Flex Seal - Not as seen on TV (1 Viewer)

[Gally]

So I had a water leak in my main line coming into the house. I was able to locate the leak and it was three pin holes in an area I was actually able to locate and clear out to see what I was dealing with. Luckily it was not under my driveway or concrete walkway.

The leak is in a copper line and I do not have the tools or expertise to sweat copper fittings so I called a plumber to come out to fix. In the meantime (since I located it later yesterday afternoon and the plumber isn't availalbe until this morning) I decided to try some Flexseal tape as a temporary fix so we could have water through the night. So I cut a piece to size, clean the copper pipe, shut off the main water valve (so water wasn't streaming out) and proceeded to follow the directions. I removed the plastic film on the sticky side and slapped it on the pipe (just like they do on the side of swimming pool that sprung a leak in the commercial). Unfortunately, the tape wouldn't stick to the pipe. The pipe was wet and the Flexseal tape just went limp and wouldn't stick or seal the leak. Very frustrating. I am not totally surprised but I did expect it to at least stick to the pipe and it wouldn't even do that.

In the end I used some bicycle tube rubber and a couple hose clamps to stop the leak and that it a fine job once I was able to center the clamp over the holes properly.

MYTHBUSTERS Grade: BUSTED. Flexseal tape does not work on wet copper pipe. (and it says right on the label good for copper).

 

[belljr]

Lol.... I've had great luck with the spray. Not so much the tape


***This was on pvc

 

[Gally]

Lol.... I've had great luck with the spray. Not so much the tape


***This was on pvc

I almost got the spray but it didn't seem like it would work on a few small pinholes in a pipe with some decent pressure associated with them. Also thought about the paste but didn't want a tub of it that would likely go bad by the next time I needed it. I figured this was right up the alley for the tape.

 

[belljr]

I'm not touting it. Just mentioning I too have had no luck with tape.

And the spray was not a permanent fix it was good enough to hold until I could fix. Ymmv

 

[ChiefD]

JB Weld

I always have some on hand for such an occasion.

 

[3C's]

Have to wonder why a copper pipe would have pinholes in it.

But, shark bite fittings are easy to use and work well. Could be a do it yourself job with those, no need to sweat copper.

 

[Osaurus]

I've used the tape on drip irrigation lines where I have areas I don't want any water at all. All are still going strong after 2 years. I wouldn't ever assume the tape would work on wet copper.

 

[Gally]

Have to wonder why a copper pipe would have pinholes in it.

But, shark bite fittings are easy to use and work well. Could be a do it yourself job with those, no need to sweat copper.

There was a large root that had grown under the pipe and started pushing the pipe up. You could see where the pipe had "stretched" and caused a weak spot. This is where the pin holes were located. I have cut out the root to relieve the stress. It should be about an hour job for the plumber to cut out the bad section and solder the coupling to the existing pipe.

I am sure there are other options but that seems reasonable and shouldn't be too much money. Although, the plumber will probably charge me for three days work and $1K in materials...hahahaha

 

[Gally]

I've used the tape on drip irrigation lines where I have areas I don't want any water at all. All are still going strong after 2 years. I wouldn't ever assume the tape would work on wet copper.

But it says it does right on the label. And they just slap it on to swimming pools that spring a 1" size hole in the side while water is streaming out.

 

[Hot Diggity Dog]

Have to wonder why a copper pipe would have pinholes in it.

But, shark bite fittings are easy to use and work well. Could be a do it yourself job with those, no need to sweat copper.

Things like water turbulence in the pipe and minerals being leached out of the pipe will cause this. The wall of old copper pipe is much thinner than new copper pipe.

 

[-fish-]

Have to wonder why a copper pipe would have pinholes in it.

But, shark bite fittings are easy to use and work well. Could be a do it yourself job with those, no need to sweat copper.

Things like water turbulence in the pipe and minerals being leached out of the pipe will cause this. The wall of old copper pipe is much thinner than new copper pipe.

This guy knows stuff.

 

[Gally]

Things like water turbulence in the pipe and minerals being leached out of the pipe will cause this. The wall of old copper pipe is much thinner than new copper pipe.

