copper pinhole leak 1 inch from concrete slab

[fredchang]

Hello,

We have a copper pinhole leak around an inch above the concrete slab on the hot water line just below the hot water tank. A plumber found the leak and applied a temporary clamp repair. He noted that a traditional cut-and-replace copper repair seems difficult with this clearance. We agree that his recommendation for a bypass is best (40 year old home), but since there is no attic space + high adjacent ceiling + blocking windows, we want want to delay this invasive bypass later this year.

So I am seeking advice for a repair that can last about a year.

E.g.
- Could a sharkbite coupler be appropriate?
- I also see this recommendation, however I don't quite understand it.
https://diy.stackexchange.com/quest...has-a-leak-right-at-the-basement-slab-surface

Any advice is much appreciated,
Fred

 

[Reach4]

1. Didn't the plumber give you a repair that could last about a year?
2. The Stackexchange article was not for one where the leak was surrounded by wood. To solder in a repair coupling, you would need to cut wood or concrete away.
3. Clearances don't look adequate for a Sharkbite coupling.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[fredchang]

First plumber was not confident he could repair it.

Second plumber came and he says he could repair it.
- cut at the level of the pinhole leak
- put a T joint with a coupler around the pinhole leak (about half inch margin of covering the area around the pinhole)
- soldered without cutting the wood (wood was moist from the leak)

so far it is holding stably.

cause of pinhole is weird because it is a hot water line so acidic flux should be washed out. it is vertical so iron particles from water tank should not settle there. maybe the pipe was not smoothed, and caused turbulent pinholing at the joint?

rest of pipe looks fine, so general water quality did not corrode copper pipe.

 

[Jeff H Young]

personally id chip out concrete cut the half inch unsweat the tee and the 90 and replace down to wherever I cut the 3/4 line in the concrete and resweat it all . recap a 1/2 90 a 3/4 tee and coupling and few inches of pipe both sizes