Help! I have a medium sized seashell stuck in the drain pipe of my host’s shower. What can I do to get it out or dissolve it?

-Rosana

Rosana, dissolving a seashell takes a powerful acid, such as hydrocloric acid (HCL), which can damage (and even eat through) the pipe metal. If it can’t be pulled out then it may have to be broken apart. The bottom line is that you don’t want to make this worse, I would recommend telling your host about the seashell and maybe offering to help him/her remove it or help pay for a plumber to come out.

-Brian

I have a 12 year old home and I got a tiny pin hole leak in the copper pipe not at a connection. After getting it fixed, 3 days later a got another tiny pin leak inches of way. What could cause this and should i worry about the entire line?

- Jason

Jason, a single pinhole leak can be a fluke, but if you have more than one there’s a good chance that you have a systemic problem. A pinhole leak is the final breakthrough in an area of the pipe’s wall that has been affected by pitting –a form of corrosion. Replacing the section of pipe or the whole system will turn back the clock, but won’t stop the pitting and leaks from happening again or in different spots. You may be able to have your current pipes epoxy lined which would restore them to like-new condition and prevent water from coming into direct contact with the pipe wall. Click here for more information about copper pipe leaks or pinhole leaks. For more information about epoxy pipe lining click here.

-Brian