How to Fix Leaky Copper Pipes from a Bathroom...WITHOUT Soldering -- by Home Repair Tutor

Learning how to fix leaky copper pipes is super important if you're a homeowner...you'll save a boat load of money.

AND: you won't panic when it happens the second time.

This video was made 30 minutes after my wife texted me and said water was leaking from the bathroom on our second floor.

The first step is to find the section of drywall where the leak is coming from.

Push up on ceiling drywall until you find a soft spot. Then poke a hole in it using a drywall saw. Be prepared for water to drip out of the hole.

Then cut a small hole in the drywall to identify the exact pipe leak. Once you do that, turn the water off and cut the old pipe from the wall or ceiling.

My favorite tool for cutting copper pipe is the AutoCut pipe cutter.

In this tutorial I show you how to use SharkBite couplings to attach the new section of copper pipe. These help you fix leaky copper pipes without soldering.

If you replace the pipe with another section of copper here are some tips

-choose Type L copper
-debur the copper
-smooth the copper ends with emery cloth

If you replace the pipe with PEX just cut the ends and make them square.

The beauty of using SharkBites is that they simple push onto copper, PEX, or PVC pipes.

Check out the video for all the details

Here are the ground rules for our giveaway

-2 winners will be randomly selected
-Entry period ends Tuesday February 9th, 2016 at 11:59 pm EST
-Only those who live in the continental US are eligible to win
-HRT is handling the prize fulfillment
-Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment telling us why you want the kit

Click here for the full written tutorial and supply list

[zuzuesquivel]

I know this video is old, but we were just on vacation for two weeks and we got back home last night with water squirting out of the wall. We had a huge spilt in the pipes and no one was coming to fix. So we decided to fix our selves. Thank you for this video!!!!

[deannadale]

I have a constant problem with leaking cooper tubing. The original owners put in this cooper tubing for the hot water tank and it's a mess but has been working up to now. Now I have numerous sections that have pin hole leaks could really use your kit and truly appreciate your instructions!!! You are the 1st person to tell me I can replace this copper tubing with plex -- LOVE THAT!!!! Thank you for you inspired videos would really love your kit!!!! Thanks again!

[xbrizzcakez]

nice video, one note for your viewers is that Sharkbite does not recommend using any sort of abrasive on the outside of the copper pipe before installation. They want the copper to be as smooth as possible to seat the rubber washer and avoid any leaks....by using sand paper or emery cloth you are putting a tiny profile on the pipe.

[notoriousnotorious]

Hello! Im 21 years old and I always watched my order friends be handy man's. However I moved out and never learned the skills because I was busy with high school. I need the kit because your really good at explaining things and it makes a lot of sense to be able to replace a leaky copper pipe with one slide and fit in on each end!

[hobbschopshop]

shark bits are the best thing since sliced bread. we sale a lot of them from my little home town store. never had a complaint out of anyone. great video keep them coming

[Trippsevv]

Our home was built in 1957, so it's a year older than myself. We experienced one pinhole leak about three years ago and wound up remodeling both bathrooms as a result of the damage it caused.
Han another pinhole leak not even a foot away from the first one just the other day, so I'm off to the box store to obtain the necessary repair supplies and some extras for an emergency kit.
That is such a great idea! This way, we're never caught on a Sunday (which is when this latest pinhole decided to erupt!) evening without any means of obtaining parts for the repair!
Thank you for the detailed instruction of this issue.
Off to work I go!

[fdehaven]

I live in an old farm house and am always fixing old leaky pipes. I have never heard of this fix before. It would be great to have something this easy to help fix my! Thanks for the great video and tip.

[michellebrcik]

I would love to win your emergency repair kit ! I have an older home and have several copper pipes with pin hole leaks and I’m a disabled 53 year old living alone and on a budget! I like to learn to repair things on my own! I watched your video and will definitely try to repair the pipe myself so your emergency repair kit would be so incredibly helpful to me! Thank you again for all of your help!

[wesleyprice]

Your emergency home repair kit for plumbing would help me tremendously, I don’t do jobs for repairs and I don’t own many tools but I’m always having some crazy repair to face because of the year and wear and tear on this 1960’s home we have the plumbing is alot of car iron if that explains the age. I don’t have a great trade or make some great money. I would love to have one of these your videos are very efficient and to the point. Thanks I hope to hear more
Wes

[jenniferberwanger]

II am disabled and have a disabled daughter who is 9. I have learned that hiring a plumber is very expensive. I now try to use utube to help me with repairs. I was watching your video because I have several leaks in my plumbing that is ruining my floors and ceiling. I would like you kit so I can know exactly what to purchase to make my repairs. I appreciate the utube videos that you and others post. Without them I would not be able to make the repairs this old house needs. 🙂 Thank you

[susaneggman]

We Have a cabin that is an hour and a half away from anything. It is copper pipe underground and under the house which is raised.We are in the Sierra Nevada mountains and I have had to stop doing work like this because of disability issues. So I’ve been asking friends to help. This is a great idea the shark bite people have and I’d like to get started using it. I’m glad you’re site came up on my Google search

[AnnaLongTail]

I'm a single mother and gramma and trying to save money. That's why I watched your video. I'm needing to learn about plumbing repairs because I have an issue with a leak that has damaged my floor. 🙁 Luckily, I live and learn. 🙂 Thanks for the insight and the intro to shark bite fittings! I most definitely will be watching more. God bless you for that. 🙂 Anna

[RFC]

Great Video! I really need this kit, to close the leak in my wife's mouth. She is always telling me that I am constantly buying whatever I see on DIY sites and don't need it now.
She has no concept of being prepared.
So, I would like to see her expression when she says "what did you buy now" and I tell her nothing. This will be a dream come true.
Thanks again for posting,
Bob

[marrngtn]

Jeff, I'm the lone male "Go To Guy" for numerous nieces, sisters, sister-in-laws (who are now divorced), a 90 year old mother who demands to live on her own and two sets of aging in-laws. That kit would be great to have on hand for all of the emergencies that happen. I must admit that I should have paid better attention to my dads skills why he was alive So again the kit would be great to have to support the burden on my shoulders because they do call and yell

[freedomisfromtruth]

Smarter then the home center guy, a saddle valve corroded that wasnt being used, now the hole it made was shooting water, I asked the home center guy how to fix it, all he came up was the tape over. I like a physical connection like you made.

[tomh.]

my brother and i just started a handyman business and use your videos a lot so far!! one of thed first videos i watched was how to build a screen frame!! So easy and simple like you said! you can see why i need your kit!!
thanks, Tom

[unioncityhiller]

been needing this kit for the longest. Cuz I would always get some water pipe leaks here and there in my 100 years old home. And I don’t have the luxury of totally upgrading the plumbing.

[OldSkoolSkateHouse]

I own a house built before 1900, lots of old plumbing. This is a great tips in this video. I like how much easier these shark bite tools make pipe fixing. Thanks for the video and showing how to make the job easier.

[redhotsweetpotatoe]

What a great kit to have on hand.  I get such a kick out of being able to fix things without the help and added expense of hiring a professional.  Having this kit on hand would definitely make that more possible.

[BlueCloudsMusic]

don't know if you got rid of your kits but I need one. bought a house for the first time in my life and can't afford a plumber. this video helped me a lot. we've had plumbing problems like crazy. thanks!