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Repiping is an important job of a plumbing company. Depending on how many problems you’re seeing with your old plumbing system, you might have to have large sections of your home completely replaced and repiped. This is not a bad thing, since those old pipes could be leading to disastrous results or even health effects for your family.
In truth, repiping is something that everyone will need at least once in their lifetime if they’re a homeowner. In 50 years, new pipe materials are invented and mass-produced, while old pipe materials are discovered to be ineffective and risky. This leads to breakthroughs that we always want to make customers aware of.
Are you in need of plumbing support or repiping in Tampa, FL? Then call our team and keep reading to evaluate your options.
The Problematic Pipe Materials
Before we talk about some of the better pipe materials that can replace your old, leaky, and outdated ones, we need to actually discuss the problems with them. We’ll start with some of the most obvious pipe materials you might find in your home, and give you some better options down the line.
Lead
Lead pipes have been popular throughout human history. The ancient Romans used to use lead pipes to move water from their massive aqueducts into the homes of the empire’s citizens. However, as recent studies have shown, lead can cause numerous health effects which we’ve called “lead poisoning.” The lead can leech off into the water and disrupt the formation of a young person’s brain, causing negative effects such as learning disabilities, hearing impairments, and impaired formation and function of blood cells.
Lead pipes were supposed to be removed from the public water grid over the past 50 years, but these pipes can still exist in private homes. They should be replaced as quickly as possible if you suspect that you have them in your house.
Galvanized Steel
Galvanized steel was popular in the heyday of steel manufacturing. They’re steel pipes that are coated with a zinc covering that can make them last for a very long time without the harmful effects of lead.
But this zinc coating can still wash off into the water and contaminate your water supply. Not only that, but galvanized steel is extremely robust and not very malleable, which means that it can leak at the joints, rust, and cause water pressure problems when minerals start to form inside of them.
Some Good Options
So, what kinds of pipes are widely used in plumbing today? Here are some examples:
Copper
You can’t go wrong with copper pipes. They’re almost as ancient as lead but with much better results. They’re great for hot water, malleable so they can be easily formed and don’t leak at the joints, and they just don’t have any contaminating minerals in them that are a risk for you and your family.
PVC or PEX
PVC or PEX, also colloquially referred to as plastic piping, is a great affordable option for drain pipes and non-hot water pipes. These materials are easily manufactured so they’re widely available, and they’re very good at handling most drain, sewer, or even cold water needs.
Contact The Clean Plumbers for your next repiping gig. You know, the ones with the bubbles on the Trucks!