*
I have a 1903 house with galvanized (water supply) and cast-iron (waste) plumbing that needs help. I’m told that there is a new fangled system for lining these pipes with some sort of space-age material on the inside as an alternative to replacing them. Has anyone heard of this kind of thing? If so, can you point me to the supplier/manufacturer?
Thanks,
– Narendra
Replies
*
I don't know of any products to slip inside existing pipes (too variable with corrosion, rust), but there is a type of plastic suplly pipe called PEX (brand names include Wirsbo, Vanguard) that can typically be snaked through wall cavities with greater ease than copper or galvanized replacement pipes.
There is a discussion of this issue in the Hometime Archives called "PEX vs. copper for water distribution. Experiences?"
Here is the link for that thread:
http://www.taunton.com/cgi-bin/WebX?13@@.ee71be5
My wife and I are planning a kitchen/bath remodel in our 1909 Craftsman, and will be using Wirsbo (well, the plumber will be using it). I've read as much as I can about it, and feel fairly confident that it will work well. It has been used for 25 years in Europe with good results.
A few keys: Get a plumber who is certified to install it. There are some important issues to know about, and the more experience the plumber has with this product the better. It should not be exposed to light - not a problem inside wall cavities, but in daylight basements it will need to be shielded. I've also read that expansion loops need to be installed at key points to accomodate heat/cold expansion and contraction. However, there are other advantages: few if any joints, much greater freeze resistance (the water inside PEX pipe will freeze, but rarely if ever bursts), snakes through existing walls for retrofiting (your situation), etc.
Read the discussion. Good luck, GREG
*Narendra:There is such a product that is used in the Civil Engineering field for lining larger drainpipes. The "material", which is sort of a flexible bladder is slid into the pipe runs and then expanded with, I believe, compressed air of liquid. Chemicals are used to cure the bladder into a hard, smooth walled pipe. This process is cost effective in my field due to excavation costs etc. but I don't know about residential uses. I looked in my library for som info but came up short. I'll keep looking. Do an internet search on pipe lining/liners. good luck.
*
I have a 1903 house with galvanized (water supply) and cast-iron (waste) plumbing that needs help. I'm told that there is a new fangled system for lining these pipes with some sort of space-age material on the inside as an alternative to replacing them. Has anyone heard of this kind of thing? If so, can you point me to the supplier/manufacturer?
Thanks,
- Narendra
*
The design of residential piping systems is based on the capacity i.e.the inside diameter of the pipe. Anything that reduces this will interfer with the system. You certainly can't put anything into 1/2" and 3/4" water lines. I doubt you could put anything into 1 1/2" - 3" DWV lines that would fix any defects. You are faced with doing things the old fashioned way--replacing the pipes.