Understanding Pipe Repair

Difficult pipe repair decisions face homeowners who find out that they have a leak in their plumbing or experience restricted water flow from their copper piping. There are several opinions held in the plumbing world (not to mention on the Internet) about what the best solutions are for pipe repairs.

Homeowners may know little to nothing about pipe repairing when their pipes become damaged. This makes the decision about pipe repairs even more difficult. Every plumber who has a specific method for pipe repairs is likely to believe that his or her particular solutions for pipe repairs are the best and most practical solutions for pipe repairs.

There are some things that a homeowner should consider when deciding what to do about pipe repairs. These things include the type of pipe that needs the repair, the type of damage that necessitates the pipe repairs, and the cost vs. effectiveness of the types of pipe repairs.

Iron pipes are old-fashioned pipes that builders of residences do not use anymore. They rust and clog easily because iron rusts and collects sediments and minerals on the interior walls. Builders use copper pipes most often, but copper pipes tend to be the most expensive type of pipe. There is a debate among experts about whether copper pipes can corrode or collect sediment. Some experts say that since copper pipes do leak and end up with restricted water flow, which necessitates pipe repairs, copper pipes suffer the same problems as iron pipes. A few builders have recently begun to build houses with CPVC pipes (a type of PVC pipe). No incidences of corrosion or leakage have necessitated the need for pipe repairs with these pipes yet.

If a plumber suggests completely repiping a house plumbed with copper or iron, the homeowner should first look into pipe repairs that involve coating the inside of the existing pipes with an epoxy barrier. This repairs the pipes and prevents further decay of the pipes.