# Plumbing issue with pinhole drip from copper pipe **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** tools-electric-diy\ **Created:** [June 28, 2023, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-issue-with-pinhole-drip-from-copper-pipe/986231 "2023-06-28T13:36:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-issue-with-pinhole-drip-from-copper-pipe/986231/41 "2023-06-29T12:03:38Z")
When i had a plumber install a new sink in the laundry room, he replaced not only the shut off for the washing machine, but the valves upstream from them, which were in much worse shape. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-issue-with-pinhole-drip-from-copper-pipe/986231/42 "2023-06-30T16:40:24Z")
Repair is done. I put in a cut-off valve as leaving the Hot Water Heater, there are no cut off lines until the sinks themselves. [![](https://i.postimg.cc/7Y2R41Hj/Hot-Water-Line-pinhole-drip-1st-Cut-20230630.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/7Y2R41Hj/Hot-Water-Line-pinhole-drip-1st-Cut-20230630.jpg) Carefully deburred and cleaned. I inspected the pipe I cut, no idea why pinhole but the interior of the 2" section otherwise looks fine. [![](https://i.postimg.cc/6Q9bCDrN/Hot-Water-Line-CUT-20230630.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/6Q9bCDrN/Hot-Water-Line-CUT-20230630.jpg) Valve installed. [![](https://i.postimg.cc/7ZrWZCbh/Hot-Water-Line-pinhole-replaced-by-valve-20230630.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/7ZrWZCbh/Hot-Water-Line-pinhole-replaced-by-valve-20230630.jpg) After testing, I built a clamp support and added a clamp to secure the pipe. [![](https://i.postimg.cc/cL75gs8m/Hot-Water-Line-pinhole-drip-Clamp-20230630.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/cL75gs8m/Hot-Water-Line-pinhole-drip-Clamp-20230630.jpg) Most of the pipe insulation is back in place. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-issue-with-pinhole-drip-from-copper-pipe/986231/43 "2023-06-30T17:04:12Z")
Good work! ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-issue-with-pinhole-drip-from-copper-pipe/986231/44 "2023-06-30T19:41:51Z")
Nice! Now you can play tricks on people…years ago when my kids were tweens my son would take a half hour shower every morning. One day I felt mischievous and so I very slowly shut the ball valve that my contractor had installed in the basement hot water pipe, similar to yours. He came out of the bathroom a few minutes later with wide eyes telling me how spooky it was as he watched the shower valve slowly closing itself, as if by unseen hands. Apparently the modern shower valves that protect you from scalding will adjust themselves. (and no, I wouldn’t have turned off the cold water and left the hot running, that’s just mean). ---
**Author:** ![Sooner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sooner/32/7875_2.png) [@Sooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sooner)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-issue-with-pinhole-drip-from-copper-pipe/986231/45 "2023-06-30T19:53:41Z")
I had a very similar issue 30 years ago. I cut a small bit of rubber to cover the hole, then placed a hose clamp around the the pipe and rubber. Worked like a charm [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-issue-with-pinhole-drip-from-copper-pipe/986231.md?page=2)