Replacing the piping in your homes is a costly and time consuming and no one wants to. Determining the life of your pipes is difficult; however, it depends on when they were installed, and what they’re made of. There are, however, common materials that pipes are made from, which can help predict when they’ll need to be replaced.
Copper remains a favoured and common material in building lasting between 70 and 80 years. If your home has been recently built with copper plumbing then it would be in good shape. If your home is older then it would be better to consult a plumber as copper can corrode with time and contaminate the water. Though brass is less common than copper, brass has a longer lifespan. Brass will lasts between 80 and 100 years as it is an alloy of copper and zinc. Brass pipes are less common today as it contains trace amounts of lead, which can lead to other problems.
Galvanized steel pipes are dipped into zinc so as to prevent corrosion. Though these pipes last between 80 and 100 years, they’re susceptible to rust, and may start rusting after a number of years. They’re not favoured now as because of the rusting factor. Similar to galvanized steel cast iron pipes last between 80 and 100 years, and rust over a long period of time.
PVC pipes were only originally meant to last up to 45 years but with technological advances the durability of these pipes has increased. Though they are not durable as metal pipes, PVC doesn’t corrode. Less expensive than other pipes, polybutylene is also much less durable as it is quite flimsy, and would break apart after just 10-15 years. Lead pipes last for around 100 years, but they affect the health. Lead is extremely toxic, and can easily make people sick when they’re exposed for long periods of time.
PEX piping is now the new plumbing material. PEX piping is flexible, strong, and can work well with most plumbing systems. PEX piping is a more affordable and durable option. Though it will not last as long as copper piping, they do not corrode, pit, or scale the same way copper can. The drawback of PEX piping is that it will deteriorate if routinely used with water 180° Fahrenheit or hotter.
Ultraviolet, or UV light, can significantly damage PEX. Therefore, PEX can only be installed underground, in walls, or other places where it will not be exposed to day light. Another drawback is that PEX can be damaged by chlorine. Despite this, PEX has a lot of advantages.
Whether for your home or your business at Katys Plumbers we offer a comprehensive range of plumbing services including plumbing installations, plumbing repairs, plumbing maintenance and plumbing upgrades in Houston. Other services we provide include toilet repair, water heater repair, home plumbing, kitchen plumbing, leak repair, faucet repair, clogged toilets, bathroom remodelling, pipe repair, water heater installation, emergency plumbing, plumbing repair, residential plumbing, and commercial plumbing. Our plumbers work in shifts around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days of the year. No matter what time you call us, we will help you. Are your plumbing problems stressing you out? Get them under control and regain peace of mind with help from Katy’s Plumbing. Call us today at (713) 231 9307 or mail us at plumbingservice10@gmail.com. We are available 24×7 to discuss your plumbing problem and have one of our experts inspect the issue as soon as possible. Make sure to visit our website at http://www.waterkaty.com/