If copper keeps springing pinhole leaks, repair or repipe depends on the pattern. One leak in otherwise sound pipe can be repaired. Repeat leaks, leaks in several rooms or old, thinning copper point to a repipe, because pinholes start as corrosion inside the pipe and patching one spot doesn't stop the next.
Why does patching one pinhole not solve the problem?
A pinhole is the end of a long process. The EPA's science record on the topic describes localized corrosion, or pitting, as a problem for many water utilities and their customers, and it says the pits are "randomly spread across the pipe surface." That's the key point. The pit that finally broke through isn't the only one. Others are growing in the same pipe, and nobody can tell you which will fail next.
The same record admits that "often, the exact cause of, and solution for, this problem are unknown." So no plumber can promise that your water chemistry will ease up or that the next pit is years away. What you can read is the pattern of leaks. For the causes and warning signs, see what causes pinhole leaks in copper pipes.
Think of a tire that keeps going flat. The first patch is fair. By the third, the tire is telling you something.
When is a spot repair enough, and when is a repipe smarter?
A repair is reasonable when all of these are true:
- It's the first leak, or the first in many years.
- The pipe around the leak looks sound when it's cut open.
- The rest of the system is fairly young.
- The leak is easy to reach without opening a lot of wall or slab.
In that case a plumber cuts out the bad section and splices in new pipe or a coupling. It's quick, and it doesn't touch the rest of the house. Simple as that.
Repipe when the leaks keep coming. Today's Homeowner says that for older homes with deteriorating plumbing systems, a slab leak can indicate widespread issues, and that repiping the entire house can prevent future leaks. The money argument follows from that: several repairs add up, and each one also has its own cost in time, mess and water damage risk, so the total isn't only the invoices. Weigh the repairs you've already paid for against one job that replaces the failing pipe.
Use this table to read your situation:
| What you're seeing | What it usually points to |
|---|---|
| One leak, first in years, pipe looks good | Repair |
| Second or third pinhole within a few years | Repipe |
| Leaks in different rooms or on different lines | Repipe |
| Green or blue crust on many joints | Repipe, or at least a full inspection |
| Leaks plus discolored water or low pressure | Repipe, and check the rest of the plumbing |
If you can't tell how far along your pipes are, signs of old or failing pipes is a good checklist, and how to tell the age and condition of your home's plumbing shows where to look.
What should you do while you decide?
You don't have to decide the same day, but you do have to stop the water damage.
- 1Stop the leak. If it's spraying or soaking a wall, shut off the water at the main, then open a faucet at the lowest point to drain the lines. Turn the water back on only after the leak is dealt with.
- 2Confirm nothing else is leaking. The EPA suggests checking your meter before and after a two-hour stretch with no water use. If the dial moves after you've fixed one pinhole, there's another leak somewhere. How to do a water meter leak test has the steps.
- 3Photograph everything. Damaged drywall, stained floors, the pipe itself. You'll want the photos for an insurance claim and for the plumber.
- 4Keep the failed section. If a plumber cuts it out, ask to see it and keep it. A section of pipe with pits along the inside wall is the best evidence of how the rest looks.
- 5Watch for damage you can't see. A musty smell, bubbling paint or a soft spot on a ceiling can mean water is sitting behind a wall. Water leaking from the ceiling covers what to do.
What are the options if you do repipe, and will insurance help?
The two common choices are new PEX or new copper, both code-approved. PEX is flexible plastic tubing that generally goes in faster. Copper has a long track record. Our comparison of PEX versus copper and what drives repipe cost covers the trade-offs, and how long a whole-house repipe takes sets expectations for the timeline. If your leaks are under the concrete, the fix is often a reroute through the walls or attic, explained in how a slab leak repair works. If you go with an overhead PEX repipe, ask how the cold lines will be routed, because attic runs can leave cold water warm in an Arizona summer.
What a repipe looks like in your house. Expect small access holes in walls and ceilings so the plumber can route new lines, the water off for part of each day, and a pressure test before anything is closed up. Drywall patching comes last. A repipe needs a permit and an inspection, and the timeline page above has the day-by-day. It's disruptive for a day or two, but it's a one-time job, and that's the point.
Will new pipe stop pinholes for good? New lines start fresh, but the conditions around them still matter. Water pressure that runs high and hard water both affect plumbing over time, so ask the plumber to check your pressure and the pressure regulator while the walls are open. Our pages on what home water pressure should be and how hard water damages plumbing explain what to look at. No one can promise a pipe will never leak, so ask what warranty comes with the new lines and the labor.
On insurance, expect help with the damage more often than with the pipe. The NAIC says homeowners policies cover damage from a "sudden and accidental" discharge, and the Insurance Information Institute says a policy "will not cover damage due to lack of maintenance." A slow pinhole can fall on the wrong side of that line, so ask your agent before you throw anything away.
How do you get a straight answer on your house?
Get a free estimate and ask the plumber to show you the failed section of pipe, not just describe it. Ask how many leaks the house has had, how old the copper is, and what condition the pipe is in where it was cut. A plumber who recommends a repipe should be able to say why, in terms you can see.
At HQ, you get the price up front, before work starts, and we're on call 24/7 if a pinhole is spraying right now. If it is, shut off the main and call.
Repair the leak you have. Repipe the system if it keeps telling you the same story.
If you're leaning toward a repipe, here are the questions to ask before hiring someone to repipe your house.