Mississauga Copper Pipe Repair

Any type of plumbing problem can be stressful, but when the issue is occurring with your potable water pipes, the situation can feel even more aggravating. You need clean water for drinking, bathing, and cleaning, so whether it's available has a huge impact on your family's health and the safety and overall condition of your home. Water supply lines last a long time, so you may never have dealt with Mississauga copper pipe repair issues before or even know the signs indicating it's time to call a licensed plumber.

If you're struggling to decipher some strange clues from the supply side of your plumbing system, let your local Mississauga plumber step in to offer their expertise. The professional plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga ON have expertly handled thousands of copper pipe repair and replacement jobs in this part of Ontario, and we know exactly how to address your plumbing needs efficiently, effectively, and with courteous customer service.

What Are the Signs Your House Needs Copper Pipe Repair?

If you've discovered a leaky pipe, then it's clear as day that you need pipe repair. But other signs of trouble aren't so blatant. Homeowners can save themselves a lot of time, money, and stress if they're aware of the indications that their system needs copper pipe repair or a new pipe replacement because they can call a skilled plumber who knows how to fix a copper pipe leak before the issue gets out of hand.

Here are some major signs of trouble coming down the copper pipe.

Blue-Green Stains in Fixtures

Rust-colored water is a common sign of corrosion on the inside of a steel pipe, but copper pipe plumbing doesn't rust because it doesn't contain enough iron. It does, however, develop a bluish-green patina that coats the inside of the pipe as it ages. When it gets bad enough, you may notice that plumbing fixtures such as bathtubs or sink basins are developing blue-green stains that are difficult to scrub away. That obviously isn't a great look for your white enamel fixtures, but it's also a sign that the corrosion inside your pipes is at the point where it may start causing other, more serious issues and needs the attention of a professional for copper pipe repair.

Low Water Volume

The water volume coming from your faucets is normal and consistent across all your plumbing fixtures—until one day when you turn on the tap, and the volume in a certain fixture is much lower than usual. Or, all fixtures located in a certain part of the house are affected. This is often a sign of a leak that is causing the pressure to drop because not all the water is making it to the faucet. However, it's possible it's related to corrosion or sediment build-up that restricts the flow of water. Either way, our reliable team can take a look and come up with the right copper pipe repair strategy to get your water pressure back up to full force.

Water Damage From Leaks

Most homeowners think they know exactly what water leaks look like—there's water spraying out of a pipe like it's a garden hose or a mysterious puddle forming on the floor in front of a fixture such as a sink. Admittedly, those are pretty clear signs of a leak. But, sometimes, the leak is located in a place where it can cause a lot of problems without being so obvious.

Potential signs of a leaky copper pipe include:

• Softened, damp drywall, especially where plumbing lines emerge from the wall
• Brown water stains on walls or ceilings
• Soggy patches of carpet or rotting floorboards
• Musty odors
• Patches of wet, soggy grass on the lawn

If you notice these issues with plumbing copper pipe or other signs such as a visible leak or pipes that have signs of corrosion on the outside, it's important to shut off the water main and get a qualified plumber in there right away. Water leaks can cause a massive amount of damage in a very short span of time, so they need to be stopped immediately with reliable repairs.

High Charges on Water Bills

Sometimes, there's only one glaring indication that you've got a leak in your water supply pipes: the charges on your water bill increase suddenly, even though you're pretty sure your household is drawing around the same amount of water that you normally use.

If you've got a leaky pipe, you're paying for water that isn't even reaching your plumbing fixtures. The easiest way to confirm whether this is what's going on is to check your water meter. Right before everyone goes to bed for the night, make sure all your plumbing fixtures are shut off so there's no water moving through the pipes—or at least, there shouldn't be. Have a look at your water meter and note down the position of the indicator, then go to bed. In the morning, before you flush the toilet or turn on any faucets, look at your meter again. If the indicator has changed position or is currently moving, you've likely got a leak and should call a Mississauga copper pipe repair expert as soon as possible. You can also find out more about where the problem is located by turning off your main water supply valve and taking a look at the meter again. If it stops moving, the leak is in the house, past the shutoff valve. If it's still moving, the leak is between the water meter and the shutoff valve.

Stagnant Water in Pipes

If you've been away on an extended vacation and your plumbing has gone unused for a long time, or you've got a downstairs bathroom that is rarely (if ever) used, water stagnation could cause problems that will lead to copper pipe repair.

There's typically always some water sitting in pipes, and if it stagnates for a long time, it can accelerate corrosion inside the line. If you plan to be away for several months, the best practice is to shut off your water main and drain the lines before you leave. This is especially important if you'll be gone during the winter months because it'll prevent frozen pipes. Alternatively, you could have someone come over once per week to check on the property. If they flush the toilets and run water in the sink for a little while when they're over collecting the mail and so on, it'll go a long way towards preventing stagnation and the need for repair of your copper pipe.

Your Neighbours Need Copper Pipe Repair

Maybe you were chatting over the fence with your neighbor, and they mentioned they've been having plumbing problems that necessitate copper pipe repair or replacement. Or, you peeked out your window one morning and saw a crew hard at work digging a trench to access your neighbor's water lines. If your homes were built at the same time by the same construction company and your neighbor is experiencing difficulties that require copper pipe repair, chances are very good that you will start noticing problems with your system soon—particularly if your homes are more than a couple of decades old and you've never had a pipe replacement. It's worth having a plumber inspect your lines for signs of trouble so you can avoid the stress and hassle of an impending plumbing disaster.

