Galvanized Water Supply Fittings Are Leaking

Rust

• While galvanized steel pipes were designed to prevent rust and did improve on corrosion resistance, they can still develop rust problems after years of use, especially inside the pipes. Inside rust can translate to outside leaks, and fittings are a notorious spot for plumbing leak problems. In this case, you probably need to replace the fitting with a new version, also made from galvanized steel. Mixing metals can cause additional problems, so match your pipe types.

Temperature

• Galvanized steel reacts to temperatures by contracting in the cold and expanding in heat. Copper pipes have better expansion ratios, and plastic pipes are better still, but all plumbing pipes suffer from these changes, especially when use to channel hot water on a cold day, or vice versa. This expansion and contraction can cause damage to fittings, eventually leading to a leak. Replacement is still the primary repair option for fixing the leak.

Sealing the Fitting

• Galvanized steel pipes are threaded, so buy properly threaded fittings in the correct size, and replace your old version. Use threading compound to seal the threads as you screw in the new fitting, preventing future problems with leaks. Work carefully to avoid disturbing any of your other plumbing. Galvanized steel can be brittle, and jostling or moving other pipes can create new leak problems even as you fix the original issue. Call in a professional plumber if you are uncertain about fixing the problem yourself.

Considerations

• If you are noticing multiple fitting leaks, the problem lies with your pipes. If you have an older plumbing system that has not been updated in years, consider replacing all of your pipes with copper or plastic. This can prevent rust problems in the future and ensure long-lasting, efficient plumbing performance.