The Benefits of Copper Repiping

If you are currently experiencing things like rust in your water, or low water pressure, and you have galvanized pipes installed, you should definitely consider copper repiping. Both low water pressure and rust are the results of galvanized iron pipes aging and rusting. The zinc that was used to make the galvanized pipes and keep the iron from rusting erodes over time. Once the zinc is gone, the iron is exposed and begins to rust. The rust can form into a blockage in the pipes similar to hardening of the arteries from cholesterol, causing the reduction in water pressure and rust in the water.

Replacing your old rusty galvanized pipes with copper pipes will ensure that you will never experience these issues again, for as long as the pipes are in place. This is due to the fact that copper doesn’t break down in the presence of water. It doesn’t rust.

Tools to Have in Your Plumbing Toolbox

It’s important to have the right tool for the job. And there are a number of tools that you’ll likely to use when you’re working on a plumbing project. Having a good pipe wrench is a must. It’s important to get one that is a good quality. There’s nothing more frustrating than a cheap tool that doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to.

Next, you’ll want to have a penetrating lubricant to help you get apart any couplings that have rusted together. Having a good propane torch is a must for sweating copper pipes.

What to Do if Something Goes Wrong While Repiping

If something goes wrong during your copper pipe repair, it’s a good idea to have the number of an emergency plumber handy. Having the ability to call someone prepared in advance is great piece of mind. If you already have a good relationship with them before you start, you might be able to get some basic tips over the phone before they come out.

Is it Time to Make the Copper Repiping Change?

If you’re ready to make those troublesome plumbing issues go away, and you’ve got the tools for the job and a backup plan in place, you won’t regret making the decision to start your copper repiping project.

Why Copper Plumbing  Saves Money

Copper may cost more in the short term, but over time, it generally will outlast other types of piping. That means there is less of a chance of needing a repair or experiencing costly water damage from a pipe breaking. It’s like having an insurance policy that you only have to pay the premium for once, and then you’re covered going forward.

Another benefit of having copper plumbing comes when you go to resell your home. That premium you paid will now pay you in the form of higher resale values, since you can pass along that insurance policy to the next owner of the home.

Why Copper Plumbing is Green

Copper is green for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it doesn’t allow bacteria to grow. That means your pipes aren’t going to be contaminating your water. In the event that a fire should occur in the home, copper won’t burn and release harmful chemicals into the air, unlike plastic pipes. Copper won’t absorb foreign substances, further adding to the continued cleanliness of your drinking water.

When Something Goes Wrong

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as having a problem with your plumbing, especially if it happens when you’re away from home. Coming home to a house full of water is a chore that no one wants to face. Copper pipe repair, when it is necessary, is not that much more expensive than other types of plumbing.

And since the majority of plumbers prefer working with copper plumbing, and actually have it in their own homes, finding an emergency plumber will be easily accomplished. A simply search online or a quick look in the yellow pages will yield a number of plumbers to contact to get the repair done fast.

Conclusion

As you can see, choosing copper plumbing vs. other types of plumbing will save you money in the long run, help protect you and your family’s health as well as the overall environment, and is readily repaired by most plumbers today. The choice is clear. Copper pipes will benefit you now and in the future.

1. Remove the old faucet.

Using a plumbing wrench or other tools remove your old faucet.  This will include turning off the water supply and then removing the supply lines from your old faucet.  Hopefully you have shut off valves below the kitchen sink, but if not, then turn off the main water shut off.  I would suggest that this would be a great time to find ball valve shut offs to install below here such that you can turn off the water to just the kitchen sink while the entire remainder of the house still has full usage of the water.

2. Read the directions from the new faucet

An important step for all people who are about to install a new faucet.

3. Tighten the nuts to attach the faucet to the counter

Using a plumbing basin wrench (much easier) or another tool, tighten the large nuts to get the new faucet to be taut against the counter for years of continued use.

4.Connect the water supply lines to the faucet.

I prefer to use the flexible supply lines that have metal sheathing around them due to being easier to connect and also provide years of use.  You don’t need to use these metal sheathed lines, but it makes the job a ton easier.  Otherwise use whatever you have to connect the copper supply pipe to the faucet hot and cold water.

5. Flush Out supply lines

Just to ensure that the water supply lines do not contain any debris from solder or flux run them into a bucket or similar prior to connecting them to your new faucet.

