Fear not, SamтАжthe landlord picked up the tab. SheтАЩs dealing with some family stuff, so I was trying to be a good tenant and handle before realizing how expensive the repairs would be. She was gracious and lovely from my first text to her. The galvanized steel pipes were all for waste water and had corroded from 70+ years of use. They appeared to be at least 95% clogged with corrosion, gunk, and sediment. As for the clean water, IтАЩve had it tested and everything has always been good. Knock on wood. Thanks for your concern, dear. Other than an underground section just outside the house, all the problems have been resolved. Just having some draining issues with the washing machine. Hopefully that gets addressed this week. But, like everything, itтАЩs expensiveтАжmostly due to the cost to excavate. Fun stuff!
So, your fresh water pipes are in good shape, and I am glad for that. Galvanized steel is usually not used for any more than nipples on wastewater; hence, it is interesting to learn that your house had long runs of that. The primary reason is that, indeed, steel pipe is not good at carrying wastewater sustainably, with black cast iron or
PVC-40 being the choice. And you are correct, unburying any line is hard and
unpleasant work; but there are some guys in this world who just love to dig, thanks be to God. We also now have some delightful small hydraulic machines that can do some of that drudgery safely.
. Many people feel shame for having the plumber see their pipes in a mess, and that is entirely one-sided. Plumbers only see pipes in a mess and admire their work for a few brief moments of gratification as they flush water or gas through the new for testing and start-up. Things look much less bad to a plumber than they do to a customer who has been living in a state of denial for months (or days.) When that job looks good, the plumber goes on to the next mess. I love plumbers and do not begrudge them the prices they must charge.
Thanks, Sam. The only embarrassment for me was how little I know about home maintenance. One of the many reasons I rent, I guess. lol
Hoping my landlord approves the extra excavation and repair. ItтАЩs making it hard to do laundry. And I donтАЩt need another reason not to do laundry. lol
Cheers to youтАжapprecaite your kind, wise words. ЁЯМИтЬМя╕П
1.) Wait, what? You paid for a re-pipe on someone else's house?
2.) No, galvanized steel piping is not poisonous. Zinc is not toxic, especially
not in the infinitesimal amounts that dissolve into cold water.
3.) Copper piping can, indeed, be toxic if it is set with lead solder, which it
has not been for potable water since 1987, so copper is now the best
you can get.
4.) Sounds like the landlord's galvanized steel piping held up pretty well if it
was seventy years old and still carrying water tightly.
5.) Your landlord should report the price of the re-pipe on her/his IRS 1040,
as your payment of it is a revenue enhancement for the landlord. Are
you going to get any rent relief in exchange for your expenditure?
Sam
Fear not, SamтАжthe landlord picked up the tab. SheтАЩs dealing with some family stuff, so I was trying to be a good tenant and handle before realizing how expensive the repairs would be. She was gracious and lovely from my first text to her. The galvanized steel pipes were all for waste water and had corroded from 70+ years of use. They appeared to be at least 95% clogged with corrosion, gunk, and sediment. As for the clean water, IтАЩve had it tested and everything has always been good. Knock on wood. Thanks for your concern, dear. Other than an underground section just outside the house, all the problems have been resolved. Just having some draining issues with the washing machine. Hopefully that gets addressed this week. But, like everything, itтАЩs expensiveтАжmostly due to the cost to excavate. Fun stuff!
So, your fresh water pipes are in good shape, and I am glad for that. Galvanized steel is usually not used for any more than nipples on wastewater; hence, it is interesting to learn that your house had long runs of that. The primary reason is that, indeed, steel pipe is not good at carrying wastewater sustainably, with black cast iron or
PVC-40 being the choice. And you are correct, unburying any line is hard and
unpleasant work; but there are some guys in this world who just love to dig, thanks be to God. We also now have some delightful small hydraulic machines that can do some of that drudgery safely.
. Many people feel shame for having the plumber see their pipes in a mess, and that is entirely one-sided. Plumbers only see pipes in a mess and admire their work for a few brief moments of gratification as they flush water or gas through the new for testing and start-up. Things look much less bad to a plumber than they do to a customer who has been living in a state of denial for months (or days.) When that job looks good, the plumber goes on to the next mess. I love plumbers and do not begrudge them the prices they must charge.
- Sam
Thanks, Sam. The only embarrassment for me was how little I know about home maintenance. One of the many reasons I rent, I guess. lol
Hoping my landlord approves the extra excavation and repair. ItтАЩs making it hard to do laundry. And I donтАЩt need another reason not to do laundry. lol
Cheers to youтАжapprecaite your kind, wise words. ЁЯМИтЬМя╕П