🧿Part 1: Analysis of Leakage Causes in PE Electric Fusion Fittings

Before repairs begin, understanding the cause of the leak is crucial to preventing recurrence. Common causes include:

1. Improper welding procedure: This is the most common cause. These include:

Incomplete oxide scraping: The oxide layer on the pipe surface has not been completely scraped off, affecting fusion.

Incorrect welding parameters: The voltage, time, and cooling time settings do not match the pipe and fitting specifications.

Misalignment of the pipe and fitting: Angles or offsets result in uneven force on the weld surface.

Moving the pipe during cooling: This disturbs the joint before cooling is complete, disrupting molecular chain fusion.

2. Material issues: Quality defects in the pipe or fitting itself, or incompatibility between the two (different brands/grades).

3. Environmental factors: Welding without protective measures in harsh environments such as strong winds, rain, snow, and low temperatures.

4. Subsequent damage: Failure to compact the backfill, resulting in sharp rocks squeezing the pipe, or subsequent damage to the pipe caused by other construction.

🧿Part 2: Comparison of Various Repair Methods

When a leak is discovered, the most appropriate repair method should be selected based on factors such as the leak location, pressure level, and the impact of water outages.

Repair Method Applicable Scenario Advantages Disadvantages

1. Cutting and Re-welding: This method addresses pipe ends or sections with ample clearance and margin. This method fundamentally resolves the problem and restores the pipe's original strength. It is the most standard and reliable permanent repair method. However, it requires extensive work, including cutting, re-aligning, and welding, and requires a water outage. This method also requires ample clearance.
   2. Clamping: This method is a temporary emergency measure used for minor leaks and low-pressure systems. It is fast, extremely low-cost, and simple to use. However, it has poor reliability and can only temporarily stop water flow, but cannot withstand higher pressures. It is not a permanent solution.
   3. Torch Repair: This method is strictly prohibited! Open flames are strictly prohibited on PE pipes. None: This method is extremely dangerous! This method can severely damage the PE pipe structure, causing further damage and safety hazards.
   4. Using pipe repair clamps: For repairs under pressure or during water outages, this is the mainstream permanent repair method for pipes of all diameters. It's fast and efficient, provides a reliable seal, requires no special tools, and is widely applicable. It can be operated under pressure (for certain types). The cost is higher than using clamps, but lower than the combined cost of cutting and re-welding. A certain amount of space is required for installation and operation.

🧿Part III: Detailed Advantages of Using Pipe Repair Clamps

Pipe repair clamps are currently recognized as one of the best and most popular repair methods for PE pipes, offering significant advantages:

1. Fast and efficient, significantly reducing downtime. Pipe repair clamps are designed with either a one-piece or two-piece structure. Installation is simple: simply clean the leak, apply the clamp, and tighten the bolts.

Compared to the "cut and re-weld" method, which requires pipe cutting, welding, and cooling, installation time can be reduced by over 80%, making them crucial for municipal and industrial water supply systems where minimizing the impact of water outages is crucial. 2. Reliable Sealing, Achieves a Permanent Repair
High-quality pipe repair clamps contain a high-quality food-grade silicone seal (or other elastic sealing material). Bolted together, they generate sustained, strong radial pressure, ensuring a tight fit between the seal and the pipe's outer wall, creating a double or even multiple seal.
Their design pressure-bearing capacity often reaches or exceeds the pipe's operating pressure, making them a permanent repair solution, not a temporary measure.

Baoshuo PE pipe elbow pipe repair clamp can choose stainless steel elbow pipe repair clamp and carbon steel elbow pipe repair clamp in two specifications. According to the internal medium of the pipeline, you can also choose oil-resistant, acid-resistant, alkali-resistant and other properties of the emergency repair clamp.

3. Wide Range of Applications and Versatility
Compatible with PE pipes of various diameters (DN20-DN1200 and even larger).
They can repair leaks in electric fusion sleeve joints as well as holes and cracks caused by external forces in the pipe body.
Both standard and multifunctional pipe repair clamps (such as the "saddle" type) are available for repairing and opening holes in various locations on the pipe. The following are Baoshuo brand open-hole tees, available in carbon steel saddle tees and stainless steel saddle tees.

4. Operates under pressure, minimizing the impact of water outages.

This is one of its most significant advantages. For pipelines where water outages are unacceptable or extremely costly (such as main pipelines, hospitals, and continuous production lines in factories), pressurized pipe repair clamps can complete repairs without disrupting system operations, creating significant social and economic benefits.

5. Simple operation and relatively low skill requirements.

No complex welding equipment or professional welder certification is required. Ordinary repair personnel can operate according to the instructions after simple training, reducing reliance on specialized, highly skilled trades.

6. Safe and environmentally friendly, eliminating construction risks.

The entire process is cold-processed, without open flames or fumes from hot welding, eliminating the fire and explosion risks associated with welding. It is particularly suitable for flammable and explosive environments.

No electricity is required (except for power tools), making construction safer in challenging environments such as tunnels and underwater.

Part 4: Using Pipe Repair Clamps (Brief Steps)

1. Shut off the water supply and release the pressure: If not operating under pressure, first close the valve and drain any accumulated water and pressure from the pipe section to be repaired.

2. Surface Preparation: Thoroughly clean any dirt, sand, and oxide layer around the leak. Sand the pipe surface with sandpaper to make it smooth and even without any bumps or unevenness.

3. Install the Sealing Ring: Check that the included sealing ring of the pipe repair clamp is intact and position it accurately over the leak.

4. Install the Pipe Repair Clamp: Close the two halves of the pipe repair clamp around the leak, aligning them with the bolt holes.

5. Tighten the Bolts: Ensure all nuts are tightened evenly, alternating diagonally to ensure uniform force and meeting the specified torque requirements. This avoids unilateral force that could cause a leaky seal.

6. Pressure Test: After the repair is complete, slowly open the valve and perform a pressure test on the pipe to observe for any remaining leaks.

Summary and Recommendations

For leaking PE electrofusion pipe fittings, using pipe repair clamps (pipe repair clamps) offers the most comprehensive repair solution. They offer a perfect balance of reliability, efficiency, cost, and impact on system operation.

Recommendation:

For critical main pipelines where extended service outages are unacceptable, prioritize high-quality pressurized pipe repair clamps.

After repairs, be sure to reflect on and identify the cause of the initial welding failure. Follow up with strict adherence to operational procedures to eliminate the problem at its source.

Keep a supply of pipe repair clamps of common diameters on hand as an emergency supply for emergencies.