Fix a Burst Pipe with Putty?
On Valentine’s Weekend, 2021, Texas got hit with a record-breaking winter storm. A polar vortex brought single-digit (F) temperatures, six+ inches of snow, a multi-day blackout, and sledding to much of Texas, including us in Austin.
It also happens that many Texas houses have barely-insulated pipes running through their attics because, in Texas, attics are usually hot. Not freezing cold. Except for this week, when our house, and many others, was 45 degrees indoors, and much colder in the attic. And some of those pipes froze and burst.
As you can see in this image, we have plumbing running through the attic and only minimal insulation. The left side of the image shows the supply line to the hot water heater where it split vertically along the pipe seam. This pipe actually split in two places.
By the time I made it to a home improvement store, they were out of most plumbing supplies. I did find a SharkBite valve I could use, but just one, so it would mean no hot water.
I also found a tube of two-part plumber’s epoxy putty (many brands, I used stuff from Rectorseal) and decided to try it because, well, it was in stock.
This stuff feels like modeling clay and smells like epoxy. The putty is two different shades of grey and, once kneaded into a uniform color, is ready. The instructions said to press it into the puncture, and then mold it around the pipe. After about 10 minutes it was quite hot, and within an hour it was as hard as rock. (Right side image, above). I then wrapped it in duct tape as one site suggested.
When I turned the water back on, it held! It lasted the couple days until a plumber came and replaced the entire line and shutoff valve.
My question is, how reliable a fix is it? I was willing to experiment because at worst it would leak onto tile in the kitchen (I already pulled the ceiling down) and be easy to clean up. I would have been more nervous about it above a less-easy-to-mop room. Should I have been? Has anyone had a problem with it failing or is it a reliable short-term, or longer, fix? I’m curious what experience people have had with it. I did pick up a spare tube to keep on-hand for future emergencies.
