Copper Pipe Pinhole Leaks
Pinholes are small leaks which develop most often in copper pipes. Pinholes can form under the home's foundation, also known as a slab leak, however these smaller leaks are often detected above ground within the walls of the home. Once found, most homeowners simply have the damaged section repaired and hope that additional pinholes do not develop. Unfortunately many homeowners experience multiple pinhole leaks before ultimately deciding to repipe the hot or cold pipe system, or both at the same time.
Repiping any plumbing system involves significant invasive work including cutting painted walls and ceilings, exposing and removing insulation, entering and working in attic or crawl spaces, removing old piping, drilling through studs and frame members, installing new soft or rigid copper piping, soldering all pipe and fitting junctions, replacing cut wall and ceiling material, and repainting accessed walls and ceilings. Our epoxy lining process is a great alternative to traditional repiping by reducing costs, eliminating severe invasive destruction, and protecting existing in-place piping.
What are the causes of pinhole leaks?
Some examples of causes of pinhole leaks include a nail or screw that pierces the pipe wall, corrosion that deteriorates the pipe or pipe joint, galvanic reaction between the pipe and a dissimilar metal such as a nail or wire, improper electric isolation or grounding methods, continuous or frequent water flow that causes premature internal wear (such as by recirculation pumps), and aggressive water chemistry which can deteriorate the beneficial mineral film lining within the pipe system.
How do you identify a pinhole leak?
Evidence of pinhole leaks usually include, hissing at the location of the leak, wet walls or flooring at the leak location, wet flooring where water collects or seeps away from the leak location, or smells of mold, mildew, or unexpected moisture. We use electronic leak detection equipment to precisely locate pinhole leaks and we measure the rate of pressure loss to estimate the size of the leak. Depending on the size of the leak, we may recommend repairing the leak before coating that particular section.
What are the costs of pinhole leaks?
While it may seem more cost efficient in the short term to repair pinhole leaks one at a time, confidence in your pipe's integrity is a great comfort and superior value. Simply having one pinhole leak may indicate that other pinholes are in formation and that your home may be at risk for flooding, mold growth, property damage, and unplanned inconvenience.
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