Knowing how to fix a pinhole leak in a copper pipe can save a lot of money in plumber's fees
Copper water pipes

A pinhole leak is i of the nearly common types of piping repair that we go asked nigh – and knowing how like shooting fish in a barrel it tin can be to set up ane can oftentimes salve you a small fortune in avoidable plumber's fees.

Nearly pinhole leaks in domestic copper pipes are a result of pitted corrosion on the inside of the pipe breaking through to the outside, causing the tiniest of cracks to announced. When this happens, h2o in the piping begins to leak out of the damaged section.

Because it is incommunicable to protect the inside of pipework and control what is going on within systems, preventing pitted corrosion is extremely difficult.

Nobody is able to conclusively say what causes pitted corrosion, either. It could exist happening for a whole host of reasons; high levels of chlorine in your h2o supply; a problem with the water pressure; or corrosion particles escaping some other rusted component, such every bit a banality, and edifice up on the inside of the pipe.

Pinhole leaks are not simply restricted to copper pipes corroding abroad. Accidentally drilling into a piping can cause a pinhole in materials including steel and cast fe. Beingness able to set a pinhole leak is a skill that can serve you well in any number of applications.

And then, how exactly exercise y'all fix a leaking pipe with a pinhole? Here are 4 piece of cake methods.

Fix a pinhole leak using epoxy putty

Because pinhole leaks are small-scale, the easiest repair method is to fill them with epoxy putty. The best tool for the chore is an epoxy putty stick, which combines the resin and the hardener in a pre-measured format.

To use an epoxy putty stick, you tear off the corporeality of putty required and knead it past hand. The putty volition quickly turn to a uniform colour, at which point you button it into the pinhole. Information technology will so cure and harden, filling and sealing the pinhole.

Repairs made with epoxy putty are long lasting only not permanent. To reinforce the pinhole pipe repair and turn it into a permanent solution, you tin overwrap the putty with a piping repair bandage. When the resin infused in the cast is activated, it will cure to provide a rock hard, touch resistant layer over the initial repair.

Repair a pinhole leak using piping repair tape

One downside of epoxy putty is that information technology will struggle to bond with pipes when water pressure cannot be turned off – the higher the water pressure, the less hazard of a successful repair.

In these instances, a good alternative is a waterproof pipe repair tape. Such tapes are made from cocky-fusing silicone and when stretched and wrapped around a pinhole, will form a solid rubber ring over the leak surface area for a force per unit area resistant repair.

Just like with epoxy putty, a pinhole leak repair made with waterproof repair record can exist reinforced with a pipage repair bandage for an added layer of protection.

Fixing a pinhole leak with a pipage repair clench

Piping repair clamps provide another straightforward method of repair for a pinhole leak. They consist of a metallic sleeve with a flexible pad of prophylactic inside.

The clench is placed over the area of pipe requiring repair. When the screws on the clench are tightened, it will commodities down and embrace the pipage, sealing the pinhole leak.

There are limitations to pipage repair clamps. Because they must cover the piping, they tin can only be applied to straight sections.

If the pinhole leak is on a tee or an elbow – as is ofttimes the case when pitted corrosion is the culprit – then a clamp volition non provide an effective repair.

Replacing pitted pipes

If you lot are unfortunate plenty to endure from pinhole leaks on a frequent basis, and so this is ofttimes a sign of extensive pitted corrosion throughout your pipework system.

In this example, you may be better off replacing the damaged sections of pipe equally high levels of pitted corrosion can lead to much more serious issues than pinholes.

The older your pipes, the more than likely they are to need replacing. The lifespan of copper pipe tin exist anywhere betwixt 20 and l years depending on the workload placed upon the arrangement.

If your property is served by copper pipes over 20 years sometime and pinhole leaks are becoming a recurring issue, then it might be time to consider piping replacement rather than repair.