Leaks in Copper Caused By Chloramines - What Are They Doing To You If They Can Eat Pipes?

 I pulled this from a friend's page.  We talk about this stuff all the time because a bunch of us are in the "water business."  

Tap water typically is not great.  It is treated fairly well but the chemicals stay in the water even as it reaches your home.  So you drink and take showers and water your lawn with some nasty stuff.

In time it is theoretically possible those chemicals and other contaminants build up in your body and give you health issues.  Some people will be more sensitive to this than others will.

Bottom line is you should get that all removed as it enters your home.  Install a really good quality water filter.

And to drive this concept home...  This video is about the fact that the chemicals in the water, primarily disinfectants like chloramines, are powerful enough to even damage copper pipes.  

That's how these pinhole leaks happen.  The chloramines eat at the copper.  Imagine what they are doing to your insides? 

You need to take care of this quick.

The video below taken by Stewart Plumbing and Heating in Los Angeles, shows just how devastating even the tiniest pinhole leak can cause.

Pinhole leaks in copper pipes ruin drywall.

Look at all the torn out walls and damage that had to be done just to get at that tiny little leak. It’s maddening.

Tiny pinhole leak

Even a small leak causes a big mess

That is a big chunk of drywall and insulation that needs to be replaced with new

The costs are huge when these leaks get out of hand.

These leaks are being fixed but how do you keep from getting them again?

Some people replace all their copper plumbing with new copper or with PEX plastic pipe. That’s going to be expensive and unnecessary.

Some will try to use epoxy pipe lining, which is really not the right use for this. Epoxy is problematic.

Your best option is to get the leaks fixed and then install a whole house water filter with a chloramine removal capability.

Chloramines have been shown to break down the copper pipe. It is not a questions of copper pipe quality.

Chloramines also break down PEX.

So you need to remove them and change the overall water chemistry so it does not eat at your plumbing.

Plus, the high-quality water filters will deliver clean, clear water to every faucet in your home. It’s a good investment for your home plumbing infrastructure as well as your own health.

Pinhole prevention water filters Los Angeles CA

Posted on October 21, 2020 by William Smart in Blog

What Makes Water So Awesome?

 Here is a nice little video about water.  I liked it.  Maybe you'll like it too.

Other cool videos about water filtration, water quality, water testing.

Here is Why PEX May Not Be a Good Re-Piping Choice in California

I thought this was an interesting little interview and video.  

 

In my line of work, I often am questioned about the quality of our water due to all the chemicals put in it to disinfect it.  Those chemicals do have impact on many aspects.  Plumbing pipes due show signs of decay.  This interview talks about that a little bit.

 

Interviewer: Rick, assume that I’m a homeowner and I’ve had like four pinhole leaks in the past. Do I need to re-plumb my house with PEX?

Rick: Absolutely not. We’ve talked about and are aware of certain things in terms of concerns with the plastic tubing. But the bottom line is we can prevent you from having any further pinhole leaks by simply addressing the water chemistry issues that are causing them.

And I like to reassure all of our homeowners that it doesn’t matter where the copper came from, if it came from China, or India, or America.

It doesn’t matter how thick the copper is.

Do Not Repipe With PEX Unless You Understand This California

It doesn’t matter how new the copper is or how old the copper is.

The copper’s being attacked by the chemicals and the situation in today’s current water supplies.

So we can stop that attack, and even if we’ve had some aggressive behavior before that has been eating through the pipe wall in certain areas, as long as we stop it before it actually penetrates, we can keep it status quo like that.

But I like to reassure our homeowners that the rest of the copper, around where these pinhole leaks are occurring, is in exceptional shape.

PEX appears to have some health risks due to off gassing.

The phenomenon of pinhole leaks is specific to exacting areas, its focal points, inside the copper plumbing.

So if we can eliminate the things eating through the copper, as well as address the focal points and make them go away, then the rest of the copper is in exceptional shape and there’s absolutely no need to consider repiping in the questionable PEX materials, and certainly no need to ever consider putting epoxy lining inside your pipes.

If you’re concerned about the epidemic pinhole leak problem in South Orange County, and you live in any of these cities: Alisa Viejo, Dana Pointe, El Toro, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Nigel, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, or San Juan Capistrano, you need to take control immediately and address your water chemistry to protect the copper plumbing infrastructure in your home, as well as your family’s health. So please give us a call, and we’ll be happy to help you out.

