Like everything else, copper tubes have a limited lifespan. How long they last depends on the pH level of the water moving through them, their thickness, and several other factors. Contemporary tubing should last between 20 and 50 years. It can achieve this even if you choose services like tube swaging to adapt it. However, there are some potential issues to consider. This includes pinhole leaks. Under the worst conditions, a leak can develop after only two years of installation. Let’s discuss the issue in detail and what you can do about them.
The definition
Pinhole leaks are defined as the perforation of copper fittings, pipe, or tubes used for domestic water distribution. It’s the result of pitting corrosion initiated on the waterside/interior. To summarise, they are a hole due to corrosion working from the inside out. Leaks like these tend to be very small and in the shape of pinholes, which is where the name comes from. They are not only a problem by themselves; they also cause long term corrosive damage.
Next, we’ll dive more deeply into what causes pinhole leaks. Pitting is the main culprit. This is a localised form of corrosion by which holes or cavities are produced in the material. It can only affect a small area of the copper tube. Eventually, it’ll wear away the material more and more. It’ll happen until it falls in on itself as a hole or pit. In turn, you end up with a leak.
What causes pitting corrosion?
As for the causes of pitting corrosion, the most likely is chemical damage. The water’s pH value has next to no effect on your water’s safety or quality. It will affect tubes though.
Research found there were four different ways water’s pH value can interact with the bacteria, temperature, sulphate content, and/or tubing metal. This is to create the conditions for copper pitting. If any of these conditions happen in your tubes, the chemical reaction is going to eat away at the protective oxide coating. It is the one that insulates the inner tube’s metal from the water running through. Once it wears away fully in small locales, that small part of the tube will become very vulnerable to corrosion. So, a pinhole leak forms.
Second, there is mechanical damage. Physical contaminants like heavy metals or sediment in the water can wear away the inside of your tubes. This can happen if your water is especially hard or solely locally treated. Abnormally huge water pressure might scrape the oxide coating layer in copper tubes away over time. You also need to make sure there haven’t been any issues if you’ve had services like bending or tube swaging.
The third cause is localised damage or a bad application of protective coatings. There’s a chance there were issues with the installation or the tubes are bad quality. This is most likely if they were installed and/or retrofitted unprofessionally. Damaged and low quality tubes might not have the same resistance to corrosion as good ones. It can lead to pinhole leaking.
Lastly, there is non-uniformities within a system. This is especially likely if your tubes were only partially retrofitted in your property. When two separate metals interact, particularly with water, a reaction can eat away at them both. With copper tubes, it can wear the oxide coating away and cause pinhole leaks eventually.
How to avoid replacing tubes?
If you are wondering how to avoid copper tube replacement here, there are a few strategies. To prevent corrosive damage, you can invest in a water softener or similar filtration method. These can work to stop the pH values that harm copper tubing. A water softener can also get rid of many of the contaminants that can scrape your tube over time, reducing mechanical damage.
If your tubes are low quality or weren’t installed right, you are best off replacing them as soon as possible. Finally, for non-uniformities in the metal structure, you may be able to replace the out of date joints, fittings or old parts of tubes. Make sure the materials are uniform or compatible.
We offer leading tube swaging services
At Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd, we have a reputation for offering high calibre services. Whenever you’re in need of tubing, we’re the ones to turn to. We’ll have a member of our team talk to you about your needs to ensure we meet them with high quality, precise tubing.
So, if our tube swaging services interest you, or you want to look at things like bending and expansion, please get in touch. We’re happy to offer advice and ensure clients select the right solutions for any application.