As plumbers, we work with pipes a lot. On new homes, we install new piping for toilets, sinks, showers, tubs, and laundries. On remodels, we tie on to existing plumbing to run new branches for the updated fixture locations. And on service calls, we repair or replace worn out or leaking old pipes. We have gotten pretty familiar with the types of piping that you find in Oregon, especially here in Eugene and Springfield. Some of these pipes are good quality materials that have a long, problem free life ahead of them, and some are worn out, prone to leaks, or at the end of their usable life. In this post, we want to give homeowners a quick overview of the types of pipes that might be in their home, and what they should know about them.
There are two main types of piping that plumbers install; water supply piping, that brings fresh water to the home, and waste piping, that carries contaminated water away. The most common water piping materials are copper, PEX, galvanized steel, and CPVC. For waste piping, the main materials are PVC and ABS, cast iron, galvanized steel, and copper.
Copper water piping-
Copper water piping is a really good quality material. In most cases, this piping is still going strong with no issues. The main time we see issues with this pipe is when the home is on a well, and minerals in the water can interact with the copper to cause leaks. But on city water, copper is the best possible material for water piping. The main reason it isn’t installed more is just that it is more expensive than the more common PEX piping. However, we still have homeowners who want a premium solution opting to install copper piping in their homes.
PEX water piping-
PEX is the most common modern material for water piping. This is a plastic pipe that is somewhat flexible, and it can be red, white, clear, or off white in color. There are three types of PEX; A, B, and C. We prefer PEX A as it is the most flexible, resistant to freeze damage, and the least susceptible to leaks. All three types are a good quality material that should have a long lifespan. PEX pipe has the best balance between quality and cost. In most cases, when we repipe an older home with a worn out plumbing system, this is the material we use for the water piping.
Galvanized steel water piping-
Galvanized steel is a material that was commonly installed in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. It did well for decades, but since this pipe is made out of steel, it does rust over time. Galvanized water piping is known for rusting on the inside of the pipe, and this is the most common cause of low water pressure in Eugene/Springfield. The rust and scale flakes off the inside of the pipe and clogs showerheads, faucets, and toilets, until only a trickle of water can make it through. At this point, any home with galvanized water piping should be repiped with modern materials.
CPVC water piping-
CPVC is a plastic water piping material that was commonly installed in the 80’s and 90’s. It is a yellowish, rigid pipe that has a lot of issues. Over time, this piping type becomes very brittle and is notorious for leaks; touching or bumping the pipes can easily cause them to break and start pouring out water. If CPVC is present in a home, we recommend it is removed and replaced with new PEX water piping.
PVC and ABS waste piping-
PVC and ABS are both modern materials that are used for waste or drainage piping. PVC pipe and fittings are white, and ABS is black, but they are both good quality materials. They are very resistant to leaks and clogs when installed properly, and don’t rust or corrode over time. Either one is a good, solid piping system that should last a long time.
Cast iron waste piping-
For many decades, all 3” and 4” sewer pipes were run with cast iron, and the smaller diameter branches were run with galvanized steel. This cast iron is often quite old, and can have substantial issues. Scale builds up on the inside of the pipe, creating a rough surface that is not as resistant to clogs as ABS or PVC. However, we can descale cast iron pipes using a milling machine and return them to their original diameter. The bigger issue is that when these pipes have any standing water in them, they quickly corrode and we see a lot of sewage leaks caused by these pipes. Cast iron piping should be evaluated with a sewer camera inspection, and may need to be replaced.
Galvanized steel waste piping-
As mentioned above, this type of piping was used for the 1 ½” and 2” branch drains serving individual sinks and laundries. This steel piping rusts on the inside, and that causes a lot of issues. The rough surface catches any debris, causing repeated clogs. The pipes are also very susceptible to rusting through and leaking, and this material is the biggest cause of sewage leaks that we see. It is common for the pipe to have rusted completely away on the bottom, causing sewage to spill out whenever fixtures are used. Galvanized waste piping should be replaced with modern ABS or PVC piping. This also will allow us to upsize the lines, as the older drain lines were typically undersized according to today’s plumbing code.
Copper waste piping–
Copper waste piping was installed for a while in the 70’s and 80’s. It is a very good quality product, but is no longer installed due to cost. Copper waste piping typically works as well or better than ABS or PVC piping.
In our area, the biggest problem pipes are galvanized steel and CPVC. These piping types should be replaced to avoid leaks, wasted water, property damage, unsanitary conditions, and headaches for homeowners. Cast iron can be good or bad depending on the age, install, and condition. ABS, PVC, PEX water piping, and copper are all good materials that don’t have many issues. For homes that have extensive older piping, replacing that old, worn out plumbing with new is called a repipe. We have helped many homeowners in Eugene and Springfield by replacing their failing or problematic plumbing with brand new water and waste piping, and are one of the main providers of repipes in our area. If you have some of these problem pipes in your home, we would be happy to provide you with a quote to repipe your home.
