Plastic Pipe Repairs

• Plastic pipe materials appear among residential irrigation systems and drain, waste and vent systems. The familiar, white PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, pipes that compose standard irrigation systems join with solvent-welded fittings or threaded fittings. Similar in practice to gluing, solvent welding chemically bonds separate plastic components. Plastic ABS, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, pipes frequently appear among residential drain, waste and venting systems. Like PVC, ABS generally joins via solvent welding or threaded connections. Although strong and shatter-resistant, plastic plumbing pipes often develop leaks at the joints between pipes and fittings. To repair leaks at solvent welded connections, plumbers cut damaged components from the system and completely rebuild the components. Although leaks at threaded connections occasionally require rebuilding, plumbers often fix threaded connections by tightening or replacing pipe thread sealant.
  
  

Copper Repairs

• Temporary repair methods for copper water supply lines include specialized repair epoxy, which hardens over small punctures, and pipe repair clamps, which compress over openings on the pipe. To permanently repair damaged copper plumbing, plumbers must cut damaged portions of pipe and fittings from the line with a pipe cutter and install replacement components. To solder pipe, plumbers must drain the water supply system, clean both new and old pipe connections, heat the pipes and apply a metal solder to bind the separate pieces.
  
  

Compression Fittings

• Compression fittings appear among several types of residential plumbing pipe materials, including copper water supply line and under-sink drain assembly units. Whether metal or plastic, compression fittings join to pipes via rings that literally compress against the pipe's outer wall. Compression connections are purely mechanical, and occasionally water seeps through loosened fittings. Compression fittings install and dismantle with the turn of a specially designed nut, called a compression nut. Working with compression fittings typically requires only common hand tools, such as pipe wrenches and adjustable wrenches.
  
  

Common Plumbing Fixture Repairs

• Dripping faucets and faucet handles are among the most common plumbing fixture repairs. Worn internal components typically cause leaks around handles or from spouts. To remove and replace worn components, such as washers and gaskets, plumbers access a fixture's integral valve, called a valve stem. Valve stems typically rest beneath a fixture's handles. Removing handles to expose stems requires various screwdrivers and wrenches. However, removing specialty stems, such as washerless or cartridge stems, might require propriety tools available through the faucet's manufacturer.
  
  

Clogs

• Arguably the most common plumbing repair project, repairing clogged plumbing fixtures is a messy, yet relatively simple project. Familiar to most homeowners, plungers are an inexpensive and effective solution for most clogged drains. Alternatively, drain augers, called sewer snakes, route deep within a drain system with a flexible metal coil. Whenever possible, mechanical clog removal tools, such as plungers and augers, should be used in lieu of hazardous chemical drain cleaners.