Maintaining your apartment building’s plumbing is more than simply knowing which Houston commercial plumbing company to call during an emergency. Knowing the particulars of your plumbing system can go a long way. It can even save you money in emergency repairs and water damage.
One way to start taking a proactive approach to plumbing service in your multifamily building is knowing what type of material your pipes are made of. This can help you and your plumber work together to keep the plumbing system in good condition.
Ask Your Houston Commercial Plumbing Company about Your Pipes’ Lifespan
There are many things that affect your plumbing system’s lifespan. For instance, how well you maintain it, how old it is, and the type of pipe material used. Knowing the expected lifespan of your plumbing system can help you create a well-designed maintenance plan. This can save your community in the long-run. So, it’s important to discuss the expected lifespan of your pipes with your plumber.
Understanding how long you can expect your pipes to last can help you make important decisions, like whether you need Houston commercial plumbing repair or whether it’s time for repiping your building. One of the first ways to help determine this is to know what types of pipes your commercial plumbing system uses.
Common Pipe Materials for Multifamily Plumbing
In most cases, there are going to be multiple different types of pipes in your apartment building. There are several systems that work together to supply clean water and take away dirty water. For instance, water supply systems, drain systems, and vents to provide airflow. There’s often no way to tell what type of pipes you have in your building without looking at them. So, it’s often a good idea to just ask your Houston commercial plumber.
Some pipe materials you might have in your multifamily plumbing system include:
- Cast iron
- Copper
- Brass
- PVC or CPVC
Older apartment buildings often have cast iron pipes for the drainage system. This is because these pipes can last around 25 to 35 years and also naturally help suppress noise, which is a big plus for multifamily buildings.
In addition, your building might also use copper or brass pipes, particularly in the water supply system. Copper (and copper alloys like brass) can last a long time, sometimes 70 years or more. It also naturally resists rust and corrosion. However, the main drawback is that copper is often more expensive than other types of pipes. Therefore, it’s often used sparingly in plumbing systems.
In newer buildings, your plumbing system might use plastic pipes, such as PVC or CPVC. These pipes can last up to 100 years or more and are an inexpensive material. Your Houston plumbing company may recommend using PVC or CPVC to replace leaking or broken apartment pipes in older systems because, unlike other metal pipes, plastic won’t encourage corrosion if it comes into contact with, say, copper or stainless steel pipes. One drawback is that these pipes can soften and warp at high temperatures. PVC pipes may start to do this at 140°F while CPVC may withstand up to 200°F. Therefore, in some applications where water will be hotter than that, your system likely uses other types of pipes.
Expert Houston Commercial Plumbing Repair & Service from AAA Plumbers
When you need high quality commercial plumbing services at competitive prices, call our team at AAA Plumbers. We specialize in plumbing services for multifamily communities and commercial buildings. Whether you need regular maintenance or need emergency repairs, our experts are here for you. Call us at (713) 462-4753 day or night to request service!
