The direction of any investigation should be based upon the source of the concern, and whether its related to rusty water, fouled condenser tubes, lost heat transfer, rust deposits in strainers, or more serious issues like thread leaks, pinholes, and pipe failure.

First of all, save the failed section of pipe since it contains the answer to why it failed.  In likely 85% of instances, the contractor or facility engineers will immediately throw away the damaged pipe, and then raise the question of why it failed.

A failure at a weld seam, butt weld, or sweated joint will suggest a metallurgical lab analysis as the best first step.  At left, multiple pinhole failures along a straight line at its ERW weld seam indicated defective pipe.  A first step, therefore is to confirm a piping defect through lab analysis, followed by more intensive UT examination to determine other such examples and the extent of the problem.

Thread leaks, especially at newer piping systems, commonly suggest a larger systemwide problem.  A through wall pinhole leak at a 18 in. condenser water line indicates a very severe problem requiring more extensive investigation.  We find that the more significant and noticeable the piping failure is to others, the more likely money will be thrown at the problem without first diagnosing the conditions which exist.