A common question we hear is: Should I replace my home’s horizontal galvanized steel pipes with PEX pipes?
Galvanized steel pipes were commonly installed in homes built before the 1960s. The interior of these strong pipes have a layer of zinc, which eventually will erode, causing corrosion buildup and limiting the flow of the water in the pipe system to the tap. Galvanized pipes have a life expectancy of around 50 years, so if your home currently has its original galvanized pipes, they are most likely not functioning as well as they should be.
In contrast, PEX pipes are made of flexible plastic. They are able to withstand hot and cold temperatures, but are not strong enough to be used outside the home. Additional disadvantages of PEX pipes are that they cannot be directly connected to a water heater and they can’t be recycled. Benefits to PEX include that it is inexpensive compared to other types of new pipes, it requires fewer fittings, it does not need soldering or gluing and it can be used for hot and cold water. The use of PEX pipes in the United States is relatively new, but the lifespan is estimated to be around 50 years or less.
When a home’s plumbing system is leaking or isn’t functioning properly, it is incredibly common for the homeowner to consider replacing existing pipes with new pipes. However, repiping (the industry term for a pipe replacement) is a time-consuming, labor-intensive, expensive and destructive process and that is not always necessary.
We like to say: Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
If the interior of your home’s galvanized pipes are experiencing corrosion buildup (which, again, is what eventually happens to galvanized pipes), the easiest and most effective solution will be to prevent the water from coming into contact with the pipes. This can be successfully accomplished with a process called pipe lining.
Pipe lining, also called relining, is an increasingly preferred solution that utilizes a pipe system’s existing access points and specially-designed technology to apply a protective barrier coating to the interior of pipes. This coating, often an epoxy coating, stops the water from coming into contact with the pipes, preventing leaks, corrosion and other common failures.
At TDT Plumbing, we use the ePIPE epoxy coating process to restore and preserve water pipes and other types of pressurized and mechanical pipe systems, such as HVAC and fire sprinkler systems. This patented, time-proven technology uses clean, compressed air to clean the pipes and then apply the epoxy throughout the interior of the pipe system. Once the epoxy cures, in as little as two hours (the fastest curing epoxy in the industry), it forms a protective barrier coating that has a lifespan of approximately 100 years, at least twice as long as a new pipe’s lifespan.
This form of in-place pipe restoration is cost-effective and prevents destruction to your home. Some projects could be completed within a day or two, as opposed to several weeks for a repipe, then the repair of walls, ceilings and flooring.
We also offer pipe lining solutions for other types of pipe systems, including sanitary drain pipes, vent pipes and storm water systems.
If you are considering replacing galvanized pipes with PEX pipes, or if your home is experiencing low flow water at the tap, rusty water or leaks, please contact us as soon as possible. We have pipe assessment and leak detection technology to find where and why your pipes are having problems, as well as the ePIPE technology to restore your pipes to a better-than-new state and prevent future issues from occurring.
If you still have questions or if you are interested in talking to us about our piping solutions, please contact us.