A dishwasher full of pantyhose stopped a leak at 11pm in Tucson

Was finishing a late call in Tucson last Tuesday when I noticed water pooling under a Whirlpool dishwasher, and the supply line had a pinhole spray I couldn't seal with tape. I remembered an old tech telling me a piece of pantyhose stretched over a fitting can act as a temp gasket, so I cut a strip, wrapped it tight, and clamped it down. It held long enough for the customer to finish her dishes and get through the night until I came back with a real part. Has anyone else used that trick, and did it ever fail on you later?

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gracec161mo ago

Did your buddy happen to try this on a hot water line or was it the cold side? A friend of mine did the same thing on a rental unit in Phoenix and it held great for about two days. Then the hot water softened the nylon and it started weeping again right at the clamp. He came back to a small puddle and a very annoyed tenant. The trick really does work in a pinch, but it seems like heat is what kills it. Cold supply lines and drain fittings hold up way better. If your customer's line was cold water, I bet that patch might have lasted a lot longer than you'd expect.

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