Plumbing
Waste Plumbing in House
Galvanized plumbing has become an issue for many insurance companies in Barrie, ON and I am sure throughout Canada. The main concern is that galvanized piping basically rots from the inside out, thereby giving no warning until a pipe bursts. This could occur when you are away for the weekend and result in flood damages in the thousands. Galvanized waste piping is generally not a problem, although some insurance companies may balk at insuring any home with any galvanized plumbing.
Steel waste lines do present their own problems. Manufactured steel waste plumbing does present some unique concerns. They have a relatively short life expectancy since the steel corrodes and the rough inner surface created by the corrosion can cause blockages as solids get hung up.
Copper waste plumbing was used until the mid 1960’s. Copper piping was used for branch drain lines, main stacks, and vent piping. It performs all of these functions very well. In single family residential use, it has become rare, since plastic waste plumbing is much less expensive to purchase and install. In multi-family construction, copper waste plumbing is sometimes used where authorities will not allow combustible plastic piping because of fire separation requirements and rules regarding penetrating them with services.
The joints in copper piping are soldered and an indefinite life expectancy is projected under single family residential conditions.
ABS plastic piping has dominated the market for waste plumbing material because of its low cost and longevity. It is used for drains, wastes and vents and is connected by using a plastic cement (glue). Its only disadvantage is that it is somewhat noisy when water is running through it. Efforts to control the noise include wrapping it with fiber glass insulation.
Cast iron piping was used for the main stack in houses up until the 1950s. Its life expectancy is projected to be fifty years and up. It employs a bell-and-spigot connection traditionally with oakum packed into the joint and caulked with lead to seal it. There is also hubless cast iron pipe joined with neoprene sleeves clamped over the joint. Cast iron is expensive and awkward to work with, because it is very heavy. Plumbers use a chain cutting device which is cumbersome and difficult to use and which can cause shattered pipe when things go wrong.
Cast iron waste piping generally fails in one of two ways. The pipe can rust through, often in a pin hole pattern. It is also prone to splitting along a seam, particularly on horizontal runs.
Lead waste plumbing was used up until the 1950s, to connect plumbing fixtures to a main cast iron or copper drain. Lead was used because of its resistance to corrosion, and its workability. A piece of lead pipe can be bent fairly easily by hand.
