Unless the water’s turning brown or pressure tanks, I’d rather keep patching than rip everything out just yet.
I hear you—full repipes aren’t cheap. But after a while, those “minor” leaks can add up, especially if you’re dealing with pinholes every year. Sometimes patching just kicks the can down the road. If you start seeing green corrosion or low pressure, that’s usually my cue to think bigger than just another repair. Still, if it’s holding up and you’re not seeing any real water quality issues, I get wanting to ride it out. Just keep an eye on it... copper doesn’t last forever.
Honestly, I’ve seen folks patch the same pipe so many times it starts looking like a copper mummy. Sometimes you’re just buying yourself a little time before the next leak. But hey, if you’re not swimming in the basement yet, I get it... just don’t wait till it’s a waterfall.
Yeah, patching works for a bit, but after the third or fourth time, you’re just delaying the inevitable. Once you start seeing pinhole leaks or green corrosion spots, that’s usually a sign the pipe’s on its last legs. Sometimes it’s cheaper in the long run to just swap out a section instead of chasing leaks all year.
I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes patching can buy you a lot more time than people think, especially if the rest of the line’s in decent shape.
- If it’s just one or two pinholes and the corrosion isn’t widespread, a good quality repair clamp or epoxy can hold up for years.
- Swapping out a whole section can get pricey, especially if it’s behind walls or under a slab.
- I’ve seen older copper last way longer than expected with just spot repairs.
Guess it depends on how bad the corrosion is and if you’re seeing leaks in the same area or all over. Sometimes it’s not as “inevitable” as it seems...
Guess it depends on how bad the corrosion is and if you’re seeing leaks in the same area or all over. Sometimes it’s not as “inevitable” as it seems...
That’s fair, but I always wonder—how do you really know if the rest of the pipe is “in decent shape”? I’ve patched a couple pinholes before, only to find another one pop up a few feet away six months later. Maybe I’m just unlucky, but I started thinking about water quality and whether that speeds up corrosion. Anyone ever tried those inline filters to slow things down? Or is that just wishful thinking?
