How to Repair a Leaking Drain Pipe : Tips and Tricks

Leaking drain pipes in your home plumbing are not only unsanitary and hazardous but they can also cause a big loss of water. Most of the time a leaking a drain is detected much later than the leak had started and after much of the damage that could have been prevented, has already been done by the leaking pipe.

Leaking drain pipes

Most of the time a leak in the drain pipe will be located near the drain body, or in between one of the lateral pipes connecting the trap. The P-trap itself can develop leaks, usually caused by cleaning the trap or because the drain pipes have been knocked out of line. Most of these leaks are not that difficult to repair with some "do it yourself plumbing".

Symptoms of Leaking Drain Pipes

• Check the Water Meter - You will know if there is a leak inside your plumbings drainpipes when the reading on the water meter of your home shows a much higher value then it should, and you know that you have not been using any extra water over a longer period of time.
   
• Sewer Backing Up - Another way people often find out that they have a leak is when they experience a lot of sewer backup problems within a particular sewer line and that back-up has become a frequent occurense over time.
   
• Nasty Oders - Drainpipe leaks can also cause the surrounding area to become permanently moist, this can become a problem causing nasty smells to rise from the drain, from below your flooring, the sewer and even from the walls of your house.

Causes of leaks in drain pipes:

• Cracked Drain Pipes and Sewer Lines - Over longer periods of time small cracks can form in your drain pipes and sewer lines. Corrosion and old age weakens the pipes forming cracks that can eventually lead to a broken pipe.
   
• Accidental Damage to the Drain Pipe - When you are remodeling or maybe even during regular cleaning, drain pipes sometimes get accidentally knocked loose. When the pipes get dislocated, cracks may appear and your drain will start to leak.
   
• Cleaning of Pipes and Traps - Drain pipes can also get damaged by cleaning the P-trap, during the disassembly or while reassembling.

Solution to leaks in your drain pipes:

• Replace Boken Section of Pipe - If the leak is only one small or medium sized hole then you can fix the leak by replacing only the broken section of pipe, using the right plumbing tools.
   
• Replace Broken Fittings - If the leak is caused by a broken of malfunctioning fitting, then the leak is best repaired by repacing  the broken fitting with a new one. Best thing to do is to take the broken fitting with you to the store, to make sure you get the right size fitting.
   
• Replace the Pipes in Stages - If the leak in your system is due to an old and faulty drain line, then you will need to consider replacing the entire line. If your plumbing system is getting old, you could replace the drain lines in stages without waiting for the whole system to break down.

Preventive measures:

• Take good care and make proper use of your drains.
• Install quality pipes and fittings only.
• Do not compromise on quality when it comes to plumbing tools and materials.
• Make sure to properly winterize your plumbing systems.

External References

• How to fix house drain pipe leaks (MonsterGuide.net)
• How can I fix a leaking drain? (wiseGEEK.com)
• How tot Repair a Leaking Drain (ehow.co.uk)