Most people have dealt with pinhole pipe leaks at some time in their life. While pinhole leaks are often insignificant, they are ticking time bombs when you avoid having them checked by a plumber. Most residential plumbing pipes are made of copper, and pinhole leaks in copper pipes are among the most dangerous and significant leaks. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about pinhole leaks, their causes, and how to fix them.
What Causes Pinhole Leaks?
There are many causes of pinhole leaks, including:
- Physical pollutants in hard water, such as silt or heavy metals that corrode the interior of your pipes.
- Copper piping’s oxide covering can be scraped away over time, especially when high water pressure is in your system.
- The pH value of your household water has a significant impact on your pipes. When the pH value of water interacts with metal pipes, it can often produce pinhole leaks in your copper pipes.
- Since your copper pipes are not resistant to corrosion, typical wear and tear can result in pinhole leaks and other issues over time.
Common Signs that Indicate Pinhole Leaks
Pinhole leaks are challenging to detect without expert assistance. Still, a few signs can indicate that you have pinhole leaks. Here are some indicators:
- Condensation on your pipes
- Black, blue, or green spots on your copper pipes
- Your water’s color has changed
- Water pressure is dropping
- Your water bill is rising
- Mold or mildew growth
Any of these signs indicate it’s time to call a local plumber for copper pipe repair or replacement.
How Can I Prevent Pinhole Leaks?
Unfortunately, copper pipe corrosion is inevitable. There are, however, ways to delay the corrosion process and prevent pinhole leaks from causing damage to your property. This include:
- Replacing your pipes sooner than later. If your pipes are more than 20 years old, you should hire a local plumber to inspect your plumbing system. Your local plumber can check for pinhole leaks and offer a proactive solution by fixing them before they progress.
- When water and mineral deposits pass through pipes too quickly, they can cause additional wear and tear on the interior of your pipes. Hire a local plumber to check your hot and cold water pressure to ensure it’s within normal range.
- Pipe fittings can give you an early indication that your copper plumbing is failing. Examine your fittings regularly for signs of minor leakage.
What Should You Do If You Notice Pinhole Leaks?
If you notice pinhole leaks, Epoxy coatings can often fix the problem and prevent further corrosion of your copper pipes. Epoxy coatings are blasted into your copper pipelines by a professional plumber to cover the inside surface of your pipes thoroughly. Doing this seals pinhole leaks to extend the life of your copper pipes and prevent water from further deteriorating your pipes.
The best way to check for small leaks on your own is to turn off the water and checking your water meter after a few hours. If the water meter is still moving, you’ve got a leak. You should contact your local plumber immediately for repairs.
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