Pinhole leaks in hot water only

[DirtyJerz]

My neighbors told me that they recently discovered that their hot water pipes in the basement, which were covered with foam insulation, had pinhole leaks.

They had plumbers come out and replace both their hot and cold water pipes in the basement with PEX. They didn’t touch any of the piping in the walls.

We’re both on municipal water and the houses were built at the same time. Should I be expecting something similar soon? Or did they get taken advantage of? Why would only the hot water pipes be affected and only in the basement? Could the foam insulation have caused this somehow?

 

[Breplum]

I am not aware of insulation ever causing anything harmful.
I would need to see a sample section of the pipe in question. Water chemistry can cause copper pipe deterioration and municipality would have contributory responsibility. But, there could be electrolysis issue in a particular house. Also flow from pumped recirculation can induce tube or fitting failure.
Copper mfrs typical warranty is 50 years.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[LLigetfa]

Why would only the hot water pipes be affected and only in the basement?

It could possibly be small particles from a disintegrating anode rod in the water heater that settles out in the basement horizontal runs causing the pinholes.

 

[Fitter30]

Do a Google search for pin hole leaks in copper hot water lines and defective copper pipes. Both came up with results.

 

[DirtyJerz]

Copper mfrs typical warranty is 50 years

These houses were built 35 years ago. No recirculating lines in them.

Sediment from the water heater was my thought too.

 

[Reach4]

Are your hot pipes type M (red ink) copper pipe?

 

[DirtyJerz]

The ones in our house are all type L

 

[Reach4]

Glad to hear you have L. Now if the leaky pipe your neighbor has is M, you can feel a little better... for a while.

 

[DirtyJerz]

Yeah these homes were all built at the same time by the same builders. So I doubt they were using different grades of copper across them.