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Most homeowners don’t think too much about what type of piping their home has. Typically the only time the issue of pipes comes up is when there’s a problem with them. However, learning about what type of pipes your Loveland home has can save you a lot of time and trouble if you ever need to address a major plumbing problem. It will also help your plumber in Loveland get a better idea about what type of plumbing services you need, and whether your home will require a sewer line repair or a full replacement.
So, let’s take a look at some of the most common types of pipes:
Clay Pipes
Clay pipes are common in older homes built before or during the 1940s. Although they’re no longer as popular as they once were, clay pipes are environmentally friendly and will not degrade when exposed to chemicals or acids. The downside of clay pipes is that they’re heavy and brittle, and are often prone to breakage by underground roots. Clay pipes also tend to crumble over time, which can lead to problems like cracks and leakage.
Orangeburg Pipes
Orangeburg pipes are made from wood fibers and a water-resistant adhesive called coal tar. Orangeburg was extremely popular during the WWII era because it was light, cheap, and easy to cut, and continued to be commonly used until the 1970s. Because of its flimsy nature, Orangeburg pipes are not nearly as long-lasting as other types of piping and are no longer commonly used.
Cast Iron Pipes
Cast iron pipes were popularized in the 1950s and 1960s, and thanks to their durability are still found in many homes today. Most cast iron pipes have a longevity of 75 to 100 years and are impervious to fire and heat damage. However, they are extremely heavy and difficult to cut, and their tendency to rust and corrode can lead to problems like cracks, clogs and holes.
Concrete Pipes
Concrete pipes are one of the most durable forms of piping in use today. They typically last for at least 30 years and offer a solid combination of affordability and strength. The main disadvantage of concrete pipes is that they are heavy, and their bulkiness often requires special transportation and handling during installation.
PVC and ABS Pipes
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) are considered to be the new industry standard for piping, along with concrete pipes. PVC and ABS have been in use since the 1970s, and offer a number of benefits that other types of piping do not: they’re affordable, rust-proof, and are able to be used alongside several other types of piping.
What if my pipes are out of date?
After reading the list above, you might be panicked about the type of piping you’ve got in your house. If your pipes are clay, Orangeburg, or cast iron, there’s a distinct possibility that your Loveland home may require a sewer line repair or a complete replacement in the near future. You could always roll the dice and play the waiting game, but the experience of broken pipes is not something you want to have looming over you. It’s a better idea to nip the problem in the bud as soon as possible.
If you’re worried about the cost, as well as the damage to your property’s landscape that it may require, there might be a solution; “trenchless” technology is revolutionizing the way that pipes are worked on today.
Trenchless Technology
Trenchless technology is essentially high-tech equipment that can fix damaged water lines without any digging. Through advanced methods like microtunneling, directional drilling, and pipe jacking, going with a trenchless solution can save both your pipes and your backyard. In addition to being extremely effective, trenchless technology is much faster than traditional techniques. It can save you both time and money; you’ll spend less of your own time supervising and cleaning up, and the crew will spend less time on the actual job, meaning a lower labor cost for you.
Insurance Coverage
Before deciding what to do with your problem pipes, it’s important that you look into whether or not the job will be covered under your insurance. Unfortunately, most standard homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover sewer line repair or replacement in Loveland unless the pipes in question were damaged by another party, such as a tenant or a contractor, or by an “act of god”.
Even if your pipes are in excellent condition, it’s worth looking into getting special insurance for them to prevent future headaches. If you’re not sold on the idea of purchasing dedicated insurance for your pipes, another alternative is to start setting aside a small portion of your income every few months to save for unexpected home repairs. You might think that your money would be better spent purchasing home upgrades today than just sitting dormant in a savings account, but when your pipes finally burst and the smell of sewage fills your house, you’ll be glad you were prepared.
No matter what type of piping you’ve got in your home, you want to be able to explain to a plumber what they’ll be dealing with if the time comes for a necessary upgrade. The more information you have on the age and material of the piping in your house, the more accurate an assessment your plumber can give you about the cost and duration of the job. Dealing with these types of issues isn’t the most glamorous thing in the world, but it’s a necessary part of being a homeowner. Sewage trouble stinks, literally, but if you’re prepared for the worst, and work with someone who has proven experience and a solid track record, the whole process will definitely stink a little less.
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sewer line repair loveland
