 Town water eat copper? (by NE [PA]) May 27, 2026 7:00 AM
 Town water eat copper? (by gevans [SC]) May 27, 2026 7:10 AM
Town water eat copper? (by Richard [MI]) May 27, 2026 7:20 AM
Town water eat copper? (by NE [PA]) May 27, 2026 7:21 AM
Town water eat copper? (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) May 27, 2026 7:35 AM
Town water eat copper? (by NE [PA]) May 27, 2026 7:37 AM
Town water eat copper? (by Ken [NY]) May 27, 2026 8:37 AM
Town water eat copper? (by Marv [IL]) May 27, 2026 8:39 AM
Town water eat copper? (by T [IN]) May 27, 2026 9:09 AM
Town water eat copper? (by RB [TN]) May 27, 2026 9:59 AM
Town water eat copper? (by plenty [MO]) May 27, 2026 10:06 AM
Town water eat copper? (by NE [PA]) May 27, 2026 10:26 AM
Town water eat copper? (by Tim [CA]) May 27, 2026 12:03 PM
Town water eat copper? (by plenty [MO]) May 27, 2026 1:00 PM
Town water eat copper? (by MikeA [TX]) May 27, 2026 10:30 PM
Town water eat copper? (by Robert,OntarioCanada [ON]) May 29, 2026 2:38 AM
Town water eat copper? (by gevans [SC]) May 29, 2026 7:25 AM
Town water eat copper? (by zero [IN]) May 29, 2026 9:25 AM
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Town water eat copper? (by NE [PA]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 7:00 AM
Message:
Is there a chance that town water could weaken copper pipes? I have pin hole leaks showing up in random spots every once in a while in a townhouse I own. Town water with copper pipes. If that’s the case, this could become a nightmare after a while. Any pretreatment systems for this? --24.152.xxx.xx |
Town water eat copper? (by gevans [SC]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 7:10 AM
Message:
Municipal systems typically adjust their water pH to 7.5. That is slightly basic...the opposite of acid. Basic water cannot rust pipes. This removes rust from the equation.
If there is sand present, you still have abrasive action.
Locally our well water is 4.2 pH. It will definitely eat copper pipes, verified by the classic blue/green streaks below the older faucets. --216.218.xxx.xxx |
Town water eat copper? (by Richard [MI]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 7:20 AM
Message:
Aren't there those little litmus strips that you can use to test the ph of water?
Looks like they are available at Wal-Mart on a quick search. --24.180.xx.xxx |
Town water eat copper? (by NE [PA]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 7:21 AM
Message:
Yes, I can check pH. What might be another cause? --24.152.xxx.xx |
Town water eat copper? (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 7:35 AM
Message:
I have noticed typically houses are made of type L copper pipes. I have to wonder if you have a house with type M pipes instead which tend to be thinner than K or L type lines.
I would cut off a piece and give it to your specialty supply center near you. Does the house have a water softner? --173.188.xx.xx |
Town water eat copper? (by NE [PA]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 7:37 AM
Message:
No water treatment on it besides a whole house filter where it first comes in. Typically don’t see water treatment on municipal supplies. If it is eating the copper, I’m not against installing something. --174.240.xxx.xxx |
Town water eat copper? (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 8:37 AM
Message:
I have always been told type L copper,blue is what you should use for supply lines,type M,red is used for heating lines because it is thinner but ok because it doesnr have new chemicals running through it constantly which waers it out.K copper is thick and meant for supply line between street and house.The answer is pex when you get to it --38.248.xx.xxx |
Town water eat copper? (by Marv [IL]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 8:39 AM
Message:
Its possible. Take a sample of the water to a nearby testing facility like a University or some such. --98.193.xxx.xx |
Town water eat copper? (by T [IN]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 9:09 AM
Message:
1. Thinner copper
2. water is turbulent going thru a pipe... pin holes close to a tee or 90? Can wear over time...
3. Is there sand or calcium build up in the line? --170.203.xxx.xxx |
Town water eat copper? (by RB [TN]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 9:59 AM
Message:
Is it caused from the inside out
or out side in ? --204.10.xxx.xx |
Town water eat copper? (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 10:06 AM
Message:
Is there a water pressure regulator on the house. Is it working or set too high. Just thinking. I've had those fail and need to be replaced causing mysterious issues --172.59.xxx.xxx |
Town water eat copper? (by NE [PA]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 10:26 AM
Message:
No pressure regulator. I could take a water sample for testing. Pex will be a fiasco. Whoever did this originally buried most of it behind a lot of framing, kitchen cabinets and tiled walls in bathrooms. Going from basement to a 3rd floor. If it becomes too frequent, it might go on the sale block. --24.152.xxx.xx |
Town water eat copper? (by Tim [CA]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 12:03 PM
Message:
In Folsom, CA, hundreds of homeowners have experienced "pinhole leaks" and interior pitting in residential copper pipes. This corrosion is primarily driven by the high pH levels, high purity, and low organic content of the city's municipal water supply, which aggressively pulls copper ions from the pipes.
