The time I used a zip tie to fix a pressure gauge leak (and it held for a week)

We had a small but steady leak on a 1/4" NPT fitting for a gauge on a feedwater heater in Toledo last spring. The plant needed to run for three more days before a shutdown, and the proper sealant was clear across the yard. Out of pure desperation, I wrapped the threads with a heavy-duty zip tie, cinched it down tight, and then cut off the tail. It sealed the leak completely (no drips at all) and held pressure until we could do the real fix. My foreman just shook his head and laughed when he saw it. Has anyone else pulled off a weird temporary fix that actually worked way better than it should have?

3 comments

3 Comments

shanegibson17d ago

Honestly, the best part is the foreman just laughing. Means it was stupid enough to work but not stupid enough to get you fired.

andrewh4317d ago

My buddy's foreman laughed at his duct tape fix for three years.

foster.patricia4d ago

That foreman laughing for three years straight is the real problem. It shows a bad work culture where pointing out flaws matters more than fixing them. A good boss would have either made him redo it properly the first week or officially approved it as a temporary fix. Letting it stay while making fun of it just kills respect on the job site. It turns a simple repair into a long running joke that helps nobody.