In today’s blog article, we are going to talk about copper piping and why it should be assessed for damage. Copper pipe wears over time just like any other building material. As copper piping wears and corrodes, it becomes more prone to leaks and also impedes water flow and pressure. Let’s take a look at what affects the longevity of copper pipe.
Age
Age alone causes copper pipe to deteriorate. Copper pipe can last about 50 years, but that depends on the quality and thickness of the original pipe that was installed and the characteristics of the water flowing through it.
You cannot judge the condition of copper pipe just by its age, although the age will be one of the factors to consider. If your home was built more than 20 years ago, then your copper piping should be assessed.
Water Characteristics
Water that is acidic or soft or water that has a lot of “total dissolved solids” like minerals is going to age or corrode faster. The water on the Lower Mainland is known to be acidic and known to corrode copper pipe quickly. If you live on the Lower Mainland and have copper piping the home, then is should be assessed.
Pipe Quality
Thinner pipes corrode faster than thicker pipes. And builders often try to save money when building spec homes by using thinner and cheaper pipe. Type K pipe is thicker than Type L, and Type L is thicker than Type M. Just because copper pipe can last 50 years does not mean that all copper pipe will last that long.
You may notice a leak or a lower than comfortable water pressure. Water pressure can go down slowly, and you may not notice that your water pressure is lower than your neighbour’s pressure. But professionals can definitely test your water pressure and examine your pipes closely for signs of age. Getting your copper piping attended to before you have a flood is a prudent idea.
Please call us on the Lower Mainland at (604) 349-5325 if you need help assessing your copper piping. This is our area of expertise. If you contact us, we can examine problem areas in your house and give you a free estimate for what it will cost to fix it.
Repiping Vancouver is a division of 604FixLeak offering leak detection, plumbing repairs and restoration services in the Greater Vancouver area. Repiping Vancouver concentrates on whole home or office repiping.
If you have any questions about this article or need some help with repiping in your home or office, call us today at (604) 349-5325.
