- 1). Locate the area in the PVC where the pipe is leaking. If the leak is in an underground section of pipe this may be evident by an unusual wet area of ground or puddling of water. If the leak is underground, carefully dig around the area, until the pipe and leak are located. Measure three feet on either side of the leak and remove the dirt from the pipe.
- 2). Turn off the water to the pipe at the nearest shut-off valve. Open a spigot or drain valve down the line from the leak to allow the standing water in the PVC pipe to drain out.
- 3). Measure 12 inches on either side of the leak and mark each measurement with the pen. Cut through the pipe at each mark to remove the bad section of pipe. Use the utility knife to scrape around both inside and outside edges of each end of the existing pipes, to remove any debris.
- 4). Dry both the inside and outside of each end of the two pipes, using the cloth rag. The two ends of the pipes must be perfectly dry or the cement will not adhere to the pipe, and this may lead to a leak.
- 5). Dry fit the PVC fittings on each end of the two pipes. With the fittings in place, measure the distance from the middle of one of the fittings to the middle of the other. This will give us the correct length to cut the replacement PVC piece of pipe. Remove the fittings.
- 6). Cut a length of PVC pipe to fit the measured length, off the new section of pipe. Remove the burrs and debris off each end, using the utility knife.
- 7). Apply cement to the inside of one end of the fittings and to the outside of one end of the existing pipe. Slide the end of the fitting over the end of the pipe, and twist it left and right as you push the fitting onto the pipe to ensure it slides on until the end of the pipe is in the center of the fitting. Repeat this step to attach the remaining fitting to the end of the other pipe. Allow the cement to set for a couple of minutes.
- 8). Apply cement to one end of the replacement PVC pipe, and to the inside of one of the fittings. Slide the end of the pipe into the cemented fitting and twist it back and both to fully work the pipe into the fitting and form a tight connection. Repeat this step to attach the opposite end of the pipe to the remaining fitting and complete the repair. Allow the cement to set for a couple of minutes.
- 9). Turn the water back on to the PVC pipe and check for any leaks. Once repaired, if the pipe is in the ground, spread the gravel under the pipe to provide support as the dirt on top settles. Fill in the remaining trench with the dirt.
SHARE
