Repairing Leaks on Copper Pipes

When you think about it, repairing leaking copper pipes is a lot like surgery, the bigger the problem, the more invasive the operation is going to be. In some cases you'll be able to access the leak easily, and in others you may have to remove a section of wall, floor or ceiling. That being said, there are some tried and true ways of repairing leaks without breaking the bank. It really isn't rocket science, but you need to make sure you do it right the first time or you'll be facing the same problem later on down the road.

Pinhole Leaks

Pinhole leaks are probably the most common kind of leaks associated with copper piping; they are also relatively easy to fix. The very first thing you want to do is turn off the water supply to the affected area; either by the main line valve, or at the fixture if possible. You have two repair options here; you can apply a rubber lined line clamp or you can install a stint.

Installing a line clamp is perhaps the easiest way to fix a pinhole leak. All you have to do is visit your local hardware or home improvement store and buy one that fits your line. They are split down the middle lengthwise and will secure with the integrated screws. The rubber gasket inside completes the seal and they work great for most small repairs.

Installing a stint takes a little more work and they are generally used when you have a bad section of line that may have more than one pinhole leak. Using your pipe cutter, remove the affected section of line. Prep both open ends of the old line with a Scotch-Brite pad or emery cloth to remove any oxidation on the copper.

Prep you replacement stint line and two junction sleeves the same way you would for any soldering job. Slide the junction sleeves onto the old line and then fit the stint line back into place, replacing the old section you just removed. Solder the junctions and the stint into place (4 solder joints) and you are done. Make sure to clean up any excess solder by applying solder flux while the joint is still warm and wipe off with a clean rag.

For this repair you will need: replacement stint line, 2 in-line joint fittings.

Joint Leaks

Repairing joint leaks is very similar to the repair explained above. The biggest difference is that you will be cutting the joint out of the system and replacing it with an identically sized (length of pipe on both ends) joint. Make sure to cut several inches away from the joint on both sides; so you have room to solder on two joint sleeves on both ends. Also make sure to take into account the length of pipe that goes into the joint itself, otherwise your replacement part will be too short.

For this repair you will need: 2 replacement stint lines, joint to replace the joint you are removing and 2 in-line joint fittings.

Temporary Fixes

There are a variety of ways you can MacGyver a leaky pipe, but only a couple really hold any water. The first one involves sticking a pencil in the pinhole leak (while the water is turned off) and breaking the tip off in the pinhole. Wrap the area tightly with electricians tape and then liberally apply some plumber's epoxy around the affected area and let sit for at least a half-hour before you turn the water back on.

You can also take an old inner tube from a bicycle and wrap it tightly around the leak. Secure the tube with both a C-clamp and a couple blocks of wood (directly over the pinhole) or you can use hose clamps if you have them.

Both of the above mentioned temporary fixes are just that – temporary. You will eventually (the sooner the better) need to permanently repair the leaky areas. All of the repairs stated above are tried and true ways of repairing small pinhole leaks.

If you have a cracked pipe, you will have to replace the entire pipe, original fitting to original fitting, (cutting off the old fittings as well) otherwise your repair may not be enough and the crack can continue after you have replaced just a portion of the pipe.

If any of these repairs sounds like it is something you would rather hire a plumber to do, then by all means, hire a plumber to make the repairs. If any of these repairs is done improperly, you could end up paying a lot more for a plumber to come in and fix your mistakes. But all in all, these repairs are pretty straight forward and you shouldn't have any problems completing them quickly and easily.