KuriousKat
Member
Does anyone have suggestions on finding a pinhole leak? Is it just a matter of a visual inspection?
Pinhole leak
- Thread starter KuriousKat
- Start date
Help Support Plumbing Forums:
House Doc
"If it's broken we fix it
We need some more information. Walls, ceiling?
Try using an Infrared Thermometer to check on temperature differences.
Try using an Infrared Thermometer to check on temperature differences.
KuriousKat
Member
I've been told to check the main water pipe, and it make sense to me since both the hot and cold pressure are effected. I have an infrared thermometer but have never had much luck troubleshooting with it.
Can you explain a little more whats going on.
Diehard
In Remembrance
If both the hot and cold pressure are effected, it sounds like more than a pinhole leak.
If you have easy access to see your water meter, I would assume your leak would be reflected on your meter. If so, you can try shutting off valves to different parts of your house, working back towards your meter.
If it really is affecting both hot and cold water pressure, you may want to start with the cold water shut off valve closest to, and feeding your water heater.
EDIT: What makes you suspect a pinhole leak?
If you have easy access to see your water meter, I would assume your leak would be reflected on your meter. If so, you can try shutting off valves to different parts of your house, working back towards your meter.
If it really is affecting both hot and cold water pressure, you may want to start with the cold water shut off valve closest to, and feeding your water heater.
EDIT: What makes you suspect a pinhole leak?
Jeff Handy
Pro Handyman, NOT A Pro Plumber
Professional leak detector companies will find it, if you are stumped.
Sometimes they use special tools that can hear the leak, even in a slab.
Or spot the thermal changes, as already mentioned above.
Sometimes they use special tools that can hear the leak, even in a slab.
Or spot the thermal changes, as already mentioned above.
KuriousKat
Member
I have a multifamily house. When only the hot water in the shower in the upstairs is running and I turn the faucet on in the bathroom sink, the flow in the shower diminishes by about the same amount as is flowing in the sink. There is no change if I turn the cold in the sink on. Vice versa, when only cold is running in the shower and I turn the cold on in the bathroom sink, the water in the shower diminishes. The cold in the shower is not affected by turning on the hot in the sink. This is happening to a much lesser degree in two showers down stairs. I told the manager about this (Lowe's) and he had in the past, unfortunately for him but fortunately for me, the same problem. There was a pinhole leak that went undetected and when discovered had caused $30k worth of damage. The analysis of the issue makes sense to me since NOTHING plumbing wise has changed in the last couple of years and this is a new (about 6 months) old issue that has been progressively getting worse. Something in the water system is wearing out - and there's not much else that could be wearing out.
KuriousKat
Member
Thanks Jeff - I hadn't thought about a company that specializes in leak detection.
Jeff Handy
Pro Handyman, NOT A Pro Plumber
Could very well just be clogged or worn out valve cartridges somewhere.
Single handle valves are often the culprit.
Kitchen, lavatory, tub/shower.
And old cartridges can cross connect internally, letting cold and hot mix or leak through.
Even when they are turned off.
Pinhole leak sounds unlikely, but who knows?
Single handle valves are often the culprit.
Kitchen, lavatory, tub/shower.
And old cartridges can cross connect internally, letting cold and hot mix or leak through.
Even when they are turned off.
Pinhole leak sounds unlikely, but who knows?
Diehard
In Remembrance
Pinhole leak
KuriousKat
Member
The only place it makes sense to me that this is happening is before the hot water heater. I have had the cross connection that your referring to, but I think this is very different. If water were crossing over, I'd see that when I did the water test. I had warm water flowing into my toilet with the cross over. This seems like the opposite. The hot in the sink is only affecting the hot in the shower and the cold in the sink only affecting the cold in the shower.
The showers at a lower level are having the same issue - just not as drastic. And previous tenants never mentioned this issue (I've had this property since 2005 and have showered here as well) - it could have been happening to a lesser degree since 2005 - or the flow problem is showing up now because they are all being affected by the same issue.
AND - the manager had the same issues as I do. I think looking for a leak is the way to go... Just how to find it. Let me know if my logic is incorrect. And thanks for you help!
The showers at a lower level are having the same issue - just not as drastic. And previous tenants never mentioned this issue (I've had this property since 2005 and have showered here as well) - it could have been happening to a lesser degree since 2005 - or the flow problem is showing up now because they are all being affected by the same issue.
AND - the manager had the same issues as I do. I think looking for a leak is the way to go... Just how to find it. Let me know if my logic is incorrect. And thanks for you help!
KuriousKat
Member
Hi Diehard, I had over looked your response, and will definitely look at the cold water shut off valve closest to, and feeding your water heater. I'm not clear - are you suggesting turning that valve off and seeing how it affects the water meter?
Diehard
In Remembrance
Yes, if you can manage that without too much trouble.
If you think about it, if it is leaking water somewhere, shutting off a valve should stop flow at the meter.
It just a matter of trying to narrow it down to the general area, furthest downstream as possible.
EDIT: You mention a multifamily house. That may make it a bit more tedious.
Jeff Handy
Pro Handyman, NOT A Pro Plumber
Pinhole leak, or maybe just head lice!
When you say pin hole leak are you talking about water squirting out a pipe someplace that you can't find.
Diehard
In Remembrance
I believe the pin hole leak is just speculation.
KuriousKat
Member
Yes, the pin hole is speculation. There doesn't appear to be a leak from looking at the water meter. Since the issue affects the flow of the hot and separately the flow of the cold, am I right in thinking this is before the hot water heater?
Someone suggested a pressure issue related to a valve. A local plumber suggested a build up in a pipe.
Someone suggested a pressure issue related to a valve. A local plumber suggested a build up in a pipe.
Diehard
In Remembrance
A loss of water pressure is not an uncommon experience. The problem is, there are MANY things that could cause this to happen.
You could start by checking things like whole house filters, and such.
How old is the house?
What type of piping?
What size water service?
Types of valves at or near the meter?
Does the pressure issue seem to be everywhere in the house? (Probably hard to tell.)
If there's no reason found, I personally would check pressures and flow rates at different locations.
This would require a pressure gauge with a hose connection to allow you to attach it to places that have hose bibs. Like at meter(?), silcocks, washing machine, water heater drain, etc. It would also require some means of measuring flow rate while recording pressure reading. Like a small bucket and clock.
A pressure reading alone without any water running, is the maximum static(no flowing) pressure and is not representative of what the pressure is when flowing.
You could start by checking things like whole house filters, and such.
How old is the house?
What type of piping?
What size water service?
Types of valves at or near the meter?
Does the pressure issue seem to be everywhere in the house? (Probably hard to tell.)
If there's no reason found, I personally would check pressures and flow rates at different locations.
This would require a pressure gauge with a hose connection to allow you to attach it to places that have hose bibs. Like at meter(?), silcocks, washing machine, water heater drain, etc. It would also require some means of measuring flow rate while recording pressure reading. Like a small bucket and clock.
A pressure reading alone without any water running, is the maximum static(no flowing) pressure and is not representative of what the pressure is when flowing.
KuriousKat
Member
Thanks for your many helpful suggestions Diehard. I will let you know what we find!
KuriousKat
Member
Here's what someone else suggested - does it make sense? "The spot check on the meter does tell you there is no leak. If the pressure In the shower drops when the sink is used you could replace the sink. Plumbing fixtures are designed not to let all the pressure out in one spot so another fixture doesn’t starve. Water will always take the path of least resistance." I assume he meant replace the sink faucet.
