THUNDER BAY – A local plumber is looking to arm Thunder Bay residents against the problem of pinhole leaks, which has plagued a growing number of buildings in the city with copper pipes.
Brad Gibson, a master plumber for more than 25 years, enlisted the help of several local businesses to create repair kits that will be distributed to homes in hard-hit areas like Northwood.
He hopes the basic kits will help residents avoid paying hefty fees for emergency plumbing calls that often result in a simple temporary fix.
“People come home and see the drywall ceiling caving in, they open it up and see the water spraying everywhere,” he explained Sunday. “They’re panicked, they have to do an emergency call-in to a local plumber. Then they’re stuck paying a ridiculous overtime charge when they could really put a very simple patch on the water line.”
That patch job will buy residents time to connect with insurance companies and arrange a daytime visit by a plumber, he said.
Athletes at Ultimate Gymnastics volunteered several hours of their time Sunday to assemble around 500 kits with materials donated from local companies.
“We’re learning the pinhole situation is pretty big in Thunder Bay, and our athletes are always willing to lend a hand,” said Ultimate Gymnastics co-owner Greg Balec.
The gym tries to chip in to worthy initiatives in the community when it can, Balec said, and was happy to offer its large facility, where athletes could maintain appropriate distance as they assembled the kits.
Just how many homes have been affected by pinhole leaks is unknown, but sources in the local plumbing business have said they receive daily calls on the issue.
The City of Thunder Bay is facing two lawsuits alleging its decision to add sodium hydroxide to the city’s water supply is behind the problem. The chemical was added in an effort to suppress lead levels that exceed provincial guidelines in an estimated 8,700 local households.
The city phased out the use of sodium hydroxide in April, while senior staff and city councillors have remained tight-lipped on the issue.
Gibson himself said rental properties he maintains have been affected by pinhole leaks, which can cost homeowners upwards of $10,000 to repair in some cases.
The patch kits assembled at Ultimate Gymnastics Sunday include two pieces of rubber, two gear clamps, and a flyer with instructions.
As well as being dropped off in the mailboxes of affected areas, kits can be picked up at Ultimate Gymnastics or at Dusty's Car Care Centre with any service.
Businesses including Brad Gibson Mechanical, Thunder Bay Hydraulics, Northern Sheet Metal, Dusty’s Car Care Centre, and Citi Centre Print contributed to the kit.
Residents can also assemble their own kits with affordable items available at any hardware store: flat pieces of rubber, gear clamps, and a standard screwdriver.
The temporary patches can last for a surprisingly long time, Gibson said, though he cautions they’re not a permanent fix.
