If it's your first time to encounter a leaking pipe in your home, you might be at a loss what to do about it. You have the ever-useful Flex Seal on hand, but can you use it on your copper pipes? Should you just call the plumber instead? We've asked the pipe experts if you could use Flex Seal on your pipes, and here's what they told us.
Yes, you can use Flex Seal on your copper pipes. Manufacturers say this product will work well on different surfaces, including copper. It will effectively seal the cracks on your pipes so you can get rid of those leaks right away.
Continue reading so we can tell you more about how Flex Seal works. This article will also answer if you can use Teflon tape on copper fittings and if you can apply plumber's putty on those cracks as an alternative to Flex Seal. Let's begin!
Will Flex Seal work on copper pipes?
When you discover cracks or holes in your copper pipes, you need to act fast! Leaks can make the area damp, leading to the build-up of mold and mildew, rot, and damage on the surface.
If not fixed right away, pinhole leaks can get bigger and cause your pipes to burst. This could be a disaster, and you would need major and costly repairs for your home.
It is a good thing that there are handy products that homeowners can use to repair the cracks on their copper pipes. In reality, you don't always have to call your trusted plumber to do the job, especially when it's something that you can do yourself. You can turn to these products for a quick-fix solution to the problem, get rid of the leaks in an instant, and save yourself plenty of bucks along the way.
One such product is Flex Seal. It is advertised as liquid rubber in a can and has numerous applications for repairs needed to be done inside and outside of the house. You can use it to repair furniture, roof, and gutter.
It can also help waterproof and weatherproof your home. When it comes to plumbing, it is very useful in sealing cracks and holes found on your water pipes.
But of course, you can only enjoy these benefits if Flex Seal is compatible with the material that you're working on. According to manufacturers, this product is appropriate to use on various surfaces such as concrete, glass, plastic, fabric, wood, and metal such as copper.
So you can definitely use Flex Seal to fix the gaps and cracks on your copper pipes. Many homeowners have attested to its effectiveness and success in fixing leaks and sealing gaps.
They said that Flex Seal would last for several years. It can retain its sealing properties and is strong enough to withstand extreme temperatures and various environmental conditions, so it's not just some band-aid solution to your leaking pipe.
How to use Flex Seal
Flex Seal is easy to use. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Make sure that the surface is clean and dry. If there's corrosion, you would have to sand the pipe's exterior so that Flex Seal can adhere to the material properly.
- Once the affected area is ready, give the Flex Seal can a vigorous shake for about a minute.
- It's pretty much point and spray from here. Position the can 8 to 12 inches from the pipe. Focus on the gaps and cracks and the area around them.
- You would need two coatings but let the first coat dry completely before applying the second one.
- Wait for two days for curing.
- You can also paint the area after curing if you want to.
The liquid rubber will seep into the gaps. Once it dries, there will be a rubberized patch on the affected area which will prevent water from leaking. It'll also block off air and moisture so your copper pipes are protected from corrosion. That's why Flex Seal is great to have in your toolkit all the time.
Click this link to find this product on Amazon.
Do you use Teflon tape on copper fittings?
Teflon tape, also called PTFE tape, plumber's tape, thread seal tape, or thread sealant, is another handy product to have in your home toolkit. In a nutshell, it helps tighten and seal water pipes, including those made of steel, PVC, plastic, and copper, to ensure a perfect fit and avoid leaks. It is also a lubricant so that there's not much friction at the copper pipe joints.
The plumber's tapes that you can see in the market are color-coded with white as the standard color, which is good for basic plumbing jobs. The colors pink, green, yellow, and yellow are for heavy-duty use, and each color is intended for a specific application.
This material is known for being water-resistant and can stand up well to extreme temperatures, and resist most chemicals. It may be thin, but it is very powerful.
Check out this link to find this Teflon tape on Amazon.
Proper installation is the key to optimizing what the Teflon tape offers. Here's how to use it.
- Clean both ends of the pipe and make sure they are dry.
- Wrap the tape around the threads of the male pipe. Start at the second thread and press the end of the tape tightly with your fingers.
- Go in the opposite direction where the pipe will turn so that the pressure of the threads, once fitted, will secure the tape in place.
- Wrap it around the threads five to six times, depending on the thickness of the tape.
Take note also that this will only be effective when there is no damage to the pipes. Otherwise, the tape might not stick to the surface properly and not give you a tight fit. It is also not recommended for pipes with wider threads as they won't be able to effectively seal the gap.
Can you use plumbers putty on copper pipe?
Plumber's putty is another popular choice when it comes to fixing cracks on water pipes. It has a clay-like consistency that you can mold to fit the affected surface. As it dries, it will harden to effectively seal the gap. This product is available in different sizes so you can choose which one will be sufficient for your needs.
However, experts say that this is just a temporary fix. Putty can eventually become brittle and crack, and you'll be back to face the same ordeal again. But if you need a quick solution for your leaking pipe, this will do until you can get a long-term resolution for your plumbing issue.
When it comes to adherence to copper pipes, plumber's putty will work well with copper. According to manufacturers, this product is effective except for porous and plastic surfaces.
Find this plumber's putty on Amazon.
Here's how to install a plumber's putty on your leaking copper pipes:
- Turn off the water line for the affected pipes.
- Clean the surface of the pipes using warm water. Use steel wool to remove any unwanted particles on the surface.
- Dry the pipes thoroughly with a clean cloth.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the proper preparation of the plumber's putty.
- Use a putty knife to apply the material on the entire surface of the affected area and smoothen it.
- Give it sufficient time to cure according to the manufacturer's recommendation.
Final Thoughts
Flex Seal is your best friend in fixing leaks on your copper pipes. Apply it on the affected surface, and you can forget that you ever had a leak in there.
For more resources on maintaining your copper pipes at home, you may visit the following links: