Had a customer once who slapped a booster pump on their old copper lines—next thing you know, they had a “water feature” in the basement. Pressure’s great, but yeah, if your pipes are ancient or joints are sketchy, leaks can sneak up fast. Those alarms are like cheap insurance... not perfect, but better than mopping at midnight.
Pressure’s great, but yeah, if your pipes are ancient or joints are sketchy, leaks can sneak up fast.
Can’t argue with that. I’ve seen folks get excited about pressure and forget their 60-year-old pipes aren’t up for it. Did you ever try pressure testing before installing, or just roll the dice?
Pressure testing’s always been my go-to, especially with older lines. Too many times I’ve seen folks skip it and end up chasing leaks behind walls. Sometimes the old pipes look fine until you crank up the pressure, then you find out real quick where the weak spots are. Curious—did you ever have to deal with pinhole leaks after boosting, or did things hold up?
Pressure testing definitely has its place, but I’ll admit I get a little nervous with older pipes.
That’s exactly my worry—sometimes you end up creating more work for yourself (and your wallet) by finding every tiny flaw. I’ve patched more pinhole leaks than I care to remember after a test. These days, I lean toward a visual inspection and gentle pressure increase first. Maybe not as thorough, but it’s saved me from tearing into too many walls... and my budget thanks me.“Sometimes the old pipes look fine until you crank up the pressure, then you find out real quick where the weak spots are.”
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’d rather know about the weak spots up front—even if it means a headache now. Had a job where we skipped a proper pressure test and a week later, a hidden leak trashed a finished ceiling. That was way worse than patching a few pinholes early on. Sometimes ripping the band-aid off is better than waiting for a disaster... even if my wallet cries a little.