6. Connect supply lines to new faucet

Using a basin wrench or similar connect the supply lines to the faucet.  If your faucet has a side sprayer DO NOT turn on your supply yet or you will get water everywhere.

7.  Connect any accompanying items to your faucet

This includes, but is not limited to, side sprayers and the like.  Follow the instructions in the guide that comes with your faucet to ensure proper installation.

8. Turn on the water supply and test out your next sink!
Simply turn your shutoff valves back on, and check for any leaks below the sink.  Once you are certain that there are no leaks below the sink, turn on the faucet and ensure that everything is running properly.

Here is a video that goes over the entire process as described above.

1. Turn off the water, flush the toilet, and then use a sponge or similar to remove all the remaining water.

The premise here is to basically get the toilet ready for removal.  Any precautions you take here will pay off later in less messes, so I would suggest not skimping.

2. Remove the nuts on the bolts and the supply line that attach the tank to the base and then remove the tank.

A socket set or a wrench will work just fine.  Simply remove the nuts from these bolts, use the wrench to remove the water supply line and then grab the tank firmly and move it to a place out of your way.

3. Remove the nuts that hold the base to the floor flange and remove the base.

Sometimes there are decorative covers above these nuts.  If so remove them by tapping lightly with your wrench or similar and then use your socket set or wrench to remove the nuts.  This could be a little different if this is an toilet. From here a little elbow grease is all that is required to get the bowl off the floor and away from the area.

4. Clean up the flange and stop up the pipe to make it ready for your new toilet.

The wax ring will invariably still be a part of the flange and can be removed using a putty knife.  Don’t kill yourself getting 100% of it off, but make sure you do get as much as you can.  Place a rag in the pipe to prevent the sewer gasses from wafting up into your home.

5. Place the wax ring on the new toilet

Flip the new toilet base over and place your new wax ring over the hole that will go into the floor.  Ensure that it is firmly stuck to the base.

6. Place the toilet base with wax ring onto the toilet flange over the flange bolts

Ensure that everything is in alignment and then place the base over the flange bolts.  Slowly rock the toilet back and forth until it is firmly even with the floor.

7. Tighten the nuts on the flange bolts

At first hand tighten.  Use a level and shim where necessary.  Once shimmed level with the ground, tighten the bolts with a wrench or socket set.  Don’t over tighten or you will often times crack the porcelain.

8. Place the tank on the base, attach the supply line and tighten the nuts on the bolts.

Guide the tank bolts into the grooves in the base and tighten the bolts.  Attach the supply line.

9. Caulk around the base

Using bathroom caulk, apply the caulk around the base and smooth with your finger.  This step is simply to make the base look nice when against the floor.

10. Turn on the water supply and happy flushing!

Here is a video that shows the entire process:

If you don’t have time to complete the task yourself, or you don’t feel comfortable messing with the plumbing in your house, you are going to need to call in a professional.  The first thing to do when you’re looking for a plumber is ask around.  Talk to your friends and family about plumbing experiences they have had, and ask for recommendations.  Another good place to get information about the best plumbers in town is the clerk in a hardware or plumbing supply store.  If you can’t find anything by word of mouth, you can always check the yellow pages.

Know that there are two main fields in plumbing; there are the plumbers who work on repairs and the ones who do remodeling and install new constructions.  Make sure that the plumber you choose is specialized for the task at hand.  Also, make sure to pick a plumber who carries workers’ compensation insurance, which provides liability coverage for problems that may arise.

Once you have a specific contractor picked out, ask about how long that contractor has been in business, and the kinds of work he or she has done in the past.  Also, find out whether materials the plumber is going to use are covered in the given price.  Ask the plumber for the names of previous customers, and contact those people to see if they were satisfied.  There are organizations, such as the Better Business Bureau, that you can call to find out about any complaints that have been filed against any particular contractor.

Be aware of the different ways that plumbers can charge you.  Plumbing work can either be charged with a flat rate, or charged by the hour.  Generally, if you have only one project, it is better to get a flat rate, because professional plumbers can charge quite a lot per hour (between fifty and a hundred dollars).  If you have more than one project you need completed, it may be more cost-effective to pay an hourly rate.  If the task you want completed is a big job, it is normal for contractors to expect up to ten percent up front, and more installments as time passes, depending on how long the project will take.