If water is leaking now
A leak right now: do these three things first
Before anything about a repipe.
- 01
Shut off the main valve
Turn it clockwise until it stops. If you can't find it, shut off the valve at the street meter with a meter key.
- 02
Photograph the damage
Take pictures of the stain, the wall and the pipe before anything is wiped or moved. They help us and your insurer.
- 03
Call the right number
We schedule repipes in daytime hours and don't run a night line. For water running tonight, call a plumber who takes night calls, then call us in the morning.
What it is
A pinhole leak is a hole too small to see coming
Water finds a thin spot in the pipe wall and sprays a fine mist or seeps. It can run for weeks behind drywall before a stain shows.
A wet spot that comes back after you dry it
Paint bubbling or drywall going soft
A hiss or hum in the wall with the water off at the fixtures
A water bill that climbs with no new use
Your choice
Patch the leak, or repipe the house?
A plumber can do either. Here is how they differ.
| What we compare | Repipe the house | Patch the leak |
|---|---|---|
| What it fixes | Repipe the houseEvery run of old pipe in the walls | Patch the leakThe one spot that is leaking |
| What it doesn't | Repipe the houseNothing in the walls stays old, so there is no next spot to watch | Patch the leakThe next thin spot elsewhere in the pipe |
| Walls opened | Repipe the houseAll the openings, once, patched in the same two days | Patch the leakOne opening, each time it leaks |
| When it makes sense | Repipe the houseA second or third leak in the same pipe | Patch the leakA first leak in a house with newer pipe |
Questions about pinholes
Can you find a pinhole without opening the wall?
Sometimes a stain or a damp spot points to it. When it doesn't, a leak-detection specialist can locate it. We'll tell you if that's the first step.
Does homeowners insurance pay for a pinhole leak?
Policies differ, and so do their rules on slow leaks and old pipe. Ask your insurer before work starts. We give you photos and a written scope to send them.
How long can a pinhole leak run?
Anywhere from days to months. A few drops an hour still ruin drywall and bring mold, so the water bill and the wall are the places to look.
Seen one of these signs?
Send a photo of the stain or call. We'll tell you what we'd look at on the walk-through.