Leaks have always been a problem for plumbing systems, and can never be fully prevented. However, the advent of copper pipes in the 1960’s was a huge step towards lessening the amount of leaks the average homeowner had to deal with. Copper pipes are highly resistant to rust, which was the number-one cause of leaks in the older iron pipes. However, copper pipes are not invincible. Let’s take a look at one of the biggest problems to afflict copper pipes: pinhole leaks.
What Causes Pinhole Leaks
Pinhole leaks are caused by pitted corrosion, which is a type of corrosion caused by chlorine particles in the air or soil. Chlorine has an adverse reaction to copper, resulting in a focused, corrosive effect. Pitted corrosion is a very common affliction for pipes across the country, and is often systemic. If there is one instance of pitted corrosion in the house, there are often more.
The Damage Pinhole Leaks can Cause
The leaks that are formed by pitted corrosion are typically very small, only large enough to release a couple of drops at a time. How could such a small leak be dangerous? Because even a couple drops at a time can cause a ton of water damage if allowed to continue long enough. Because pinhole leaks are so small, they often don’t generate any symptoms that warn homeowners of their existence. Most people don’t know that they have pinhole leaks in their pipes until they see the immense water damage that they’ve already caused. The best way to prevent this from happening is to have your pipes inspected on an annual basis. This allows us to catch pinhole leaks before they can rot out the surrounding area.
If you need pipe inspection services, call Saddleback Plumbing. Our plumbers serve the entire Laguna Niguel, CA area.