints of the compressor type.
On a plastic heating pipe, the problem is solved in this way. This is a replacement for the whole area. Polypropylene soldering is advised to be carried out in accordance with all the standards of this work. Any errors can cause the joint to fall apart after a very short time.
IMPORTANT! When acting with plastic products making changes to the wiring diagram is prohibited.
Features of metal pipelines
If we are talking about how to weld a fistula in a pipe, which is large, then the only recommended way out is a complete replacement.
And, if the fistula is small, then here are a few options for action. But, these recommendations can only be applied in case of leaks of metal assortment pipes.
Option 1. In this case, the defect is eliminated with a medical bandage and cement for sealing. First, a solution of cement and water is diluted. 15-20 strips are cut from the bandage, 20 cm long. The tapes are moistened in the solution and wrapped around the line. The result is something similar to a cocoon. A cement mortar is applied on top of it. All this should dry for 24 hours, and then the pipe network can be launched.
Option 2. Pieces of rubber to make repairs. A strip is cut out of rubber, slightly longer than the circumference of the pipe. The problem area is tightly fitted with this strip, which is then fixed. For reliability, it must be covered with a bandage with cement, as described in the previous method.
Option 3. Bandage and edible salt. So they cover the small "gaps" between the joints. To do this, the place of the leak is wrapped with a bandage mixed with salt. Salt, when dissolved, fixes micro-leakage. But it is impossible to apply this method for large formations; one should act differently.
Defects in water supply networks
How to close a fistula in a water pipe is often of interest. Unfortunately, plumbing leaks are a very common occurrence.
At the beginning of embedding, an assessment of the defect and the strength of the workpiece will be required. Small leaks can be eliminated by plugs for this type of tube rolling. You can also try the repair method - winding with gauze impregnated with epoxy resin.
The option with a rubber gasket fixed with a clamp will help temporarily seal the water leak. It and a clamp for repair can be purchased at any store. building materials. Also, its gasket can be fixed using a wire.
Longitudinal cracks and chips on the pipe are easy to eliminate with sealant. To do this, the fistula is slightly enlarged, degreased and dried.
After that, a sealant is applied to the area. metal materials in the sewer from water leaks close up with cold welding.
Seal a leak with your own hands
Water leaks occur at any time, so sealing fistulas in pipes with your own hands is a very important skill.
For very urgent sealing of the fistula, it is recommended to use a clamp. It is a metal screed. And you need to apply the clamp in this way:
- The plumbing system is closed.
- Bolts are unscrewed on the clamp, and it is wrapped around the water leakage zone.
- The nuts on the clamp are tightened with an adjustable wrench, while the pipe itself is held with a pipe wrench. Without support, which will entail additional water leaks and repair costs.
Termination methods using a lock nut and using a rubber band also turn out to be effective. In general, it is not difficult to repair and eliminate a fistula on a pipe.
If there is no self-confidence, then it is worth inviting professional masters. And if the fistula was closed in one of the temporary ways, then you should worry about how to complete a full pipe repair in the near future.
