Dear Pat:

When I was getting some bleach out from under my sink, I noticed a very slow drip from a water pipe. A plumber said the entire pipe must be replaced. Is there a good way to just repair and save the cost of a service call?

— Jacquie F.

Dear Jacquie:

Although that does not sound like a difficult job for a plumber to fix, just getting the plumber out there for a service call can be expensive. There are methods to repair a minor leak in a pipe, but eventually, the pipe should be replaced. Once you get some more experience with plumbing projects, you should be able to replace the pipe yourself.

The first step is to put a pan under the drip to catch the water. Since you may not know how long the pipe has been leaking, there may have already been some damage done to the building materials or floor below the leak.

Check to see how damp things are and if you notice any weak or rotted wood on the bottom of the cabinet under the sink. If there is much damage, you will probably have to call a contractor to repair the damage. Most home improvement and repair contractors can also easily replace the pipe at the same time.

Since it is a very slow drip, the hole in the pipe is so tiny, it may be difficult to see. Keep in mind, water runs down a pipe, so where it appears to be dripping may not be the exact location of the hole. Wipe the entire pipe dry and quickly wrap a tissue around it. Watch for where the tissue first gets wet to locate the hole.

Your concern now is to stop the leak with a temporary fix long enough to get to your home center store for materials for a longer-lasting patch. With the pipe dried off, wrap waterproof tape around the leaky area and out about 6 inches on each side. Black electrical tape, duct tape or aluminum tape should work well.

The two most common methods to replace a leaky metal pipe are using plumber's epoxy or a pipe clamp. The plumber's epoxy is also particularly effective for sealing leaky fittings. To use the epoxy, you must shut off the water to that pipe and be sure no water still drips from the hole.

The exterior of the pipe must be very clean for good adhesion. Clean it with detergent to remove any grease or oils. For added insurance, use medium-grit sandpaper and sand it down to the bare metal. This definitely cleans the surface and creates a rough surface for better adhesion.

Read the instructions on the packaging to determine how much working time you will have before the epoxy starts to harden. Mix the two parts together and spread the mixture over the hole with a putty knife. Put it on thick. If it is difficult to reach, use your fingers. Always wear protective gloves when working with epoxy.

If the leak is easy to reach, installing a pipe clamp over the leak is effective. Get the proper size for the pipe diameter. Place the rubber pad from the kit over the hole in the pipe. Close the hinged clamp over the rubber pad and tighten the screws.