You might have heard people complaining about pinhole leaks recently. There has been an upswing in the number of people who have water line issues. It might start with an unknown stain on your ceiling below a kitchen or bathroom. It could be a sudden increase in your water bill. You might notice water on the floor in a bathroom or under your sink. The biggest problem with pinhole leaks is that they can be difficult to find and may occur in more than one place, but not necessarily at the same time.
Pinhole leaks in copper pipes can be caused by internal pitting corrosion, rusting, aging, and exposure. Pinhole leaks are usually less than 1/8 inch wide and can appear as small, random clusters of corrosion on the outside of the pipe. That lovely green patina (verdigris) that people have on their outside copper decorative pieces is a warning sign of potential water damage on your interior copper pipes.
The most common cause of this is chlorine, which is added to public water supplies to kill bacteria. Other causes include:
- Hard water: High levels of dissolved calcium and magnesium can contribute to corrosion
- Water pH: Water that is too acidic (high pH) or too basic (low pH) can also cause corrosion
- Pitted corrosion: A localized type of corrosion that can cause pinhole leaks.
Now that we know that they are there, how do we deal with it? There are many different options for addressing the leaks. You can simply use a 2-part epoxy putty and seal off the leak. This is a fast, but mostly temporary fix. You can solder the hole in the pipe and hope it holds, but that will not stop other areas from springing up. There is a new product that makes replacing sections of pipe relatively easy, called a shark bite. You can see more about that here: https://www.sharkbite.com/…/how-to-fix-pinhole-leaks. But the best answer is to call a licensed Plumber and have him assess the situation and replace the pipes where needed.
One of the important things to do when you are faced with pinhole leaks is to call a restoration company like Restore It. Not only can Restore It helps dry down the area quickly to avoid mold growth. If the leak has been going undetected for a while undetected, there is a strong chance of mold growth behind the wall or above the ceiling. Restore it will be able to treat that area to kill any microbial growth.
In addition to handling the drying and mold issues, Restore It is a complete restoration company that can handle the drywall repairs and return your home to its pre-loss condition. Our techs have over 30 years of experience in drywalling and textured finishes. They will have your walls and ceiling repaired without a trace of the original damage.
