Lead Pipe Replacement: Things to Note

Lead Pipe Replacement: Things to Note

Lead was a common material used in plumbing in the early 20th century.

From before 1950, the majority of pipes installed were made of lead and it's not uncommon for some homes today to still have their original lead pipes in place. Lead was cheap, it was rust resistant and it was very easy to weld, which made it the material of choice for pipes.

The popularity of lead quickly declined due to health concerns about lead contamination in drinking water. Copper and plastic replaced lead as the go to materials for affordable and reliable piping. Finding out that your pipes are made from lead is not something to overly panic about just yet, but it is recommended you take relevant steps to reduce the risk of lead poisoning in your home.

Older homes built prior to 1950 could still have lead pipes in place and whether you already own a home like this or you are thinking of putting in an offer, it's imperative that you determine what pipes the home has, so you can identify a plan of action to make the necessary changes to protect your family in the long run.

Homes that were built in the 1980's could potentially still have some lead in the piping. While the pipes themselves were not made of lead, lead was still used to solder the pipes during this period.

Now before you panic about having lead in your pipes, you want to consider your two options. The first option is to replace the pipe with copper piping or PVC, depending on your preference, if you want to use the traditional method. A more convenient and affordable option is to embrace trenchless technology and save yourself a lot of time, money, energy and frustration.

Traditional pipe repair is often the first solution that homeowners think of they hear they have lead pipes in their homes. The desire to eliminate the lead from the area is strong and wanting to protect your family is a main priority, which is completely understandable. Before you make a rash decision, continue reading to find out more about traditional repair methods and the amount of damage this type of repair can cause to your property in the long run.

Traditional repair requires the removal of the existing lead pipe and replacing it with a healthy alternative, such as copper, composite or PVC. This requires a team of plumbers to dig trenches in your yard, accessing the lead pipes for replacement. Once their work is completed, they fill in the trenches and you will be responsible for carrying out any repair work needed to landscaping and paving. This is a long and expensive experience which is dangerous for the plumbers and frustrating for the property owners.

The next solution is to embrace trenchless technology. Trenchless technology is better known as CIPP (Cured in place pipe) lining and is an effective way to create a new pipe within an old pipe casing. Basically you have a pipe within a pipe. Now this method will not eliminate the copper completely, but will provide you with a strong, impenetrable and durable barrier inside the pipe to protect you and your family against the lead casing on the outside.

CIPP lining is an effective solution which eliminates the need to dig deep trenches, This can save you considerable money, time and energy in the long run. The process requires a small team of plumbers to access the pipe, usually through a manhole cover. Here they use camera equipment to identify the problem.

The pipe is then cleaned and all debris removed to create a clean and smooth surface for the pipe relining. The team will then soak felt in epoxy resin which is then pulled into place (PIP) an allowed to cure, forming a strong and hard internal barrier within the pipe.

Nu Flow Tech is a leading drain and sewer line repair specialist company based in San Diego, California. This well-established company was formed in 1998 and originally manufactured and installed patented trench-less drain and sewer lines to single family homes throughout the country. Today, they are a global company that developed a new method in 2000 similar to a stent used to open the arteries to the heart. Nu Flow Tech offers their services using plumbing partners on a global scale offering a unique internal bladder to repair damaged drain and sewer lines in an effective, fast and affordable manner. To find out more, visit their website at https://www.nuflowtech.com.