Copper Pipes Are Not Invincible

If you encounter a plumber telling you that he or she has a pipe to sell you that is guaranteed to be problem-free, one thing is for sure—you’ve either found a very misinformed plumber, or a very dishonest one. 

One myth that some people get in their heads is that investing in copper piping is going to mean a problem-free piping experience for the rest of their days. That’d be great, we won’t argue that. Like most ideal situations, though, this is just not the reality of the world that we live in. While modern plumbing materials are definitely more durable and reliable than ever before, they are still subject to problems. And we’re here to find the solutions.

Copper Pinhole Leaks: Subtle Until They’re Not!

If you understand plumbing leaks only as very obvious, water spewing out of a burst pipe scenario, then copper pinhole leaks are definitely going to catch you off guard. Even after learning a bit about them, unfortunately, they can be a little hard to spot before becoming a very real issue. That’s because a copper pinhole leak is a gradual degradation of a pipe from the inside out.

Basically, for reasons spanning from water quality to water pressure within the system, the pipe may begin to degrade along the interior surface. From there, the corrosion of the pipe will continue outward. This does make the problem difficult to recognize before very active leaks develop, but it’s not impossible.

What to Look For

If you are experiencing the situation leading up to copper pinhole leaks, you should be able to spot dimpling along your copper pipes. Essentially, you’ll see pitting on the exterior of the pipe, suggesting the degradation on the side of the pipe that you can’t see. When these develop into full-blown leaks, it may not be a dramatic burst. Instead, you may see water starting to trickle in small amounts along the length of the pipe.

If you do notice this type of pitting on copper pipes, or if you see pipes rusting in areas on the exterior, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will evaluate the overall condition of your pipes, and we’ll help you to determine the best course of action.

Not All Such Issues Call for Full Repiping

Sometimes homeowners actually ignore what they categorize as “minor” leaks because they don’t want to face the prospect of a full repiping project. We get that. Repiping a whole-house is a major undertaking that comes at a considerable expense. However, depending upon what we find, you may be able to simply replace sections of pipes that have been affected. Due to the nature of this particular problem, unfortunately, finding copper pinhole leaks in one area does make it likely that the problem is more widespread.

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Veronica CernaVeronica Cerna
17:32 21 Mar 24
Our experience with Goettl and in particular their Inspector Nacho has exceeded our expectations. His inspection was thorough. We felt comfortable expressing our concerns and his positive response put our mind at ease. We thank him and the Goettl crew for taking care of our AC plumbing and repair needs and their support to us as customers.
Amanda RehmannAmanda Rehmann
17:23 21 Mar 24
Rudy and Chris came out and were SO helpful. They went above and beyond to help me with water damage and working with my insurance. Highly recommend!
jaime enriquejaime enrique
16:46 21 Mar 24
Robert BaylorRobert Baylor
16:42 21 Mar 24
Val CastanedaVal Castaneda
15:57 21 Mar 24
We had a stubborn clog in our shower that we were at our wits end about. Decided on calling Goettl and we’re very pleased at the service from beginning to end. Very prompt and professional. Andrew was great and explained everything and our options very clearly. We were very pleased with service today. Thank you so much!
Gerald WiestGerald Wiest
16:49 19 Mar 24
The water softener (which is outside) was ruined by the recent weather. Rudy and Chris were able to diagnose the problem and replaced the softener on same day. This was critical to avoid any plumbing problems in the house. We appreciate their professionalism and attention email to detail.
Mr crab son wakandaMr crab son wakanda
16:31 19 Mar 24
Abdiel did a very good job
Keith RobbinsKeith Robbins
16:24 19 Mar 24
Thank you Jason Cruz very professional and I sighed up for the monthly plan at just $14.95 a great value I learned so much from your vist. Saved me $130.00 yessssssss
Robert PenaRobert Pena
16:16 19 Mar 24
C J (CJ)C J (CJ)
17:42 11 Mar 24
I got a quote for over $3,000 for the last expensive water heater replacement. Way over priced. Will not be using you guys, nor recommending you either.
Gray Garland JamesGray Garland James
17:33 11 Mar 24
Roy is outstanding: professional, thorough, friendly! He understood our HVAC ducting issues and devised the appropriate solution. He was very personable and it was an absolute pleasure to work with him!
Heather HassellHeather Hassell
17:31 11 Mar 24
Chuy Flores with Goettl plumbing and Air, is an absolutely awesome professional plumbing !! If i could give him more than 5 stars i definitely would!!! Chuy is very respectable and knowledgeable in the HVAC industry and gets the job done the right way!! !!!
Desiree FraireDesiree Fraire
17:28 11 Mar 24
Jehad came to my home today and helped me to get a great system in place for my old home. We are getting an upgrade at a good price. He is a great tech.
Marilyn AndersonMarilyn Anderson
17:23 11 Mar 24
Roy was professional and knowledgeable about what needed to be done. Service was performed quickly and efficiently with no surprises.
Ashley RogersAshley Rogers
23:25 08 Mar 24
We had Goettl come out and service our ac units.The Billy McDermott, the technician. Was great. He explained the process and then did the work. I would recommend Goettl and Billy!
Angelia HahnAngelia Hahn
17:58 08 Mar 24
Peter was awesome and explain everything very well.
Thomas FraustoThomas Frausto
16:03 08 Mar 24
Ruby and Chris were very professional and thoroughly explained what they were doing. They left the area just as they found. Excellent service!
Allison De PaoliAllison De Paoli
23:40 07 Mar 24
Very knowledgeable
mark rodriguezmark rodriguez
23:17 07 Mar 24
Carlos,was absolutely the best. Professional to the max, honest and respectful. Answered all my questions.
Lynnie MichelleLynnie Michelle
17:38 01 Mar 24
Great service from Rudy and Chris
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