A discussion of plumbing emergencies wouldn't be complete without mentioning a few tips: Locking pliers with curved jaws are very handy in plumbing emergencies. You can use them in place of a hose clamp when necessary (figure A). When you sweat copper fittings, water can turn into steam and force the solder out of the joint. To avoid this problem, stuff a piece of bread into the pipe before you begin sweating the fittings. The bread will absorb moisture and prevent from it from getting into the joint. When you're finished, run water through the pipe to remove the bread. When you're working with flexible tubing, fill it with sand to avoid kinking it. Keep a spare bicycle tire and duct tape nearby to use for temporary fixes. To eliminate noise from rattling pipes, locate the area where the pipe comes through the joist, and push a wedge between the pipe and the side of the hole (figure B). You can also wrap carpet around the pipes and secure it with duct tape to muffle noise. It's a good idea to know where to turn off the main water supply. If you don't have a main shutoff valve, you can turn off the water at the water meter.
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