How to Repair a Pinhole Leak in a Copper Pipe

Cooper pipes are often plagued by pinhole leaks. The cause of these leaks is hotly debated in plumbing circles; however, how to fix them is not. Though you could use some type of chemical sealant, the easiest way for do-it-yourselfers to repair a pinhole leak in a copper pipe is to use a repair clamp. Repair clamps are available in a wide variety of materials and sizes. They can be found at most every home improvement center or hardware store. In order to complete this repair, you will the repair clamp and a rag. This repair should take no more than 20 minutes to complete and will save you a call to the plumber and quite a bit of cash.

Step 1—Measure the Damaged Pipe

Repair clamps come in various sizes. To properly repair the pinhole leak you will need to know the size of the pipe. You can then buy a repair clamp that will fit the pipe perfectly. Note the measurement and take it with you to the home improvement store when you buy the clamp.

Step 2—Turn Off the Water

Before you begin working, you will need to turn the water off. It is best to turn the water off to the entire house when you begin working with the pipes.

Step 3—Clean the Pipe

In order to place the repair clamp, you should clean the pipe. The pipe doesn’t need to sparkle but it should be free from dust and any type of buildup. Use a dry rag to wipe the area where you will be placing the clamp.

Step 4—Place the Repair Clamp

The repair clamp will have a flexible metal pad on the inside. The pinhole should be centered on the rubber pad. You will open the clamp and place it in the desired area. You close the clamp and use the screws to tighten it. You want to make sure that the clamp is tight, that is how the leak will be stopped. However, you must take care not to over tighten the clamp because this could actually damage the pipe. Over tightening the clamp can cause so much damage to the pipe that it breaks or a larger leak develops. Therefore, it is best to tighten the clamp and then move on to Step 5.

Step 5—Turn the Water Back On

Once you believe the clamp is tight enough, you should turn the water back on. With the water back on, you will be able to ascertain whether or not you need to tighten the clamp more. If the leak has ceased, you know you have properly installed the clamp. If there is water still leaking from the pinhole, you will need to tighten the clamp additionally. 

You don’t need to turn the water back off to tighten the clamp a bit more. Simply use the screws to tighten the clamp until the leak stops.

That’s it. With just two materials, you can stop a pinhole leak in your copper pipes. There is no need to call a plumber. Not only do you save money, but you completed the repair in less than 20 minutes.