copper pipes pressure vs leaks

Users who are viewing this thread

darque

New Member
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
orange county california
do copper pipes leak at the one weakest link "only" or can they leak at multiple places at the same time? my question relates to a concern about fixing a small leak at the water heater connection that is not that big of a deal knowing a little corrosion will eventually block the leak vs fixing it and discovering it leaks worse in the attic?

currently, it does not leak in the attic. so, my assumption is if i fix the leak at the water heater it should for the time being not leak elsewhere? is that thought process accurate or is anything possible with pressure
 

Jadnashua

Retired Defense Industry Engineer xxx
Messages
32,771
Reaction score
1,191
Points
113
Location
New England
Copper pipe, properly installed, can withstand far greater pressure than you'd ever see in a home. Now, depending on your water chemistry, it can literally eat holes in it. Incorrect installation can cause premature erosion of the pipes downstream from say a joint where the pipe was not properly prepared. So, unless you have agressive water, or there were other installation errors, one leak at the WH, is not an indication of impending problems elsewhere. Now, if your neighbors all are having pipe failures, then that is another story! SOmething to look into.
 

Thatguy

Homeowner
Messages
1,454
Reaction score
3
Points
0
Location
MD
so, my assumption is if i fix the leak at the water heater it should for the time being not leak elsewhere?

This is statistically unsound reasoning, I think. It's definitely in violation of Murphy's Law.

Maybe somebody pressure tests residential pipes in place to ensure there is still a safety factor over and above the normal pressure it has to withstand. Hopefully the test would not speed up the failure of an already marginal pipe wall.

We had a rash of pinhole leak failures several years ago so the WaCo put orthophosphate in the water.

There are devices that will detect water running/leaking and will either alarm and/or shut off the supply.
 
Last edited:

hj

Master Plumber
Messages
33,599
Reaction score
1,037
Points
113
Location
Cave Creek, Arizona
Website
www.terrylove.com
Copper joints leak because they were NOT done properly in the first place, or there is a water/erosion factor causing them to go bad. If there are more than one bad joint, they could ALL fail eventually, or NONE of them may. It depends on how bad the joint is. If it is a functional problem then it could happen anywhere at any time.
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks