Plumbing guide

Pipe Repair: Leaks, Freezes, and When to Replace

Pipe repair covers everything from a pinhole leak in copper to a burst PEX line after a hard freeze. The right repair depends on the material, the location, and how much of the system is affected.

See pipe repair service

Common causes of pipe failure

Corrosion in older copper, aggravated by water chemistry
Freeze splits in unheated wall or attic runs
Physical damage from renovation work or a fastener driven into a wall
Failed fittings, especially where dissimilar metals were joined
Cast iron drainage that has scaled and cracked with age

Copper vs PEX

Copper is durable and heat-tolerant but sensitive to water chemistry and slower to install. PEX is fast to install, tolerates minor freezes better than rigid pipe, and is common in newer homes and renovations. Neither is universally better, and repairs match existing materials unless a broader replacement is planned.

How to safely thaw a frozen pipe

Shut off the water first in case the pipe has split
Open the affected faucet so melting water can escape
Apply gentle warmth with a hair dryer or heat gun on low, working from the faucet back
Never use an open flame, and never use a torch on plastic
If you cannot access the frozen section, call a plumber before it thaws on its own

Patch vs section replacement

A single pinhole in an otherwise sound copper run is usually a patch or a short section swap
Repeated pinholes in the same run usually mean the run is at end of life and worth replacing
PEX after a freeze usually needs the split section cut out and re-fitted
Larger scope work is priced on site after locating and confirming the extent of the failure