What Causes Pinhole Leaks in Copper Pipes?
Copper is a popular and most widely-used residential plumbing material. Copper pipes are durable, lightweight, recyclable, fire-resistant, and do not contaminate water. However, copper pipes are not problem-free.
A common but hazardous plumbing problem exclusive to copper pipes is pinhole leaks. They develop slowly when interior corrosion in the copper pipe works its way through the metal to the exterior, causing tiny holes to occur. Pinhole leaks may go undetected for a long time due to their size, silently worsening the problem and increasing the extent of the damage. They may seem insignificant but can wreak havoc on the plumbing system, increase the utility bills, and cost hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs.
Before looking for ways to prevent or fix pinhole leaks, it is necessary to understand what causes them. Here are a few reasons why copper pipes can experience pinhole leaks:
Pitted corrosion
Pitted corrosion, a localized corrosion type, can cause pinhole leaks in copper pipes. Acidic water slowly corrodes copper, eventually leading to a pinhole leak. Pitted corrosion is usually of three types.
Type one usually occurs in cold water, and the primary cause is hard water with pH levels between 7 and 7.8. It causes deep and narrow pitting, resulting in pipe failure.
Type two is narrower than type one pitting but can also cause pipe failure. It is associated with soft water with a pH below 7.2.
Type three is associated with cold soft water with a pH over 8. The pitting is wide and low and results in pipe clogs and blue water.
Turbulence
Plumbing codes require the cold water to travel at 8 feet per second and hot water at 5 feet per second through the copper pipes. When water passes at a higher or unstable velocity, they experience turbulence which causes the inner protective lining to deteriorate over time and develop pinhole leaks. Also, if the pipe fittings are too close, they increase the turbulence in the water flow.
Age-related wear and tear
Age-induced wear and tear starts to show in copper pipes as they near the end of their service life, around 25-30 years after installation, especially when they lack proper maintenance. Hard water can further reduce the expected lifespan of copper pipes. A pinhole leak in old homes may indicate the need for pipe replacement and require inspection by a professional plumber.
Improper installation
One of the most common causes of pinhole leaks in copper pipes is the errors committed while cutting and joining them during installation. These mistakes can accelerate internal corrosion and cause pinhole leaks.
How to fix or prevent pinhole leaks in copper pipes?
While it is impossible to avoid corrosion completely in copper pipes, homeowners can take the following steps to slow down the process and prevent pinhole leaks:
Check the water velocity and keep it within the suggested range
Inspect the pipe fittings
Install a water softener
Ensure that the pipes are correctly sized
Replace the copper pipes if they are more than 20 years old
It is essential to prevent pinhole leaks or detect and repair them on time to avoid causing severe damage to the home plumbing system. Hire a professional plumber to inspect the copper pipes regularly or fix pinhole leaks.
No Worries Rooter of Gilbert offers residential and commercial drain cleaning, leak detection and repair. We recommend Bio-Green drain care for customers who have slow drains caused by buildup in their pipes. Call us at (480) 405-4497.