Three more articles about PEX off-gassing and or leaching into tap water.

https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2014/Q4/drinking-water-odors,-chemicals-above-health-standards-caused-by-green-building-plumbing.html

https://failures.wikispaces.com/PEX+Plumbing+Failures (see “Chemical Leaching)
https://www.pexuniverse.com/types-of-pex-tubing (Written from INSIDE the industry. Look under “Pros and Cons”.)
https://www.youtube.com/user/PureElementsNow Pure Elements Water YouTube Channel, which contains tons of good informative videos.

Posted on May 18, 2020 by William Smart in Blog

Water Conditioners Help Stop Pinhole Leaks in Copper Plumbing

This exterior total property water conditioner also plays a role in reducing the risk of pinhole leaks in copper plumbing.  

 

Hard water helps create a water chemistry were “Polyps” form on the interior of copper pipe walls. This creates active sites that attract chloramines and create excessive turbulence resulting in an attack on the copper.  

 

The catalytic conditioner not only stops the growth of the polyps by reducing hard water, but it has a detergent action, which draws existing polyps back into solution (effectively dissolving them).

It is a super cool process!

 

There is an epidemic of pinhole leaks in southern California, prominent in San Clemente (Talega), Ladera Ranch, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, and most recently Newport Coast.  Communities served by Moutlon Niguel, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Irvine Ranch Water Districts Have been plagued with leaks, primarily blamed on the water imported from Metropolitan Water District.

 

 

Posted on February 23, 2015 by William Smart in Blog

Amazing Salt-Free Water Conditioner Results in Orange County CA

We contend that Salt-Free Water Conditioning works extremely well at removing hard water scale from your copper plumbing, fixtures and appliances.
The pictures below show the build up of hard water scale in Orange County homes.
These photos were taken during routine maintenance of systems in Dana Point, Newport Coast and San Clemente.

Water conditioning works extremely well and uses no salt like water softeners do.

The inlet (raw tap water) to the system is heavily caked in calcium deposits, and the outlet (treated) line is clean and scale-free. That yellow scale is what destroys your pipes and renders your appliances useless.
Using our water conditioning technology also helps prevent pinhole leaks in copper pipes. When used in combination with our chloramine removal media, pinholes do not come back. See our guarantees.

25% Off Right Now on All Whole House Water Filters and Purified drinking Water Systems.

Now’s the time – 25% off all systems. Stoppinholes.com
949.259.2560
More information and pictures on water conditioners.

See links below for even more references:

https://mgyb.co/s/78mYT

https://pureelementswater.com/safe-deals  Great Sale on filters.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYMwqWRKlFLj0vjCuo-AEIynbBBObBLK8

http://pureelementswater.net/faq/ Lots of you questions can be answered here.

Posted on April 14, 2020 by William Smart in Blog

A Solution to Copper Plumbing and PEX Problems in Southern California

Hi this is Rick from Pure Elements Water, and I just wanted to take a second to express to you that we don’t care if you have PEX plastic piping or copper piping in your home.

You absolutely need to fix the water chemistry to protect both of those materials.

Chloramines-Removal-Filters-Ladera-Ranch CA

Best Hard Water Purifier For Home Orange County CA

The plastic piping in California is very, very new, relatively speaking.  And we’ve got water that’s eating through copper, so we do not know what the end result is going to be with that aggressive water in the new plastic material.

We do know the plastic material has a tendency to off gas and that chlorine and different chemicals can shorten the life of it.  And lead possibly to premature failure.

We also know that the water chemistry is creating pinhole leaks in copper plumbing and that we need to prevent those because they are devastating as far as cost and damage, and all hat.

You absolutely once again need to do effective whole house filtration, combined with salt free water conditioning to provide the very best water quality and protect both of those materials in your home, to minimize problems down the road.  https://mgyb.co/s/jFi8r

Lots of informative videos are here. Click the image above.

Best Pure Water Filter San Clemente CA – No More Pinholes

Photo is of the best whole house water filter available in San Clemente CA. This filter vastly superior to competitor’s filters because each one is custom designed to meet the needs of the different water supplies and our client’s wishes. This makes a huge difference in performance. There is nothing being offered on the internet that ranks even close. It is like comparing a Porsche to a Fiat.

