Incidence and costs of home plumbing corrosion

Factors influencing the occurrence and costs of pinhole leak corrosion in suburban Washington, D.C., were analyzed. A mail survey of households was used to elicit experiences and repair costs associated with pinhole leaks. Regression analyses, with correction for sample selection bias, were used to analyze survey responses regarding leak occurrences and costs. Pinhole leak occurrences were found to be associated with plumbing type, property age, pipe failure history, and dwelling distance from a water treatment plant. The number and location of pinhole leaks in the dwelling and the pipe type are associated with the financial costs of pinhole leaks. For example, repair costs of leaks occurring in the basement are much lower compared with repair costs on the second floor. Faster responses to pinhole leak outbreaks by utility managers and policymakers would reduce costs of pinhole leak repairs. Expanding state‐funded property insurance to cover damage from leaks when private insurance coverage is inadequate would also be beneficial.