How to Repair a Pinhole in a Copper Pipe
Both hard and soft acidic water can eat through the interior wall of copper piping. In time, the pipe will weaken to the point that pinholes will form and it will begin to leak. When copper pipe develops a pinhole leak, water will soak and damage your belongings if you don't repair the hole. Fortunately, there is a method of repairing the pinhole leak that does not require the ability to cut and solder copper pipe. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Locate the water supply valve, which is generally outside the house. Turn the valve clockwise until it is completely shut off.
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2
Turn on a faucet connected to the pipe containing the pinhole leak.
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3
Run a wire brush over the copper pipe until the exterior wall of the copper pipe shines and no sign of corrosion remains around the pinhole leak. Wipe the cleaned section of pipe with a rag to remove any dust left by the wire brush.
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4
Turn the bolt heads of a stainless steel repair coupling counterclockwise with an adjustable wrench until the bolts slide from the coupling's outer sleeve. Pull the sides of the coupling apart until it fits over the copper pipe. Slide the coupling over the pipe so it is sitting over the pinhole leak.
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5
Pull the coupling flanges together. Slide the bolts through the flanges of the coupling. Turn each bolt head clockwise until no gap remains between the interior rubber gasket of the coupling and the exterior of the copper pipe.
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6
Turn the water supply valve counterclockwise to supply water to the copper pipe. Turn off the spout you opened in step 2 when water steadily flows through the pipe.
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Tips & Warnings
Contact a plumber to have your water tested and corrected before additional pinholes form in the fixed copper pipe.
References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
