The Best Products To Get A Leak Under Control In A Jiffy

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When you see moisture damage in your house, finding the source of the water leak is your primary concern before you can turn your attention to fixing it. But while you certainly shouldn't ignore the leak, it might also be a little while before you can track down a plumber to help. You need an option to stop the flow at least temporarily before it causes irreparable damage to your property.

Quite a few products work to quickly put a stop to water leaks, such as liquid rubber sealants, waterproof coating sprays, and rubberized waterproof tape. Selecting the product you want to use to quickly stop a leak will depend on the type of problem you're experiencing. After all, there are differences between spray products like Flex Seal and Gorilla Waterproof Patch & Seal Spray compared to tapes like Flex Tape. These temporary leak-stopping options work nicely for a homeowner who might not have the skills needed to do full-fledged plumbing repairs correctly. Better to be cautious than risk DIYing plumbing repairs that could make the leak worse before the plumber arrives.

If you have a leaking plumbing line under a sink or in your basement near the water heater, shut off the water valve to your home or to an individual faucet. From here, you can make a quick repair before turning the water back on, hopefully blocking the leak until a plumber arrives. Flex Tape ($15) is a good option for a leaking pipe. Clean the surface of the tube to remove dust or other grime. Then wrap the Flex Tape over the leak to block the flow of water until plumbers can make a proper repair. T-Rex Waterproof and Repair Tape ($11) and Gorilla Waterproof Patch & Seal Tape ($13) are other options for stopping plumbing pipe leaks temporarily. They follow the same application steps as the Flex Tape. Among these three products, the T-Rex and Gorilla brands have 4.4-star ratings on Amazon, while Flex Tape has a 4.1-star rating.

When you want to extend the life of a flexible garden hose that has sprung a leak, though, these products may have mixed results. Flex Tape and the Gorilla Seal Tape are not intended for products placed under significant water pressure, like garden hoses. However, several product reviewers say they've had success using the T-Rex waterproof tape to repair garden hoses.

When you need to quickly seal cracks, holes, and tears in a variety of materials that are causing leaks, sealant sprays are a popular choice. The Flex Seal Waterproof Coating Spray ($15) may work for stopping leaks in areas like roofs, gutters, downspouts, foundation concrete, and more. To apply it, just wipe grime and other debris away from the affected area before spraying the product onto the surface. Similar options that can stop leaks around the house are the Gorilla Waterproof Patch & Seal Spray ($15) and the Alien Waterproof Sealant Spray ($15). All three products have similar customer ratings on Amazon, with the Flex Seal product featuring a 4.4-star rating, the Alien spray delivering a 4.3-star rating, and the Gorilla spray with a 4.2-star rating.

One significant difference between these three waterproof spray options is whether you can use them for products that will be constantly underwater. Flex Seal spray specifically lists boats and swimming pools as areas where it will work to make repairs. The Alien and Gorilla products do not list pools and boats as potential usage options to stop leaks. In fact, the Gorilla waterproof product is not made for areas subjected to continuous submersion or for use in a location that will be below the water line.