Best burst pipe repair kits UK (2026): clamps, epoxy putty and self-fusing tape
A burst or pinholed pipe can do a lot of damage, and acting quickly limits it. A small kit of a pipe clamp, an epoxy putty stick and a roll of self-fusing tape lets you slow or stop a leak once the water is off, which buys time until a plumber replaces the damaged section. This page compares what is sold in the UK: what pipe each fits, what pressure is claimed, how long it takes to set and where each falls short. We have not used or tested any of them; every figure is credited to the maker or a retailer.
By Tom Calder · Updated 21 October 2026 · 3 products, all price-tracked
All 3 compared
| Repair | Type | Fits | Pressure (maker) | Ready in | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Snap-on clamp, reusable · 15mm copper and plastic pipe · 10 bar (150 psi) A reusable clamp for the 15mm pipe feeding most taps and appliances, kept in the toolbox for a pinhole or split. | Snap-on clamp, reusable | 15mm copper and plastic pipe | 10 bar (150 psi) | — | £23.99 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched The Kibosh is a hinged clamp that closes over a punctured or split 15mm pipe. Rothenberger USA says it can withstand 10 bar (150 psi), and B&Q lists it as tested by BSI to 10 bar and usable on hot water pipes. It is a stopgap, not a fix: turn the water off first where you can, and have a plumber repair the damaged section. Best for A reusable clamp for the 15mm pipe feeding most taps and appliances, kept in the toolbox for a pinhole or split. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if your pipe is 22mm or larger, or the burst is longer than the clamp; check the pipe size and the split length first, and treat any clamp as temporary. | |||||
 Epoxy putty stick, 57g · Pinholes and small cracks · About 1 hour to cure Plugging a small pinhole or hairline crack once the water is off and the pipe is dry enough to work on. | Epoxy putty stick, 57g | Pinholes and small cracks | — | About 1 hour to cure | £8.25 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched WaterWeld is an epoxy putty stick that J-B Weld pitches for sealing leaks and filling holes and cracks. The maker's page and UK seller JT Dove both give a one-hour cure. J-B Weld does not give a pipe pressure rating on the pages checked, so it suits a small hole on a pipe you have isolated, not a split under mains pressure. Treat the patch as temporary until a plumber repairs the pipe. Best for Plugging a small pinhole or hairline crack once the water is off and the pipe is dry enough to work on. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if the pipe is split along its length or you cannot isolate the water while it cures; a clamp or a plumber is the better route. | |||||
 Self-fusing repair tape, no adhesive · Pipes, hoses; 25mm x 3m roll A cheap roll for slowing a small leak or sealing a hose until you can get a proper repair done. | Self-fusing repair tape, no adhesive | Pipes, hoses; 25mm x 3m roll | — | — | £6.59 at Amazon as of 21 Oct 2026, 10:37 BST · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Wrap-Fix is a self-fusing tape that bonds to itself rather than relying on adhesive, so it is wrapped round the leak. Hunt Office's listing for the 25mm x 3m roll says it resists UV, chemicals and weather and handles heat up to 260 degrees C. No pressure rating appeared on the pages checked, so treat it as a short-term wrap for a slow leak or a hose, not a repair for a burst on mains pressure; a plumber should still fix the pipe. Best for A cheap roll for slowing a small leak or sealing a hose until you can get a proper repair done. Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if the leak is under full mains pressure or on a large split; use a clamp and ask a plumber to repair the pipe. | |||||
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Before you buy
Before any product, know the usual first steps.
Turn the water off at the internal stopcock, often under the kitchen sink, and open the cold taps to drain the pipes. If water has reached sockets, lights or the consumer unit, do not touch them; switch the electricity off at the consumer unit only if it is dry and you can reach it without standing in water, otherwise keep clear and call an electrician. Turn off the boiler or immersion heater. Then call a plumber, and tell your insurer early. A clamp or putty comes after those steps, never instead of them.
A snap-on clamp is the fastest stopgap for a round split or pinhole on copper or plastic pipe.
The Rothenberger Kibosh here is a hinged, reusable clamp for 15mm pipe, the size that feeds most taps and appliances; Rothenberger quotes a 10 bar rating and B&Q's listing says BSI tested it to that figure and that it covers splits up to about 25mm long in most cases. Buy the clamp for the pipe you actually have: 22mm pipe, common on boiler and bath runs, needs the separate 22mm version. Measure the pipe before you order, because a clamp that does not match the diameter will not seal.