Definitely true but it was quite obvious that where the leaks were located was a part of the pipe that had undue wear due to the stress from the root. The surrounding pipe is in good shape and that portion was definitely worn to a visual degree more.

 

[otb2huffing]

was a dentist here in the City many years ago by name of Elmo Most ... he had found a way to harness barnacles into what was described as a "miracle mucilage", and certainly seemed on the way to solving all of mankind's glue problems for good.

patent was neved awarded, tho ... his investors found that moisture weakened the grip, ergo rendering it about as useful as Jóva jellyrolls.

R&D never rectified

 

[supermike80]

Doesn't stick to PVC either. Tried it on a sump pump waste line outside that developed a crack(when I say "developed" it's likely I hit it with the mower) and I tried to use this to cover it until I could get a plumber out. Didn't work at all. Complete waste of $$

 

[belljr]

Doesn't stick to PVC either. Tried it on a sump pump waste line outside that developed a crack(when I say "developed" it's likely I hit it with the mower) and I tried to use this to cover it until I could get a plumber out. Didn't work at all. Complete waste of $$

This is exactly what i used the spray on lol.

there was a crack at a joint and water would lead out. Sprayed the **** out of it and it reduced the leak tremendously until i could fix it

 

[rockaction]

Homeowners

 

[rockaction]

Amirite?

 

[mr. furley]

was a dentist here in the City many years ago by name of Elmo Most ... he had found a way to harness barnacles into what was described as a "miracle mucilage", and certainly seemed on the way to solving all of mankind's glue problems for good.

that is certainly a string of words

 

[rockaction]

was a dentist here in the City many years ago by name of Elmo Most ... he had found a way to harness barnacles into what was described as a "miracle mucilage", and certainly seemed on the way to solving all of mankind's glue problems for good.

patent was neved awarded, tho ... his investors found that moisture weakened the grip, ergo rendering it about as useful as Jóva jellyrolls.

R&D never rectified

lol genius

moisture weakened the barnacle’s miracle…lolololol

ain’t that life?

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

100% the same experience on a small pinhole leak behind my drywall. Just wanted it to hold until the next day when I could get a plumber in to swap in some new copper piping. And I didn't try to put the tape on until after I'd torn out the wall, shut down the water for a few hours and let the pipe completely dry.

Nope. Still didn't hold. Bubbled then leaked out the top.

And this was a leak so small I couldn't see it spraying. I had to track down the spray I could feel using my fingers.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Tempted to try it on a sprinkler valve. Just at the base of the threaded portion. It’s not leaking, just want to reinforce it.

 

[dkp993]

Wait, let me get this straight. Are you telling me the infomercial I see on TV with a product doing unbelievable things isn’t true? Guess I need to stop cutting the bottom out of my boat so I can replace it with tape before it’s too late.

 

[Gally]

Tempted to try it on a sprinkler valve. Just at the base of the threaded portion. It’s not leaking, just want to reinforce it.

I have some extra I can give you to try....hahaha

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

The spokesman for this product looks like Vito Spatafore from The Sopranos.

 

[-fish-]

Didn't work on aluminum gutters. Did work great on fiberglass boat.

 

[dkp993]

Didn't work on aluminum gutters. Did work great on fiberglass boat.

So should I continue cutting that hole in my boat? I’m so confused

 

[-fish-]

Didn't work on aluminum gutters. Did work great on fiberglass boat.

So should I continue cutting that hole in my boat? I’m so confused

To be safe, try your neighbor's boat first.

 

[dkp993]

Didn't work on aluminum gutters. Did work great on fiberglass boat.

So should I continue cutting that hole in my boat? I’m so confused

To be safe, try your neighbor's boat first.

Brilliant

 

[Harry Frogfish]

Wrong product, that was a knock-off you purchased. What you were looking for was Flex Theal.

Please try again.

 

[otb2huffing]

was a dentist here in the City many years ago by name of Elmo Most ... he had found a way to harness barnacles into what was described as a "miracle mucilage", and certainly seemed on the way to solving all of mankind's glue problems for good.

that is certainly a string of words

neet bored

 

[FiredMartz]

Tried it on a very small drip on a galvanized toilet bowl water valve.....DID NOT work

 

[rockaction]

that is certainly a string of words

A stronger string hath rarely been strung.