Our plumbing systems are, of course, completely essential to maintain the comfort and sanitation of our homes, as well as protect the health of our families. When something goes wrong, you need to be able to get a reliable plumber at your door fast to take care of your entire plumbing system and get it back in perfect working order, and that's exactly what you get when you call the experts at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga ON.

Whether you need residential plumbing repair and installation services or commercial plumbing services for your business property, you can count on our trustworthy team for dependable workmanship and outstanding customer service. We don't just handle copper pipe repair—Mississauga residents can also call us for drain services such as drain repair or drain cleaning, along with other services such as water heater repair, sewer line repair and replacement, and much more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Copper Pipe Repair in Mississauga:

What Are the Pros and Cons of Copper Pipes?

Copper is a common choice for potable water line materials and for some very good reasons. It has a lot of pros going for it—and a few cons as well. Here are the main advantages of copper:

• It's able to resist corrosion a lot more effectively than steel, which is why it was so popular in decades past before PVC pipes were available.
• It has antimicrobial qualities that PVC and steel can't boast, so it can kill some viruses and fungal spores before they exit your faucet.
• It's easy to install and has some flexibility, which makes it more capable of withstanding pressure from shifting soil without bursting.

On the other hand, there are a couple of cons to consider with copper as well, namely:

• All copper is not created equal, and some builders will cut corners with an inferior quality of metal that will not last as long as it should.
• It's more vulnerable to damage from high water pressure.
• Water with high acidity levels can cause accelerated corrosion on the inside of the lines.

Not sure if copper is right for your property? Our experienced plumbers would be happy to consult with you, learn more about your household's plumbing needs, and make an educated recommendation on which material you should go with when you need a replacement.

How Long Will My Plumbing Last Before I Need Copper Pipe Repair?

That's a difficult one to answer because there's a pretty wide range of possibilities. Copper pipes can sometimes last well over 50 years and remain in relatively good shape throughout the decades. But in other cases, they develop problems like pin-hole leaks much sooner than expected, even as early as 20 years in.

Basically, if it's been more than a couple of decades and you're seeing signs of trouble, you likely need at least a partial replacement. However, you can reduce the chances of that happening and extend the lifespan of your system with regular maintenance services such as hydrojetting to remove clog-causing substances and reduce the pressure on the inside of your lines.

What Causes Leaks That Require Copper Pipe Repair?

When it comes to issues with drain lines, the cause could be that homeowners have flushed or rinsed something down the drain that doesn't belong—but of course, that doesn't apply to water supply lines that need Mississauga copper pipe repair. So how do copper pipes get damaged and spring a leak? There are a number of reasons that could potentially be causing the problem, but the most common ones plumbers encounter are:

• Hard Water: Water in Mississauga is typically classified as moderately hard at around 115 to 128 PPM (mg/L). It's certainly not the hardest water in Ontario by a long shot, but it can still have a damaging effect on your water supply lines. Hard water has high concentrations of dissolved minerals such as magnesium and calcium that form mineral deposits on the inside of pipes. That damages the inner lining of the metal and will eventually cause a pinhole leak in the copper pipe.
• High pH Level: A high pH level indicates that your water has high acidity. It's still potable and safe to use for other purposes, but it can have unpleasant effects on your copper water supply lines. Over time, it creates a chemical reaction that eats away at the pipe's interior lining, causing it to corrode and spring a leak that will need to be repaired by a professional plumber.
• High Pressure: When you turn on a faucet, do you hear thumping or banging sounds coming from your pipes? This is called a water hammer, and it's caused when water stops or changes direction suddenly due to high pressure. There are some reasons why the pressure may be too high, so this is something that a qualified plumber should investigate before it causes serious damage to your pipes.
• Faulty Installation: If your pipes were installed less than about ten or 15 years ago and they need copper pipe repair for a leak, it could be because the installation wasn't done correctly in the first place. This could be due to the use of retrofitted parts or other problems caused by plumbers who rushed through the job and cut corners during the process of installation

How Do I Stop a Pin-Hole Leak Until a Copper Pipe Repair Plumber Gets Here?

Pin-hole leaks in copper pipes are actually not all that uncommon, but because they can cause serious water damage problems like wood rot and mildew, they need to be stopped as soon as they're found. Any DIY copper pipe repair is going to be strictly a temporary repair—you'll absolutely need to get professional plumbers out to your house to deliver a permanent copper pipe repair solution.

The problem with many easy DIY methods such as epoxy putty is that they can let toxic chemicals leak into your drinking water, and you really don't want to risk contaminating your potable water supply. Silicone pipe sealing tape is the best way to deliver a quick fix that will hold on until your plumber can inspect the problem and recommend a course of action to get it fixed for good.

Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing for Copper Pipe Repair in Mississauga, ON

Are you living in Erin Mills, Dixie, Applewood, or another part of the Mississauga area? When you need copper pipe repair or replacement, rely on the team of professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga ON.

Get in touch with us today to find out more about our reliable plumbing services, or to schedule an appointment for Mississauga copper pipe repair and other services designed to get your system back to full function.