Hey everyone! I'm a first-time homeowner and it's been quite the learning experience. I'm a single woman in my late 30s living alone. Recently, I had a plumber come out to fix a leak under my kitchen sink, which leads to the sewer. He discovered a small pinhole leak in some of my copper piping and recommended that I replace all of it. He mentioned that the corrosion was due to a different metal fastener being used in my crawlspace, which caused the copper to patina, and that the chlorine in my Colorado water is also to blame. Is this a common issue? I've read that copper pipes can last a long time, so I'm hoping for some guidance here. Thanks in advance!
4 Answers
Always a good idea to get a second opinion if you're uncertain! If that last plumber was not trustworthy to you, find someone else to look at it. Sometimes repairs can be made rather easily without needing to replace whole sections of plumbing.
I hear you! Copper pipes can definitely develop pinhole leaks over time. My own 1960s home still has most of its copper pipes, but I've had to replace a few sections here and there. It might seem extreme to replumb the whole house, so getting a couple more opinions from trusted plumbers would be wise! Just ask around in your neighborhood for recommendations.
That’s my plan too — I’m calling a few more people for estimates.
It's not unusual for copper pipes to develop issues, especially with the water quality in your area. Unless your home is super old and you’re seeing multiple leaks, it might not be necessary to replace everything. A good plumber should be able to make repairs to your existing pipes instead of a total overhaul. Just make sure they're using the right materials to avoid future corrosion.
They did use a different metal for the fasteners, which I learned can cause corrosion. My house was built in '78, so I guess it’s around that age!
Yeah, this definitely can happen! In some areas, issues like electrolysis occur, which can corrode the joints, leading to leaks. It's possible the leak is at the solder joint rather than the pipe itself. It sounds like you're experiencing similar issues if you're seeing corrosion around your pipes.
I've noticed those green spots as well. They mentioned it was from calcification, right?
Definitely. I want to make sure I'm not being over-sold on a big job.