How to Turn Off the Water Supply to a Broken Pipe

Irrespective of the type of pipes you are dealing with, the first step to take is to turn off the water supply to the broken pipe.

Shut off the valve controlling the water supply

• Precisely locate the origin of the leak to identify its cause. When you locate the point of leakage, shut off the valve closest to the supply pipes. 
• If the location of the valve remains unknown, turn off the water at the water meter.

Drain the rest of the water remaining in the supply pipes

How to Repair a Broken Plastic Pipe

PVC pipes can be repaired permanently with the following steps:

1. Cut the pipe about an inch to the left and right of the damaged area using a ratchet cutter or hacksaw.
2. Allow any excess water to come out of the hose and dry with a clean cloth.
3. Once the damaged pipe is cut, dry-fit the replacement pipe into the hole, making sure the pipe fitting is properly secured around the existing PVC.
4. Apply PVC primer solvent inside the replacement pipe fittings and outside the existing pipe.
5. Next, apply cement to the existing exposed PVC pipe and around the inside of the replacement fitting.
6. Insert the existing pipe into the replacement fittings and use a twisting motion to fix the pipe with glue.
7. Hold the hose firmly for 10 seconds to ensure a solid bond.



How to Fix a Leaky Pipe Temporarily

A leaky pipe can be fixed in three different ways. They are as follows:

Using epoxy putty

• Clean and dry the broken area making sure the water cannot reach the affected area
• Mix the putty according to the manufacturer’s instruction
• Apply the epoxy and let it dry for 10 minutes

Using rubber and silicone repair tapes:  this should be used when you are dealing with a minor leak. It uses compression to fix leaks.

• Wrap the tape around the damaged area covering a little to the left and right of the damaged area
• Make sure the wrap is tight before using the pipe again

Rubber tape and zip ties: like rubber and silicone repair tape, this method uses compression to fix small leaks in PVC pipes

• Wrap rubber around the damaged area
• Separate the zip ties and place them around the affected area 
• Squeeze to stop or slow the leak

How Do You Fix A Broken Copper Pipe?

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• Cut the copper tube to the right of the leak if it is small or 10 cm before and 10 cm after if it is large.
• Identify the section of the copper tube and take one or two bicone unions and a piece of copper tube.
• Insert a bicone union into the copper tube then mark the insertion depth on the right of the tube.
• Remove the copper tubing from the fitting and measure the insertion depth.
• Multiply this result by two and subtract it from the measurement of the cut pipe you need to replace.
• Transfer this measurement to the new copper tube and cut it with a hacksaw, pipe slice, or pipe cutter. Make sure to rotate the pipe cutter when in use.
• Clean the ends of the copper tubes with emery cloth (new tube and tube in place). The copper tubes must be impeccable and shine.
• Insert the sleeve fittings on the tubes. You can release the copper pipe in place from its fixings to move it, which will facilitate the insertion of the new tube with the two fittings.
• Tighten the sleeve fittings with spanners when everything is in place.
• Tighten one side, then the other.

CONCLUSION

With the afore listed methods, fixing a broken water pipe in a water line will be a piece of cake. Seeping along a pipe under the sink may seem innocuous, but when you consider the danger of leaving the pipe unchecked pending the arrival of a plumber can be devastating. Therefore, to protect your property from unwarranted harm, it is best to install a temporary fix pending the arrival of a professional.