Locate the Leak

• 1). Find the leak in the pipe. While it may be obvious where the leak is, if you are lucky, sometimes a leak in PVC may not be immediately evident. This is especially true when you have a lot of PVC running underground under or around your house. But if you are certain that there is a water leak in the pipe, and cannot find it indoors, look for standing water, or a small stream of water emerging from the ground outside.
  
  
• 2). For an underground PVC leak you will have to dig, but please use caution. Unless you are familiar with the position of the pipe underground, it is possible to do further damage to the pipe while you are digging. So dig slowly and carefully until you can see the pipe.
  
  
• 3). Once you can see the pipe, use a trowel to remove the dirt close by.
  
  

Inspect the Pipe

• 1). If the pipe is old, look along the pipe where the leak is to ensure that it has not cracked lengthwise before you shut off the water and begin the repair. Knowing the full extent of the cause of the leak will save you a lot of time and frustration.
  
  
• 2). As you look at the pipe for additional cracks or breaks, check for the pipe size as well. The size of the pipe will be written on the white surface, usually in blue letters. Write it down.
  
  
• 3). Take note of whether the pipe size changes, or if the pipe that needs repair is connected to another pipe through a pipe fitting. If the pipe size changes, look on the pipe for the printed size of the second pipe, which will also be in blue letters. Write it down. Also draw yourself a small diagram of any pipe fittings that you may have to replace.
  
  
• 4). Measure the length of the pipe that is damaged.
  
  
• 5). After inspecting the pipe for all leaks, shut off the water at the main valve.
  
  

Buy Materials

• 1). Take your pipe measurements and any diagrams to a hardware store or home center.
  
  
• 2). Go to the PVC pipe section of the store. There you will find a wide variety of PVC pipe and fittings. If you ask for help from the clerk, he or she will most likely be able to look at your measurements and diagram that you provide and provide the parts you need. If there is not a clerk to help you, you will be looking for the same size PVC pipe that is cracked or broken, as well as two PVC pipe fittings. The pipe fittings will have two smooth openings, one on each end. They will also have openings that correspond to the size of your pipe. You can get these fittings to connect two ends of the same size pipe or connect two sizes of pipe.
  
  
• 3). Make sure that you also purchase some PVC pipe glue. All-weather PVC glue is good because it will glue pipes even when they are in water.
  
  

Prepare The Pipe

• 1). Remove as much standing water from around the pipe as possible. For interior pipes, this should not be a problem. However, for exterior pipes that are underground, this can require some effort.
  
  
• 2). Cut the pipe about an inch on either side of the leaking portion of the pipe using a saw. Once you cut the pipe, you may have more standing water that comes out of the pipe when the broken section is removed. If so, you will have to repeat Step 1.
  
  
• 3). Remove any dirt on the pipe that will affect the repair.
  
  

Repair

• 1). Use the PVC glue and coat the inside of the first fitting and put it on one of the sections of cut pipe being repaired.
  
  
• 2). Coat the remaining open portion of the fitting with PVC glue and insert the replacement pipe part into the fitting. You can use a wooden mallet to make sure that the new pipe fits securely into the fitting, but be sure to not damage to the rest of the pipe.
  
  
• 3). Take the second fitting and coat one end of it with PVC glue and then place it on the other part of the pipe being repaired.
  
  
• 4). Coat the open end of the second pipe fitting with PVC glue and then insert the replacement pipe end into the second fitting. Push the pipe into the fitting so that it fits securely.
  
  
• 5). Allow the PVC glue to dry. Drying time will depend on the weather and temperature but could from one to several hours. The glue will change from bright blue to a faded blue when it has dried.
  
  Turn the main water valve back on and check the pipe again for leaks. For an outdoor pipe, if no leaks are detected, be sure to bury the pipe again.