I am learning about the pin hole leaks in water piping in our area...actually it is probably a problem in all of Alaska.

The problem is that we have a very high mineral content in our water. (?)

There is a continuous, though very minute electrolysis that occurs...like an little electric charge that occurs just with the water as it flows through the pipes.  (a chemical reaction between the minerals in our water and the copper?).  After about 20 years, you will see these pinhole leaks. (?) Even if you use a water softener & go through all of that, it is still likely to happen.  The house electricity is properly grounded; it will still be likely to occur.  I heard that Anchorage has done a study with these conclusions.

The most likely place you will notice is on the 1/2 inch copper pipe cold water supply to the kitchen. 

(Probably this is where there is the most frequent & short usage of the water?)

Minerals seem to come out of the water at about 140 degrees...so when the furnace has heated the water to the point that the minerals have dropped out of it...please, please do not flush out the furnace with new water...that has all the minerals to "react" with the copper piping all over again.

I don't know why, but it is a good idea to drain off the mineral sediment from the hot water tanks, though.  They will have a longer life and better service, if you service the hot water tank .  Also, the electric hot water tanks have more sediment, it seems, than propane hot water tanks.  We noticed that this year when we serviced all the hot water tanks in our rentals.

Any comments?  Would appreciate your comments whether positive or negative.  The more input we have, the better decision-making abilities we will all have.

I have recently (3-5-02) received information from folks studying this problem in New York for the past three years... possibly the quality of copper pipes for domestic cold water is not as good a quality as it could be?  They are wanting to test the composition of old copper vs. new copper pipes.

They have gone so far as to replace all the water pipes in their home with aquapex tubing & seem pleased with the results

Diann Hursh

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New Addition:  

5-26-03

"Old-fashioned helpfulness with Integrity & Ethics"
M. Diann Hursh, Broker

Hursh & Assoc., Realtors
P.O. Box 233
Valdez, Alaska 99686

(907) 835-5333
realhelp@alaska.com