Best water filter San Clemente CA

We are still having a SALE. Check details here: https://pureelementswater.com/safe-deals

When you buy a generic filter off Amazon, did you know they essentially will be rendered useless within a few months or less? How is that you say? The chemicals in the water now days overwhelm the media. It cannot get everything out and gets clogged. They don’t backwash so everything stops working. The water just channels past the clogged media pores. That’s just great. (Being facetious here.) Now you have a $500 device that water just flows through but virtually nothing you bought the filter to take out is even being removed. So what’s the point?

Best water conditioner and water filter for San Clemente CA homeowners. The conditioner on this installation was place on the water main out near the street in the vault.

Water supplies change all the time. If you don’t match the media to what is in the water supply at the time, the filter does not work well. Call and ask us about why backflushing is critical to the function of a good high quality water filtration system.
The best pure water filter San Clemente CA can purchase is like this 1.5″ total property system. This water filter system has solved the client’s pinhole leak problem and the home has achieved healthier water throughout including the pool and landscape.

Best Pure Water Filter San Clemente CA

Call Us today. Ask about our Total Property systems. Ask us why our water conditioners work so well at removing and reducing hard water issues without the use of salt. These are not some gizmo like the Scaleblaster you see advertised on Amazon. These water conditioners are the real thing and get exceptional results. http://pureelementswater.net/sales-and-water-conditioners-in-newport-beach-ca/
More water filter info here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYMwqWRKlFLj0vjCuo-AEIynbBBObBLK8

Posted on May 29, 2020 by William Smart in Blog

Some Plumbers Don’t Trust PEX

We recently had a conversation with a plumber and asked him about PEX.  He felt that even though for installation it had some advantages, he did not want to move away from copper pipe.
One of the reasons he did not like PEX was because some insurance companies were hesitant about it being used.  It appears some types of PEX might leach chemicals into the water.  As a plumber, he did not want to worry about unknowingly installing an inferior manufactured PEX and later getting sued for it.

Posted on January 7, 2015 by William Smart in Blog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLLyJqZ-vBY&list=PLYMwqWRKlFLj9cs9sBu7vKvuxig5xvNWK

I Want to Buy One of These

I like this company.  I like their products.  I think they are the best ones I've seen.  Their filters are better suited to the water supplies of Southern California.  They just do a better job filtering the crap out.  And it is a smarter item or way to go than what I saw when I worked at Sparkletts or Culligan.  So I know what I'm talking about.  See brief below...

First of all we have a SALE going on during this virus crisis. 

25% OFF Right Now on All Whole House Water Filters and Purified Drinking Water Systems. 

Since everyone is stuck at home, many clients are taking advantage of the down time and getting their systems installed.  Some have put it off for a while but now it feels good to take care of this essential task and cross it off the “to do” list.

Also, lots of folks living in Orange County are finally dealing with their pinhole leak problems by looking at the options.  Pure Elements Water provides the option of changing the water chemistry so pinhole leaks will not form again.  The solution is simpler than anyone imagined.  Just remove the contaminants like Chloramine and the pinholes don’t form.  You will still need to fix the leak this time but now you don’t need to repipe the house with copper, or PEX or use epoxy pipe lining.  We have a great track record showing no pinhole leaks formed by Chloramines again.  And there is a guarantee!

You will notice from the picture above how clean the outlet pipe is.  That is what our systems do because of the catalytic conditioner and special media used in the tanks.  The system cuts down the calcium deposits and keeps hard-water scale from forming.  This in turn stops the pinhole leaks from happening again.

What is a catalytic converter (conditioner) and how does it work in comparison to a softener?

A catalytic Conditioner permanently alters the state of the calcium carbonate (the primary hard water component), greatly reducing its ability to form hard water scale. This is accomplished without the addition of salt or foreign chemicals, does not create slimy water, and is a more healthful and environmentally sound approach. Learn a little more here: http://pureelementswater.net/water-conditioner/. Or just call us!

Good video about water softeners vs water conditioners:  https://youtu.be/YP1kdNi6HoA

Our fabulous G-Site:  https://pure-elements-water-orange-county-ca.business.site