The Root Cause: Water Chemistry:
Studies by experts at Virginia Tech and consulting firm Black & Veatch found that Folsom Lake water is highly pure but possesses a high pH (often above 9.0). The water attempts to chemically stabilize itself by stripping copper from the interior walls of the pipes.
Pipe Defects & Age: Leaks occur mostly in homes built between the 1980s and the early 2000s. The corrosion accelerates where microscopic impurities (like leftover flux from installation) are present in the copper.
City Interventions: To coat the inside of residential pipes and inhibit further pit formation, the city began treating its water with orthophosphate.The city provides resources to understand pipe types and handles a dedicated investigation into city-wide water quality trends. You can review ongoing updates and advisories on the City of Folsom Pinhole Leaks Investigation Page.
Repair & Remediation. Because copper piping typically degrades from the inside out, applying a temporary patch rarely prevents new leaks from forming elsewhere. Many affected Folsom residents have opted to completely repipe their homes using modern, corrosion-resistant alternatives like PEX or by relying on local plumbing experts who are familiar with mitigating this localized water issue. --98.255.xx.xx |
Town water eat copper? (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 1:00 PM
Message:
Think I'd be selling that home asap. --172.59.xxx.xxx |
Town water eat copper? (by MikeA [TX]) Posted on: May 27, 2026 10:30 PM
Message:
Three possibilities come to mind:
1) high PH will cause degradation of the copper.
2) Cheap/knockoff Chinese copper pipe, low quality that contains a high sulfur content that leeches out and causes pin-holes over time. This was a huge problem in the mid-late 1980's to early 1990's. I have heard from one builder that it has resurfaced in the last few years.
3) recirculating system on hot water. It causes constant motion inside the pipe which wears it out quicker (compounded by high PH water). You typically get pin holes just past the elbows. --99.64.xx.xx |
Town water eat copper? (by Robert,OntarioCanada [ON]) Posted on: May 29, 2026 2:38 AM
Message:
Best option is run two or three lines of 3/4" Uponor comercial pex to manifolds that reduce to 1/2" uponor pex lines where scrap all the copper. A type Pex bends easily where the B type does not. Will require a special expansion tool Milwaukee. A type pex can used in commercial applications where B type crip fittings can not. A type pex the coupler fittings the inside diameter does not decrease where the water flow is the same. A red line for hot water and blue line for cold water. Can buy is 30 meter / 100' rolls where can choose for brass fittings or plastic fittings. Plumbers mainly use A type pex piping as commercial then residential. Plus fewer fittings as bends easily along with expansion tool less time to install. Most major plumbing supply sell A type pex piping. Again view some videos on how to install A type on you tube videos where can also look at B type where fittings reduce water flow. Uponor can download a manual about all products and applications. Some big box stores sell A type in a smaller lengths. I do not know the quality of those products. I would not trust Amazon as maybe from China. In the house there is residential grade copper with a lot fittings which can leak where the main 3/4" coming into water is commercial grade copper as the walls are thicker. --216.110.xxx.xxx |
Town water eat copper? (by gevans [SC]) Posted on: May 29, 2026 7:25 AM
Message:
It is low pH, ACID water that will eat (rust) pipes. Not low pH. High pH has its own problems (scale in pipes) but rust cannot occur in a high pH environment. --216.218.xxx.xxx |
Town water eat copper? (by zero [IN]) Posted on: May 29, 2026 9:25 AM
Message:
B type Pex can and is used in commercial as well as residential applications.
I have some A type as well as fittings and the battery operated tool for it but I still have so much B type on hand that it will be a long time before I even start to convert over.
Did have a problem with an old B fitting that started leaking in a wet wall. (pun intended) Turns out it suffered from de-zincification. Kind of scary as I have put a lot of those fittings in back then without knowing the problem existed.
I know a guy that claimed he ran 1/2" Pex B inside 3/4" CPVC that was bad. Said it helped with long runs as it kept it off the ground. Not sure if the flow rate loss made a difference. I did plumb most of one house in 1/2" Pex B. It was in town and I didn't notice a problem, but I am sure the tub took a while to fill up. --47.227.xx.xxx |
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