Copper pipe pin hole leak stopped?

[lizzy2mellow]

Hi, not sure if this is a dumb question but here goes.Can a copper pipe get a small pin hole which causes a leak butthen stop due to some kind of rusting or muck clogging the hole, only to open upagain and leak if flushed out, say by the water pressure increasing?
I just want to know if it’s possible for a leak to stop thenstart and stop again etc etc on its own?
Thanks Lizzy

 

[snowhead]

Yes, for the reasons you gave plus the hole can limescale over which will show on the outside.

 

[Ollieg]

Yes.
Some things only leak when hot and others only when cold. Power flushing can expose unnoticed leaks as well.

 

[Keefy]

A hole in a pipe is a hole in a pipe. You can get what's known as a micro leak which is a hole just about big enough to draw air into a system but not big enough for water to leak out.

If you can give us more details and maybe a photo of what, where and how the leak occurs we may be able to help you out.

 

[joni os]

Yes, have known it happen with fittings as well, the only certainty is that left alone the leak gets worse, which is why we get phone calls at 9 pm on a Saturday evening saying there is an emergency. Get it sorted during normal working hours and at a time convenient to yourself.

 

[Rickster123]

Ah you've had a flush done and now there's a leak? Where there's blame there's a claim!

 

[lame plumber]

Ah you've had a flush done and now there's a leak? Where there's blame there's a claim!

not if I do a power flush, custard signs a disclaimer first🙂

 

[lizzy2mellow]

Hi, not sure if this is a dumb question but here goes.Can a copper pipe get a small pin hole which causes a leak butthen stop due to some kind of rusting or muck clogging the hole, only to open upagain and leak if flushed out, say by the water pressure increasing?
I just want to know if it’s possible for a leak to stop thenstart and stop again etc etc on its own?
Thanks Lizzy
Hi, thanks for all the replies. A little more information to give you a better idea.
Central heating was installed in my parents property in2007. Years of damp in bathroom and we couldn’t figure out what was wrong. In Feb we got a tradesman and when he lifted the flooring the floor boards were all soaked. Took up the floor and discovered there was a small leak in this central heating pipe.
Since 2007 there had been around 4 or 5 times when the central heating stopped and on call out the system was topped up with “ no apparent reason” and off they went. Being elderly they took that at face value and did not question.
Within the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] year the system was topped up.
When I spoke with the Scottish Gas man he said that if there was a pin hole leak it would have been leaking all the time and needing constant top ups. So this is what I have been trying to establish, can a leak start and stop over time? Would the system need constant top ups or would it be possible to have went over the years relatively unnoticed until thefloor was ripped up due to damp?

 

[lizzy2mellow]

Hi . A little more information to give you a better idea.
Central heating was installed in my parents property in2007. Years of damp in bathroom and we couldn’t figure out what was wrong. In Feb we got a tradesman and when he lifted the flooring the floor boards were all soaked. Took up the floor and discovered there was a small leak in this central heating pipe.
Since 2007 there had been around 4 or 5 times when the central heating stopped and on call out the system was topped up with “ no apparent reason” and off they went. Being elderly they took that at face value and did not question.
Within the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] year the system was topped up.
When I spoke with the Scottish Gas man he said that if there was a pin hole leak it would have been leaking all the time and needing constant top ups. So this is what I have been trying to establish, can a leak start and stop over time? Would the system need constant top ups or would it be possible to have went over the years relatively unnoticed until thefloor was ripped up due to damp?
If you can give us more details and maybe a photo of what, where and how the leak occurs we may be able to help you out.[/QUOTE]

 

[PlumbBobBob]

is this in a bungalow? or downstairs is a house?

 

[Best]

Pin hole leaks on hot pipes can & will seal as they dry up due to the heat & leave deposits that build up & plug the pin hole. The guy that told you pin hole leaks always keep leaking is not correct, - some seal, temporarily or more or less altogether. Should also say that leaks can cause the copper pipe to corrode from the outside.

 

[lizzy2mellow]

Hi, this is a ground floor property. Thanks

is this in a bungalow? or downstairs is a house?

 

[PlumbBobBob]

Hi, this is a ground floor property. Thanks

that explains why it didn't show up sooner, no ceilings to get wet