Recommendations for spray sealant for copper pipe

TBagpuss

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a spray-on sealant for a very very minor leak in a copper pipe?

It's at a joint, and it is a matter of sealing it temporarily.

I got a bit overwhelmed by choice when I looked in B&Q and I'm not sure what I ought to be using.

Thank you.

SailorSam

Wouldn't it be easier and a lot more secure to just cut the old jount off and replace it with a compression joint.

TBagpuss

No.
Hence the specifc request for spray recommendations :-)

SailorSam

Ok, hope you get it fixed.

Ebe_Scrooge

I'd go with Sailor Sam's advice. If you've got a leak, why do you only want to repair it "temporarily" ? Seems a very odd thing to be doing ! I'd be wanting a permanent repair myself :-)

In any case, I can't see anything applied to the outside stopping a leak for more than a few hours - the water inside the pipe is going to be pushing the sealant off, if you see what I mean.

societys_child

Not sure about spray, you could try amalgamating tape I suppose (also available at other outlets )

TBagpuss

temporary as the pipes are not going to be there much longer, and cutting into this one one has a high risk of causing other damage, hence the need for a low impact, temporary solution.
I wondered about tape but as it is a joint I think it would be quite awkward to get it into all the nooks and crannies.

googler

If it's a solder copper fitting, and it's starting to leak from the joint, any action involving the slightest movement is likely to lead to total failure, especially if it's the older end-feed type of fitting.

Any spray solutions are likely to fail unless you drain the pipe and allow it to dry first, I'd suggest. Is it mains or tank pressure?

Lgas

I'm not hopeful for a temporary repair i'm afraid.

TBagpuss

googler wrote: »

If it's a solder copper fitting, and it's starting to leak from the joint, any action involving the slightest movement is likely to lead to total failure, especially if it's the older end-feed type of fitting.

Any spray solutions are likely to fail unless you drain the pipe and allow it to dry first, I'd suggest. Is it mains or tank pressure?

Yes, that's why we don't want to go for the cut & replace option right now!

It's on one of the pipes going into the hot water cylinder, very close to the cylinder. The whole system is due to be replaced in the next couple of months, so don't want to break it now and have to send weeks with no hot water, or have major emergency repairs to do.

I am not sure if it is an end type fitting but it is definitely very old!

Ruski

As good a hope as any here or just put up with emptying a bucket for a couple of months

Best of luck

Russ