How to seal a leak in a lead pipe?

Question

have a leak in the basement it is not to bad but it is not getting any better what is the best way to seal it until a plumber can be found

Answer 1

You can buy epoxy metal in plumbing sections of DIY stores. Read the instructions before you buy as only some can be used on a wet pipe.

Answer 2

Self amalgamating tape.A rubber tape that sticks to itself to form a solid  

Answer 3

Solder it.

Answer 4

I would try splitting a piece of hose, slip it over the leak and clamp it in place with a jubilee clip.  If its only a pinhole leak, this may work until you can get a plumber to fix it.  BTW, the plumber will probably want to replace the lead pipe with more modern material.

Answer 5

Disregard " Happy Man"  & "Adrian"it is not possible to solder lead pipe that has water in it, even one drop will turn into steam and blow out the joint.  obtain a piece of garden hose, slit it, and affix with 2 jubilee clips until a plumber comes out to replace it .

Answer 6

Lead is a terrible type of pipe to repair, as unless you are an expert, or lucky, you are liable to melt the lead with a blowtorch, damaging the pipe for ever. One little trick I have used is:-

1. Clean the surface of the lead either by scraping or with emery cloth

2. wipe Flux around the area to be repaired

3. Bind the area with bare copper wire (strip some old single core cable)

4. Flux the copper wire

5. Heat gently with a blowtorch, applying solder at the same time.

       I put a nail through a lead pipe and used this method, the solder ran very nicely and the pipe was still OK 15 years later when I changed it for a copper pipe.

Answer 7

Turn off the main water, then lightly tap the lead over with a small hammer. This can either stop the leakage or lessen it. Tap the lead gently from the outside inwards. try to move it over the leaking area.

Answer 8

try JB weld, because if you try to solder it, lead has a low melting point and may do more damage then good.