I have a copper pipe which just developed a leak. This is in the basement of
the house. I have two wells and this is neat the valve which allows me to
switch wells. I have never had a copper pipe leak, except when damaged.
There is a high iron content in the wells, also sulfur is present, and the
ph is close to balanced. What would cause this pipe, actually a tee fitting
to develop a leak? It is in the fitting wall, not the joint. This is large ~
1 inch copper.

Al

On Oct 14, 12:19 pm, "Al Schmidt" wrote:
I have a copper pipe which just developed a leak. This is in the basement of
the house. I have two wells and this is neat the valve which allows me to
switch wells. I have never had a copper pipe leak, except when damaged.
There is a high iron content in the wells, also sulfur is present, and the
ph is close to balanced. What would cause this pipe, actually a tee fitting
to develop a leak? It is in the fitting wall, not the joint. This is large ~
1 inch copper.

Al

Good details in your post................. IMO an unlucky, bad
fitting.

How old is your installation?

If your water chemistry encourages the deposition of calcium carbonate
that will help protect the copper but it takes a while.

Hydrogen sulfide (cause of rotten egg smell) usually accompanies iron
& is corrosive. I do not know the influence that iron or sulfur alone
will have on your pipe's corrosion rate.

My understanding is that dissolved oxygen is the main culprit.

cheers
Bob

Al Schmidt wrote:
I have a copper pipe which just developed a leak. This is in the basement of
the house. I have two wells and this is neat the valve which allows me to
switch wells. I have never had a copper pipe leak, except when damaged.
There is a high iron content in the wells, also sulfur is present, and the
ph is close to balanced. What would cause this pipe, actually a tee fitting
to develop a leak? It is in the fitting wall, not the joint. This is large ~
1 inch copper.

Al

Check with some nearby neighbors to determine whether your water
supply is corrosive to copper. The problem is not all that rare in
some parts of the country. People at the county or state level also
should have some knowledge of that possibilty. If your water supply
gets a good grade, then replacing the fitting should end the problem.
If there is eveidence of copper corrosion, the well installer should
have known about it and used approved plastic piping instead. Good
luck.

Joe

Thanks to all who replied. The connections are, I'm guessing, about twenty
years old. I just moved in last December. After further inspection, there
seems to be a mix of galv. iron, copper, brass, and some kind of black
plastic tubing. It make dissimaliar metals. I'm going to call a plumber to
check it out tomorrow.


Al

"Al Schmidt" wrote in message
news:QYtQi.4192$I22.4009@trndny03...
I have a copper pipe which just developed a leak. This is in the basement
of the house. I have two wells and this is neat the valve which allows me
to switch wells. I have never had a copper pipe leak, except when damaged.
There is a high iron content in the wells, also sulfur is present, and the
ph is close to balanced. What would cause this pipe, actually a tee fitting
to develop a leak? It is in the fitting wall, not the joint. This is large
~ 1 inch copper.

I've heard of regions with high sulfur content having corrosion in copper
pipes. Could be a defective fitting that took many years to corrode or
erode through. Rare, but it does happen.

While simple enough to replace it, check the tubing going to it to be sure
they are not corroded and ready to let loose with a lot of pin holes.

The section with the leak is almost all fittings, valves. The valves are
hard to operate and some don't quite shut off. I think I'll have the whole
section replaced, new pipe & valves.

Thanks for the responses. Now the wait for the plumber.

Al


"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
et...

"Al Schmidt" wrote in message
news:QYtQi.4192$I22.4009@trndny03...
I have a copper pipe which just developed a leak. This is in the basement
of the house. I have two wells and this is neat the valve which allows me
to switch wells. I have never had a copper pipe leak, except when damaged.
There is a high iron content in the wells, also sulfur is present, and the
ph is close to balanced. What would cause this pipe, actually a tee
fitting to develop a leak? It is in the fitting wall, not the joint. This
is large ~ 1 inch copper.

I've heard of regions with high sulfur content having corrosion in copper
pipes. Could be a defective fitting that took many years to corrode or
erode through. Rare, but it does happen.

While simple enough to replace it, check the tubing going to it to be sure
they are not corroded and ready to let loose with a lot of pin holes.

On Oct 15, 8:24?am, "Al Schmidt" wrote:
The section with the leak is almost all fittings, valves. The valves are
hard to operate and some don't quite shut off. I think I'll have the whole
section replaced, new pipe & valves.

Thanks for the responses. Now the wait for the plumber.

Al

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message

et...





