OT: pinhole leak, Florida

Would you go ahead and bite the bullet and get the house re-piped to PEX at this point? I'm not sure if I should wait to see what happens. I've always heard that in Florida if you get one of these you'll get more later. This is my first time dealing with it. --72.188.xxx.xxx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by #22 [MO]) Posted on: Oct 9, 2018 10:30 AM
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Cant speak for Florida, but if in my house in Missouri, I would leave it alone. Copper is pretty durable..not sure if the environment changes that where you're at or not. --174.234.xxx.xxx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by Jim in O C [CA]) Posted on: Oct 9, 2018 10:45 AM
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If the copper is over 40 years old re-pipe. --75.22.xx.xx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by J [FL]) Posted on: Oct 9, 2018 11:27 AM
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Thanks. They generally don't last as long in Florida as they do up north. --72.188.xxx.xxx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by Tom [FL]) Posted on: Oct 9, 2018 12:04 PM
Message:

Yes pinhole leaks are a pain to occur in copper water lines.

However you could consider before you remove all the copper pipe would be to has a pressure test done on the system and this may help to determine if other leaks could happen.

IF your copper lines are under the slab it may be worth while to replace copper pipe with PEX may be worth the expense. Running the PEX in the attic and then down to your various plumbing fixtures. --99.56.xx.xx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Oct 9, 2018 12:44 PM
Message:

I am a licensed plumbing contractor. One of my clients also experienced a pin-hole leak under their house. They were ready to spend the money to replace the pipes, break open the walls, re plaster and paint -- around $10,000.

But instead I did an inspection. Most of their pipes were schedule "L", thick wall copper pipe rated for underground long term use. But the installed ran out of the good stuff and skimped using schedule "M", thin wall copper pipe in a few places.

So I found three areas that needed replacement. I also cut a section of pipe out and measured the wear on the inside of the other pipes -- very little difference from a new pipe. So after $300, their problem was solved.

You should check to see if only the supply line to the hose bibb is type "M" and if the rest is type "L" - the good stuff.. --47.156.xx.xx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by Salernitana [CA]) Posted on: Oct 9, 2018 3:18 PM
Message:

This happened in a newer tract house rental. The contractors or the factory workers supposedly accidentally dripped some sort of odd soldering material onto a copper pipe, and charge between it and the copper created a hole after time. The house was still under warranty, and a plumber had to come out twice to do exactly what Robert J did ie he cut out the bad piece to replace it.

Best of luck.

--107.142.xxx.xx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by J [FL]) Posted on: Oct 9, 2018 5:13 PM
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Thanks (especially Tom for the Florida perspective). It would cost roughly $3500 to repipe my house. I'm going to do a little more research before I decide what to do. --72.188.xxx.xxx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by J [FL]) Posted on: Oct 9, 2018 5:13 PM
Message:

Thanks (especially Tom for the Florida perspective). It would cost roughly $3500 to repipe my house. I'm going to do a little more research before I decide what to do. --72.188.xxx.xxx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by fred [CA]) Posted on: Oct 9, 2018 6:06 PM
Message:

If there is a pin hole in older copper pipes (~20+ y.o), chances are there will be more later. More in copper Type M than Type L, and more under slabs (soft copper).

This time you got lucky - the leak is outside.

I had an under slab leak in a bedroom - I was unlucky. However, this happened when the house was vacant - so I was lucky after all.

I re piped, running the pipes in the attic. It took me 2 days to re pipe and 2 day to do wall board repair with a helper/schlepper. --99.59.x.xxx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by Jeff [OH]) Posted on: Oct 9, 2018 6:13 PM
Message:

We own a condo in St Augustine. When I purchased there were 2 or 3 pinholes in the copper. I just bit the bullet and replied with Pex. They told me this is normal all up and down the east coast of Florida. The association chose to use a different method for the main trunk lines...it was some sort of liner that was installed with a foam product. Cost was comparable to repipe, but not as destructive on drywall, etc. I did the work myself for about $200 and 12 man hours. --142.54.xx.xxx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by J [FL]) Posted on: Oct 10, 2018 5:58 AM
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Thanks. I think I'm going to go ahead and get it repiped. Now is the time to do it since the house is being remodeled anyway (coincidence). --72.188.xxx.xxx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by J [FL]) Posted on: Oct 10, 2018 5:58 AM
Message:

Thanks. I think I'm going to go ahead and get it repiped. Now is the time to do it since the house is being remodeled anyway (coincidence). --72.188.xxx.xxx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by J [FL]) Posted on: Oct 10, 2018 5:58 AM
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Sorry for the double posts, don't know why that happened. --72.188.xxx.xxx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by Wilma [PA]) Posted on: Oct 10, 2018 12:07 PM
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We have a rental which has had numerous pinhole leaks. The entire development has the same problem. But we asked a lot of questions, and determined that the leaks were always either at an elbow or in a short run of pipe that was thin,somewhat flexible, almost tubelike pipe. Once all of the elbows and the thin pipe was replaced, no more leaks.

Plus, last week, the water company that took over the formerly private water system put in a new pressure regulator valve that failed big time. The normally 40 lb pressure went to over 100 (tenant said that it sounded like rocket when he flushed the toilet). No leaks, except at a water heater fitting - which the water company will have repaired at their expense.

So Tom(FL)'s advice to get a pressure test is a very good one - if our copper survived high pressure, yours very well may, too! --71.175.xxx.xxx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by J [FL]) Posted on: Oct 10, 2018 7:43 PM
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Who do you hire to do a pressure test? A home inspector?

If I hire a plumber to do that I'm worried they'll have an incentive to lie to me to get me to do a repipe with them. --72.188.xxx.xxx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by fred [CA]) Posted on: Oct 11, 2018 6:21 AM
Message:

Get estimates, including labor only (you buy materials). You'll see big differences in pricing.

Ask for references, and follow through, contact them and try to get them to tell you something about the plumbers.

If you are doing remodeling, ask the workers if they know any experienced plumbers, inspectors, and other subs.

As a landlord, you should keep numbers of reliable subs, you never know when you'll need them. --99.59.x.xxx

OT: pinhole leak, Florida (by J [FL]) Posted on: Oct 12, 2018 3:57 PM
Message:

Got an estimate of $3500 to do a repipe with Pex, which was about the price range I was expecting...going to try some of the other suggestion on here before I do this. I would rather have that money in my pocket than someone else's if I can help it. --72.188.xxx.xxx

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