There are a wide variety of plumbing related pipe leaks. Some literally can flood your home or business in minutes, while others are far less invasive or destructive. They key is to address the leak before it becomes a catastrophic event. The urgency and approach to stopping a leak depends on the type of pipe leak it is.

Most plumbing problems or leaks occur at or near a fixture such as a sink, faucet, tub or toilet. Sometimes, however, the pipes themselves are the source of the problem, and depending upon the location can be either a relatively easy fix or a very complex job.  Most pipe replacement projects are best left to professionals, even though, if you are a do-it-yourselfer, you may be tempted to consider a temporary pipe patch.  Sometimes temporary fixes, until permanent repairs can be made, do in fact allow toilets, sinks and other plumbing fixtures to remain in use. They are also often expedient because many water emergencies happen at odd hours like on weekends or at night, when getting a plumber is more difficult or near impossible. Either way, it is critical to remember the very nature of a “patch” is temporary, so at some point a trained plumber will be required to do a permanent pipe repair.