In the long history of plumbing, many different materials have been used, starting with hollowed-out wood. In the era of modern indoor plumbing, the most popular material for many decades was galvanized steel, which proved more durable than any metal used before. Steel allowed indoor plumbing to become common, and many homes and businesses still have steel pipes today.
But because of steel’s tendency to corrode over time, copper pipes have superseded galvanized steel as the metal of choice during the last 70 years. Copper faces competition today from plastics such as PEX, PVC, and CPVC, but it still remains a popular choice. We’ll look at what makes copper an attractive choice for plumbing—and why sometimes plastic is the better option.
When you need a plumber in Gaithersburg, MD to take care of your plumbing, no matter what it’s made from, call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing.
Copper is a naturally corrosion-resistant metal, while galvanized steel will eventual leak and break because of corrosion damage. Although it is a durable metal (capable of withstanding 1,000 psi of pressure), copper is also lightweight, which makes it easier to work with (saving on labor costs) and also easier to extend over long stretches without supports. It’s also less expensive than steel and lead-free.
Copper is more environmentally friendly than plastic pipes because it consists of naturally occurring metal, whereas synthetic plastic creates a large amount of emissions during its manufacture.
Although copper pipes are superior in almost all ways to galvanized steel pipes, there are places were PEX and CPVC pipes surpasses copper. Although copper costs less the steel, it costs more than plastic. Copper pipes also encounter problems from water acidity, so they are not good to install for plumbing systems that draw water from a well.
Copper is flexible as far as metals go, but plastic pipes can bend to fit into almost any space necessary. The color-coding of plastic pipes makes them much easier to use for plumbers, who can designate certain colors for hot and cold piping.
When it comes to providing plumbing for your home, you don’t need to make a decision of all copper pipes or all plastic pipes. A skilled plumber will mix the two, using copper for main lines and then PEX and CPVC for branching lines, identifying the best material for each job. This is why you should always trust your plumbing to a knowledgeable professional instead of an amateur.
Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing offers high quality service when you need a plumber in Gaithersburg, MD. Call us today for all your needs for pipe repair and replacements.
If you’ve got a plumbing system in your home that may be in need of replacement or repair, you may be thinking about copper pipes as a possibility. If so, it’s important to remember that copper piping comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Since we’re always here to help, our Boss Plumbing team has gathered together plenty of information you’ll want to know before making your final decision.
Copper piping is extremely durable. Once copper piping is installed in your home, you can usually expect it to last 50-70 years.
If you have dealt with frozen water pipes in the past and don’t want to face that problem again, copper piping is a great way to prevent frozen pipes in your home. Compared to many other piping materials, copper pipes are far better at withstanding hot and cold temperature extremes.
If you have purchased an older home and want to make it environmentally friendly, copper plumbing pipes are a great way to help the environment when doing a whole house repiping project. When they are manufactured, copper pipes release far fewer chemicals and emissions into the environment. As an added bonus, copper pipes can be recycled upon being replaced.
Copper piping is very lightweight, making it great for plumbing repairs throughout your home. Because it is very flexible, our plumbing pros can install these pipes almost anywhere in your home, and can in fact extend it over long distances if needed.
If your home has had problems with slab leaks in the past due to corroded pipes, copper piping can solve this problem. Virtually corrosion-resistant, you can have us install copper pipes in your home and be rest assured your slab leak problem will come to an end.
If you have ever had a burst pipe in your home due to a furnace that breaks down on a cold winter day, you’ll be glad to know that copper pipes have high thermal ratings, making them very resistant to fire.
Finally, copper pipes do not contaminate water, meaning you and your family will not have rust in your water whenever you fill up a cup at your faucet.
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Unfortunately, copper piping is much more expensive than many types of common plastic piping used in plumbing, such as PEX or PVC. However, depending on the type of plumbing services you need and your project budget, you may find spending some extra dollars on high-quality copper piping will benefit your plumbing system in the years ahead.
Although this is minimal or almost nonexistent in most cases, you may notice the water coming out of your faucet may have a somewhat metallic flavor to it now and then. While most people have no problem with this, others find the taste unappealing.
Should your home be one that uses water from a well or other sources that may give the water a high acidity level, we here at Boss Plumbing generally do not recommend you consider using copper piping in your home.
In most cases, copper pipes only work best in homes that are connected to a municipal water supply system. Should you have copper pipes installed in a situation where you use well water, you may begin to experience problems with your pipes two or three years down the road. This could include your pipes making strange noises or doing other things that will have you calling us here at Boss Plumbing.
No. In fact, they are anything but unhealthy. Since they resist corrosion, you won’t have to worry about your copper pipes rusting, which cannot be said for older cast iron pipes you may currently have in your home. When you combine this with the fact that copper pipes release almost no emissions and chemicals, there is little reason to ever worry about these pipes being unhealthy for you and your family.
The one great thing about copper pipes is that once they are installed in your home, you should not have to worry about getting them replaced for at least half a century. In fact, if you are a younger homeowner and have copper piping installed in your home, you may never need to have these pipes replaced during your lifetime.
If you think the benefits of copper pipes outweigh the drawbacks, call the pros here at Boss Plumbing to schedule your copper piping installation. Along with our fantastic customer service and high levels of expertise, you’ll know you’re getting piping that will bring with it plenty of peace of mind for you and your family.
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