“ended up calling a plumber anyway when a pinhole turned into a mini fountain behind my washing machine.”
That’s the thing—patch jobs are just buying time, not solving the problem. I’ve seen folks spend more on “temporary” fixes than if they’d just replaced the bad section up front. Old copper especially... once it starts pitting, it’s like whack-a-mole. I’d rather deal with a weekend of work than a midnight flood and drywall repair.
Totally get where you’re coming from—patches are like putting a band-aid on a leaky dam. Here’s what I’ve picked up working with older pipes:
- Once you spot one pinhole, odds are there’s more trouble lurking. Copper especially just keeps corroding.
- Temporary fixes (like those clamp kits or epoxy) might hold for a bit, but they’re not meant for the long haul. I’ve seen them fail at the worst times... usually when you’re not home.
- Replacing a whole section feels like a pain, but it’s way less hassle than dealing with water damage later. Plus, you get peace of mind.
One thing I’d add—sometimes people go overboard and want to replace everything at once. If the rest of your lines look solid and you’re not seeing green spots or crusty joints, just swap out the bad stretch. No need to rip out good pipe.
Had a neighbor who kept patching his laundry line every year until he finally caved and replaced it. He said he wished he’d done it sooner—saved him a ton of stress (and towels).
Totally get where you’re coming from—patches are like putting a band-aid on a leaky dam. Here’s what I’ve picked up working with older pipes:- Once you spot one pinhole, odds are there’...
That’s a good point about not needing to rip out everything if the rest of the line looks fine. I’ve seen folks get talked into full replacements when just a section would do. I’m curious—when you’re checking for “green spots or crusty joints,” do you use any kind of moisture meter, or just go by sight and feel? Sometimes I worry I’m missing slow leaks inside the wall that aren’t obvious yet...
Yeah, I get that worry—hidden leaks are the worst. I mostly go by sight and feel for green spots or crust, but if I’m not sure, I’ll run my hand along the pipe and check for dampness or a musty smell. I’ve used a cheap moisture meter before, but honestly, it’s hit or miss behind walls. Sometimes the first sign is just a soft spot in the drywall or a weird stain that shows up later. If you’re really suspicious, cutting a small inspection hole isn’t the end of the world... better than letting it rot.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from with the sight and feel method, but I wouldn’t rely on just that—especially in older homes. Sometimes leaks are sneaky and don’t show any visible signs until there’s already a mess behind the wall. I’ve seen folks chase “musty smells” for weeks before realizing the real problem was a tiny pinhole leak way off from where the smell was strongest.
Cutting an inspection hole works, sure, but before grabbing the drywall saw, I usually recommend pressure testing the lines if you’re really worried. It’s not complicated, and it’ll tell you straight up if there’s a drop somewhere. Saves you from making Swiss cheese out of your walls for no reason. Moisture meters can help, but like you said, they’re not always reliable unless you’re right on top of the leak.
Just my two cents—sometimes it’s worth bringing in someone with thermal imaging gear too. Found a hidden leak behind tile once that way... saved a ton of headache.