What Causes Pinhole Leaks in Copper Pipes?

What Causes Pinhole Leaks in Copper Pipes?

Copper pipes have many advantages. They are robust and durable, lightweight, fire-resistant, and extremely sanitary. They do have one major drawback, however, and that is their vulnerability to pinhole leaks.

What exactly are pinhole leaks in copper pipes, what causes them, and what do you need to be aware of if you suspect that you may be dealing with pinhole leaks in copper pipes?

What Are Pinhole Leaks in Copper Pipes?

Pinhole leaks are precisely what they sound like — tiny leaks. This problem is unique to copper pipes. At first glance, the fact that pinhole leaks are so small might appear to be good news, but beware. Precisely because pinhole leaks are so tiny, they are extremely hard to detect.

The water damage that originates from pinhole leaks will accumulate very gradually, often over the course of many months. Because pinhole leaks cause a trickle, rather than a flood, the very real damage they inflict can remain hidden for a long time. By the time you notice a problem, you may already be saddled with thousands of dollars worth of damage.

What Causes Pinhole Leaks in Copper Pipes?

Several things can lead to pinhole leaks in your copper pipes. Only some of them are preventable:

• Internal pitting corrosion, also known as pitted corrosion, is a type of corrosion exclusive to copper. The exact reason this happens is not clear yet, but acidic water is believed to be the main cause. Water turbulence, in which water flows through pipes at a high velocity or an unpredictable speed, also plays a role, as does hard water.
• Age. Copper pipes can generally last up to 50 years, but after a while, even these durable pipes need to be replaced.
• Improper installation. Specifically, when copper pipes have contact with rebar, the rate of oxidization (basically the copper equivalent of rusting) speeds up. This leads to the development of pinhole leaks.

How Can You Identify Pinhole Leaks in Copper Pipes?

While pinhole leaks will not typically lead to immediately-apparent catastrophic damage, you can check your copper pipes for visual signs that they are at risk of developing pinhole leaks. Spotting any of the already-identified red flags could lead you to consider taking further action.

Your copper pipes may have pinhole leaks if:

• They are over 20 years old.
• They are discolored. That green discoloration many people find so charming points to oxidization, which is a risk factor for pinhole leaks.
• You hear water flowing even when your faucets are not running.
• You have a mold infestation near the areas where your copper pipes are situated.
• Because pinhole leaks in copper pipes are so minuscule, you are unlikely to see tell-tale damp stains on the walls. Peeling paint can be a sign of a small stain that would otherwise go unnoticed, so keep an eye out for that.

In some cases, pinhole leaks can be soldered. In others, the pipes will have to be replaced entirely. If you are quite sure that you are dealing with a leak, however, it is crucial to investigate further. Pinhole leaks, being so small, are notoriously tricky to identify. A leak detection company can help you determine where pinhole leaks are located, in turn allowing you to fix the problem.