Plumbing discussions and local services.
Discussion options
Pinhole leak beside a copper solder joint
A pinhole close to a soldered fitting doesn’t necessarily mean the joint itself is failing. What details help distinguish a leak in the fitting or solder area from corrosion in the straight copper pipe nearby?
Would visible green or white deposits, or other pinholes along the same run, change how you’d assess it? I’m also curious what inspection of the surrounding pipe can show whether a spot repair is likely to address the problem or just the first leak found.
Join the conversation
Share your experience or ask a follow-up question.
2 replies
Dry the area, then watch where moisture reappears first: at the solder seam points more toward the joint, while a wet spot on the straight tube points toward a pipe-wall leak. But water can run along the copper before dripping, so the apparent wettest spot may not be the source; a close inspection of the dry surface matters too.
Green or white deposits can mark a place where moisture has been present, but by themselves they don’t establish whether the joint or pipe wall is failing. Several corrosion spots elsewhere on the same run would make me less confident that one isolated spot repair addresses the whole issue; they’re a reason to inspect more of the accessible pipe, not proof that every section needs replacement.
Find a local plumber.
Loading local plumbers…