"Al Schmidt" wrote in message
news:QYtQi.4192$I22.4009@trndny03...
I have a copper pipe which just developed a leak. This is in the basement
of the house. I have two wells and this is neat the valve which allows me
to switch wells. I have never had a copper pipe leak, except when damaged.
There is a high iron content in the wells, also sulfur is present, and the
ph is close to balanced. What would cause this pipe, actually a tee
fitting to develop a leak? It is in the fitting wall, not the joint. This
is large ~ 1 inch copper.

I've heard of regions with high sulfur content having corrosion in copper
pipes. Could be a defective fitting that took many years to corrode or
erode through. Rare, but it does happen.

While simple enough to replace it, check the tubing going to it to be sure
they are not corroded and ready to let loose with a lot of pin holes.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

have all new installed use BALL VALVES ONLY!

they cost a little more but always open and shut easily, and dont
restrict water flow.

every new valve I install is a ball one eventually they will all be
upgraded

Thanks for the reminder on the ball valves. I do want those.

Al


have all new installed use BALL VALVES ONLY!

they cost a little more but always open and shut easily, and dont
restrict water flow.

every new valve I install is a ball one eventually they will all be
upgraded

On Oct 15, 8:24 am, " wrote:
On Oct 15, 8:24?am, "Al Schmidt" wrote:





The section with the leak is almost all fittings, valves. The valves are
hard to operate and some don't quite shut off. I think I'll have the whole
section replaced, newpipe& valves.

Thanks for the responses. Now the wait for the plumber.

Al

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message

. net...

"Al Schmidt" wrote in message
news:QYtQi.4192$I22.4009@trndny03...
I have acopperpipewhich just developed a leak. This is in the basement
of the house. I have two wells and this is neat the valve which allows me
to switch wells. I have never had acopperpipeleak, except when damaged.
There is a high iron content in the wells, also sulfur is present, and the
ph is close to balanced. What would cause thispipe, actually a tee
fitting to develop a leak? It is in the fitting wall, not the joint. This
is large ~ 1 inchcopper.

I've heard of regions with high sulfur content having corrosion incopper
pipes. Could be a defective fitting that took many years to corrode or
erode through. Rare, but it does happen.

While simple enough to replace it, check the tubing going to it to be sure
they are not corroded and ready to let loose with a lot of pin holes.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

have all new installed use BALL VALVES ONLY!

they cost a little more but always open and shut easily, and dont
restrict water flow.

every new valve I install is a ball one eventually they will all be
upgraded- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Use Sharkbite Fittings you can get them at www.plumberscrib.com

On Nov 10, 8:50 pm, wrote:
On Oct 15, 8:24 am, " wrote:





On Oct 15, 8:24?am, "Al Schmidt" wrote:

The section with the leak is almost all fittings, valves. The valves are
hard to operate and some don't quite shut off. I think I'll have the whole
section replaced, newpipe& valves.

Thanks for the responses. Now the wait for the plumber.

Al

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message

. net...

"Al Schmidt" wrote in message
news:QYtQi.4192$I22.4009@trndny03...
I have acopperpipewhich just developed a leak. This is in the basement
of the house. I have two wells and this is neat the valve which allows me
to switch wells. I have never had acopperpipeleak, except when damaged.
There is a high iron content in the wells, also sulfur is present, and the
ph is close to balanced. What would cause thispipe, actually a tee
fitting to develop a leak? It is in the fitting wall, not the joint. This
is large ~ 1 inchcopper.

I've heard of regions with high sulfur content having corrosion incopper
pipes. Could be a defective fitting that took many years to corrode or
erode through. Rare, but it does happen.

While simple enough to replace it, check the tubing going to it to be sure
they are not corroded and ready to let loose with a lot of pin holes.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

have all new installed use BALL VALVES ONLY!

they cost a little more but always open and shut easily, and dont
restrict water flow.

every new valve I install is a ball one eventually they will all be
upgraded- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Use Sharkbite Fittings you can get them atwww.plumberscrib.com- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Are the fittings copper and galv theres your promblem

On Nov 10, 9:50 pm, wrote:
On Oct 15, 8:24 am, " wrote:

have all new installed use BALL VALVES ONLY!

they cost a little more but always open and shut easily, and dont
restrict water flow.

every new valve I install is a ball one eventually they will all be
upgraded - Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Use Sharkbite Fittings you can get them at www.plumberscrib.com

That place has a really high price for the SharkBite valves. The rest
of their prices seemed okay.

R