When it comes to your plumbing system, there are a number of different topics worth discussing. There is the routine maintenance, which will help ensure everything continues to work properly and doesn’t result in you spending more than you have to on plumbing repairs. There is the importance of finding a local plumbing company that you can count on and who provides reliable plumbing services (and what to look for when evaluating possible plumbers!). There are the fixtures themselves (faucets, toilets, showerheads, etc) and understanding how to differentiate quality products from lackluster ones. Long story short, a complete plumbing system encompasses so many different components and it’s always going to be important to have some general knowledge of how everything works!
Intertwined throughout all of these various pieces is going to be the plumbing lines that connect everything together. Water lines, drain lines, gas lines and sewer lines. Just as can be said about the other plumbing components, it’s critical to keep these in working order and if there are ever any issues present, to get them fixed asap. As you may guess, there are a few variables that impact just how effective plumbing pipes will be. First off, any time new pipes are run or repairs are made, you’ll want an experienced plumber to be the one completing the work. This will ensure everything is done accurately and according to code. Secondly, this plumber will be able to recommend the best materials to use in order to ensure you aren’t faced with repeated issues in the near future. Over time, it’s been proven that certain materials are better than others for plumbing pipes. Throughout this week’s blog post, we’ll take a look at a few different materials that have been used for plumbing pipes, and provide you with a general overview of the pros and cons associated with each!
Copper
We’ll kick off this week’s blog post by talking about the most common material used for water lines, copper. The use of copper pipes for water lines dates back thousands of years and it’s no surprise why this usage has withstood the test of time. Without a doubt, the most notable advantage of copper pipes is the durability that they possess. Unsurprisingly, water damage can certainly be quite costly. Whether that be in regards to damaging priceless possessions or simply the repair efforts of getting everything cleaned up, it’s something you want to avoid if possible. Although copper pipes are very durable, they can be slightly more expensive than some of the alternatives, so that is worth taking into consideration too!
How long will copper pipes last? Unfortunately, this can be a tough question to give a definite answer too, as there are a number of variables capable of impacting the exact lifespan. Nonetheless though, you can generally expect to get north of 50 years out of them!
PEX
Sticking with the theme of materials commonly used for water lines, we arrive at PEX pipes. PEX, which stands for cross-linked polyethylene, is a reliable and long-lasting material to be used for transporting water. One cool feature about PEX pipes is that you’ll generally see them color coded. As such, red PEX pipes will typically be used for hot water lines. Blue PEX pipes will be used for cold water lines. And then white or gray PEX pipes can be used for either! This can definitely make it much easier to decipher what’s what and tell the difference between the various water lines. Another unique advantage of PEX pipes is the flexibility they provide. This flexibility allows it to be installed quicker, as it can be maneuvered through tight places much easier. One final advantage that we’ll note here is that PEX does typically come at a cheaper price tag than copper as well.
How long will PEX pipes last? Just as we mentioned with copper pipes, there are several factors that will come into play when determining how long PEX pipes may last. And as will be the case with any of the other materials, the quality of original installation will be very important! In any case, a general estimate for PEX pipes is roughly a 50 year lifespan.
Polybutylene
While each of the two materials listed above (copper and PEX) are very effective and widely used, the next material that we’ll discuss has been proven to not be quite as reliable. From the late-1970’s and into the mid-1990’s, polybutylene was seen as a popular option for those searching for an alternative to copper. Its flexibility meant it could be installed much more easily and it was less expensive too. A win-win, right? However, considering durability is one of the most important attributes for any piping material, that is where polybutylene failed greatly. Since they break down so quickly and eventually turn brittle, they’re no longer allowed to be used. Before we dive into the estimated lifespan of polybutylene pipes, I did want to mention one other point. In addition to all of the other variables that you’ll take into consideration when purchasing a home, you’ll also want to take note of the materials used throughout the home’s plumbing system. If it has polybutylene pipes, that should command your attention right away (particularly for the risks it presents). Another reason for this though is that you’ll want to check with your insurance company to see if polybutylene pipes are covered under your homeowners insurance policy. Due to their many shortcomings, they aren’t always covered!
How long will polybutylene pipes last? Given that polybutylene pipes are no longer allowed in any new installations, it should come as no surprise that they only have an estimated 10-15 year lifespan. I’m going to guess that you would like a little more reliability, especially with the potential downsides of any water damage. 10 years isn’t exactly a long lifespan for plumbing pipes! So…with that all being said, you may now wonder what to do if you have polybutylene pipes in your home. Considering they have proven to be not-so reliable, it would be wise to have a licensed plumber come out and take a look. After that, rather than wait for an issue to arise, it may be worth getting a quote for a repipe.
Call the Plumbing Piping Professionals at Stine-Nichols!
As you’ve likely noticed throughout this week’s blog post, there are more than a few different types of materials used for plumbing pipes. While some are certainly better than others, it’s important to understand the pros and cons associated with the various materials. Having said that, if you’re planning on embarking on a repiping or remodeling project, it’s always a good idea to have an experienced plumber who can provide recommendations to ensure everything is piped in correctly.
In the blog post above, we covered a couple of the more common materials used for plumbing pipes, as well as an option that you would like to avoid. However, that is by no means a complete list of every material that’s been used in residential homes or commercial facilities over the years. In an upcoming blog post, we’ll plan to highlight this topic once more and cover a few of the other piping materials. Stay tuned for that!
For those that live in the Kansas City area and need plumbing piping services, our team at Stine-Nichols Plumbing is here to lend a hand! Whether that be repairing frozen lines that have bursted, running all new lines for a remodel or anything else, you’re always welcome to give us a call at (816) 348-3481 for all of your plumbing piping needs.