Quick! Leak in copper pipe, for heating. Any way I can bodge it together for the moment?

[NotQuiteCockney]

I don't want the entire contents of the heating system to drip onto the floor.

Would duct tape hold it for a bit? Or do I have to just turn off the heating?

gaffer tape would hol dit for a bit but you are better off turning it off

sorry

or turn down thermostat so it'll only pump if it drops below 13 or something

ie cold but not freezing

Gaffer tape = duct tape?

I should probably tape it even if I do turn it off, anyway, right? So it doesn't all drain out?

Or will the plumber not be able to fix it if there's water in the system?

It's a drip-drip-drip leak, not gushing.

The whole heating system was redone before Xmas. This is one of the new bits.

And I've tried ringing the plumber who did it, and his number isn't working. Might mean he's away on holiday. Grr.

You'd have to get it dry before you can tape it though. Something like this would probably do the job.

It will most likely need to be drained in order to replace the leaky pipe unless it's just a joint that needs tightening.

A good plumber should be able to isolate the pipe in sections (using a freezing spray) and either weld the leaking part or replacing it with a new piece of copper pipe.

Soupy's tape looks good - if you have a plumbing supply shop go in and ask (one in Dalston iirc but I bet there's one closer to you)

sounds like it might have to be drained to be mended though

I have a plumber coming this evening. Yes, he wants it drained, so I'll leave it running, might as well.

Put something under top catch drips for now and wrap a rag round it (pref with oil/grease on it)

It might not be there's a hole in that bit of pipe iyswim thoguh

It might be leaking at a joint higher up and running down to fall off there

In whichc ase rag not much use

Ah, yes, good point re: higher up problem - I already peered at it closely and found the problem is the join between the pipe and the radiator, it's running down from there to the bend.

I've left a towel on it. I'm figuring it's ok if it leaks while I'm here to move the towel around. If he wants the system full, filling it is easier than emptying it.

I'm not going to bother patching it, I'll just leave it.

Thanks, guys.

Then it fixed itself (I like those sorts of things, I know they'll break themselves again later). Now the plumbers are here, but they managed to get it leaking again, so they're draining the system and they're going to have a fiddle.

These guys seem good, I might use them for the pipe-moving job next door if the plumbers who did this side don't get back in touch. I texted him on the 19th. When I tried to ring today, it looked like his mobile was disconnected or something.

Ok. That was weird. The guy who speaks English just told me how much I look like Agnieszka Holland. In an 'impressed' sort of way. With a somewhat puzzled DH in the room.

I've looked her up, she's 21 years older than me ... but ... wtf?