PV Gap

Mike Said:

How do I repair a pinhole leak in the copper tubing of a solar panel that I use to heat my swimming pool?

We Answered:

There are really only three routes you can go, all are really temporary fixes and I'll explain why in a min.
1/ You can cut the pipe, usuing a pip cutter, at the spot and solder in a coupling of the appropriate size. Whoever posted that you can't use a propane torch for this is incorrect. You can solder copper up to 1 1/2 inches, easily, with a normal porpane torch, if you know what you're doing.
2/ That old inner tube you have lying around, can be cut and have a patch doubled up, placed over the pin hole and use a gear clamp (hose clamp) to tighten and hold in place. Viola, home made saddle clamp. Add some goop if you want.
3/ Cut the pipe at the leak and use a rubber coupling sized accordingly. You'll be able to find these at a plumbing shop. It's just a rubber sleeve that fits over each end of cut pipe and is held in place by a hose clamp each side. It does the same job as a copper coupling, without the need to solder.
These are temp fixes, you'll soon be replacing that entire section of pipe. If you have a pin hole in one spot, the copper has been corroded enough, that it will likely let go in another spot soon.
Goop, that someone else posted in here, is fine for a small suction leak, this is a pressure leak, and it won't do the job for long, if at all by itself. You could use it in conjunction with the rubber patch however.
You may want to investigate why the copper corroded on you as well. Check your water chemistry at a local pool shop for free ( you water may be off balance and very agressive) and also have a look at how your sanitizer dispenser is plumbed in. It should have it's outlet in the return, AFTER all the pool equipment, including the solar. If not, little wonder you have an issue, it's dumping raw chlorine or bromine directly into some of the most sensitive areas of your plumbing. If you're dumping pucks in the skimmer, same thing. If it is a Larson's brominator, that was plumbed in as per the maual, re do it. The manual is wrong and they never got around to revising it.
Hope this helps