Of all the homes across the country, a very large percentage
are piped in copper waterlines. Copper is strong, plentiful,
and resistant to temperature and pressure changes. In
addition to being used for interior waterlines, it is
also used for exterior water mains and service lines.
It has been used for several decades. It is not, however,
without its downsides. And when one of these faults rears
its head, we are there.
Ranging from 50-70 years,
copper has a very long average service life. If installed
correctly and carefully, you will likely never have a
problem. However, leaks can occur for a number of reasons.
Poor installation is the most common reason. If the copper
lines are connected too hastily or incorrectly, leaks
will surface at the joints. In these cases, we can simply
remove the damaged or leaking section of pipe and replace
it. Another reason for problems with copper lines is freeze
breaks. When the temperature drops suddenly to below freezing,
the water inside the pipes freezes and expands, splitting
the copper along its axis. Freeze breaks are common during
the winter season. Like with other leaks, we can remove
the damaged section of pipe and repair it for you very
easily.
Copper is a market-driven product. Therefore, prices for
copper repair and copper re-pipes will rise and fall with
the market. Copper is readily available almost anywhere,
but the prices can sometimes surprise you. Standard copper
piping also offer little in the way of flexibility. It
is for these reasons that plastic piping (i.e. CPVC or
PEX) is becoming the more popular and cost-effective way
to make repairs or re-pipe a home. CPVC and PEX (polyethylene)
are both very durable, are more resistant to temperature
than copper, are very flexible, and are much less expensive.
Generally, CPVC and PEX piping cost roughly 1/8 of what
copper does, and repairs made in it can be almost half
the price.
