People frequently ask me about different types of water piping, particularly some of the newer varieties.  I thought I’d give a short run-down of what is out there, and what it’s good for.  Here are some of the different types of water piping we see:

• Lead
• Galvanized Steel
• CPVC
• Copper
• PEX

Let’s start from the beginning, shall we?

Lead

Lead piping was prevalent for water delivery before it’s toxic effects were discovered.  What many people don’t realize, is that there is still a surprising amount of lead piping around, both in homes and in city water supplies.  Lead water mains are generally being quietly replaced, but most people who have lead piping in their homes don’t realize it.  Dealing with lead is simple: if you have it, get rid of it.

Galvanized Steel

Threaded galvanized piping is strong, durable, and easy to work with.  As far as function however, it has some long term weaknesses.  Particularly, it tends to corode and build up minerals and rust in the waterways, leading to a clogging of the lines, much like your typical clogging of a cholesterol-ridding cardiovascular system.  This leads to a gradual decline in water pressure, which can only be fixed by replacing the piping.

CPVC

CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl chloride) is easy to work with and easy to install, Which results in many CPVC-DIY installations.  Unfortunately, it lacks strength and resilliance.  It is easily broken if not properly secured, and will tend to shatter at the slightest hint of freezing.  It will also tend to leak if not properly installed.  For these reasons, we do not recommend CPVC piping at all.  You would be better served by copper or PEX.  Speaking of which…

Copper

Copper piping has been the industry standard piping for a long time, now.  It is strong, durable, and relatively easy to work with, given the proper tools and skills (Hint: If you don’t have the proper tools and skills, you probably should not attempt to work with copper yourself).  Over time, it can wear and develop pinhole leaks under the right circumstances, especially under-slab piping.  In general, however, copper is a fine piping material, and is still widely used.  One factor that influences the use of copper piping is that it’s price tends to fluctuate more than other piping, as it must be mined and processed from raw materials

PEX

Cross-linked polyethylene piping, or PEX, is quickly becoming the new standard.  It is both durable, and easy to work with.  The ability to run long lengths of pipe allow us to do things like fishing a new water line through a wall or joist space in some instances, whereas previously, we would have had to tear out large sections of drywall in order to do any piping.  Fittings and connections are strong, and durable, and allow tremendous flexibility in piping solutions, especially in constricted areas where using a flame on copper would be impractical or even dangerous.

Not all PEX is created equal however, and one should take care to know exactly what you are getting with your piping.  Your basic PEX is a single layer of plastic, all of the same material throughout the pipe.  There are some two layer PEX types out there that have a harder outer layer that is more resistant to both abrasion and UV light (sunlight tends to degrade the integrity of most plastic piping).  The newest version of PEX is a three-layer pipe, with the tough outer layer for protection, the middle layer for structure, and lastly a thin inner layer which gives the pipe an extra degree of chlorine resistance.  You shouldn’t take existence of the three-layer PEX to mean that the one-layer PEX is substandard, but just be aware that all PEX is not the same, and there are specific instances which may call for additional layers of protection.

Of all of these, we use PEX more than anything else, but there is still a large place in the market for Copper, and we continue to find limited uses for galvanized steel pipe, as well.  Any of these three are adequate for most plumbing needs.  If you like to DIY, galvanized is simple, but time-consuming, and labor intensive, copper requires the ability to solder, but is an excellent piping material, and PEX is easy to work with and cost-effective, but will require special tools to make the crimp connections on the fittings.  If you have a feeling that something is beyond your ability or your comfort level, please, call a professional: water damage can be costly and incredibly destructive.

Feel free to ask questions!

Presenting our wares at the Indianapolis Home Show a few months ago, I was surprised at how few people still knew nothing about tankless water heaters.  It seems that the word is out that they exist, but many people seem to still be under the impression that they are nothing but underpowered, gimmicky wastes of money, or simply don’t understand how they work.  Let me address some areas of confusion.

Tankless Water Heaters Vs. Point-of-Use Water Heaters

These two are not necessarily the same.  Point-of-use Water Heaters are designed to provide hot water for one application or zone, and are typically small enough to fit under a sink in a cabinet.  They can only heat a small amount of water at once.

Tankless water heaters are designed to replace your existing standard water heater and provide hot water for the entire residence.  With Takagi’s (our tankless brand of choice) range of models and easy-link capability, we can install a system that can heat anywhere from 0.5 to 50 gallons per minute of water, depending on your specific needs.

Instantaneous Vs. Continuous

One common misconception is that tankless water heaters provide instantaneous hot water.  The truth is, if you currently have to wait for hot water at far-reaching fixtures, a tankless water heater may actually add a few seconds to that wait while it fires and gets up to temperature.  The issue of having to wait for hot water is a problem of piping and the overall layout of the house.  It can be solved or improved by a a repiping job or the installation of a recirculating system.  Additionally, with the installation of a tankless water heater, its small size enables more flexibility in installation locations, and it may be possible to locate in a more advantageous location.

Although a tankless water heater does not heat instantly, it does heat continuously.  A tankless water heater heats water continuously as is passes through the heat exchanger, and since it does not rely on the storage of any hot water, it can produce hot water for as long as you need, so that whether you are filling up a large garden tub or have a full house and have 15 people that need to take showers one after another, your tankless water heater will produce exactly as much (or as little) hot water as you need.

There was a time when you could fill up your gas tank, check your oil and tire pressure, and clean your windows, in exchange for a $5.00 bill, all without leaving the comfort of your car.  Now you pay near that for one gallon of gas, and you pump it yourself, and process the payment yourself at the pump – the attendant hardly even gets involved.  There was a time when that same car would last fifteen good years with little effort.  Most new cars barely make it past five.  This trend hasn’t been restricted to the automotive industry, but has made its way into nearly every industry that touches our daily lives.  What ever happened to quality, value, and service?  Most people have gone so long without having seen these things that they assume they are lost forever, or have forgotten what such words truly mean.  Its time to Rediscover Service.

We know that in this sometimes frightening economic environment, you need to be careful with each and every dollar.  Your home doesn’t care about the economy, though, and things are still going break and need repair.

This Blog is, in part, a chance for you, the consumer, to get to know our company, what we do, and what we believe.  That way, when you do need help, you will know that the best value and the best service, can be found right here with us.  Have a question about your home plumbing?  Ask away!  General home-care questions?  If we don’t know the answer, we can find someone who does.  Join the conversation, and Rediscover Service.