Epoxy putty fills what a clamp cannot grip: a pinhole on a bend, a weep at a fitting, a crack in an awkward spot.
J-B Weld's WaterWeld stick is kneaded, pressed over the hole and left to cure, which the maker and its UK seller both put at about an hour. The pipe must be isolated and dry enough to work on for the whole cure, and J-B Weld gives no pressure rating on the pages checked, so treat a putty patch as a hold until the plumber arrives rather than something to put back under mains pressure and forget.
Self-fusing tape bonds to itself rather than sticking to the pipe, so it can be wrapped round a slow leak, a hose or an outside tap connection without adhesive residue. Duck's Wrap-Fix roll carries no pressure rating on the pages we read, and that is the honest limit of tape: it slows a drip and seals a low-pressure hose, but it will not hold a burst under mains pressure. It still earns a place in the kit because it is cheap, light, and useful for the garden hose, the washing-machine inlet and a leaking joint on a drained pipe while you wait.
Push-fit repair couplers, which cut out the damaged section and join the two ends, are a proper repair rather than a stopgap, but they need the pipe cut square, deburred and pushed fully home, and the result still wants checking by someone competent. We have not listed any here because the right one depends on your pipe size and material. Whatever you keep, store it with a torch and a card showing where the stopcock is, check once a year that the stopcock turns, and lag exposed pipes so the burst does not happen; our frost-protection page covers that side.
We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its UK price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labelled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test — and commissions never change a ranking either way. Read our full methodology →
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Common questions
What should I do first when a pipe bursts?
Turn the water off at the internal stopcock, usually under the kitchen sink, then open the cold taps to drain the system. If water is near sockets, lights or the consumer unit, do not touch them; switch off at the consumer unit only if it is dry and you are not standing in water, otherwise keep clear and call an electrician. Turn off the boiler or immersion heater. Then call a plumber and tell your insurer. A clamp or putty comes last.
Can a pipe repair clamp be left on permanently?
The makers describe clamps such as the Rothenberger Kibosh as emergency repairs, and plumbers treat them that way: a stopgap that holds the pipe until the damaged section is cut out and replaced. Rothenberger quotes a 10 bar rating for the Kibosh, so it can hold mains pressure in the short term, but a clamp hides the damage rather than curing it. Book a plumber and have the clamp removed and the pipe replaced, then keep the clamp in the toolbox for next time.
Does epoxy putty work on a pipe that is still leaking?
Not reliably. The putty needs about an hour to cure, by J-B Weld's own figure, and a pipe under mains pressure will push water through before it sets. Turn the water off at the stopcock, drain the pipe by opening the taps, dry the area, then knead and press the putty over the hole and leave it alone for the full cure. J-B Weld gives no pipe pressure rating on the pages checked, so treat the patch as temporary and have the pipe repaired properly.
Will self-fusing tape stop a burst pipe?
It will slow a drip or seal a low-pressure hose, but no pressure rating appears on the Duck Wrap-Fix pages we read, so do not rely on tape alone for a split under mains pressure. Its strengths are that it bonds to itself with no adhesive, stretches round irregular shapes and leaves no residue, which suits garden hoses, washing-machine inlets and a weeping joint on a pipe you have already drained. For a burst, use a clamp if you have one and turn the water off either way.
How do I know whether my pipe is 15mm or 22mm?
Measure the outside diameter with a tape, a ruler held flat or a pair of callipers. In most UK homes the pipes to taps, toilets and appliances are 15mm, while the main cold feed, bath run and boiler connections are often 22mm, and older houses may have imperial copper that is slightly different again. Clamps are made for one size and will not seal on another, so check every run you might need to repair before ordering, and consider keeping one of each.
Will my home insurance cover a burst pipe?
Most home policies cover escape of water from a burst pipe, though the excess for water damage is often higher than for other claims and gradual leaks or wear are usually excluded. Some policies expect you to keep the home heated, or drain the system when it is empty in winter. Contact your insurer once the water is off, photograph the damage before clearing up, and keep the plumber's invoice. If the leak is outside or you cannot stop it at your stopcock, call your water company for advice.
