different types of plumbing pipes

What Kind of Pipes Are in Your Home?

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Do you know what types of pipes are in your plumbing system? Are you planning to renovate your bathroom or build a new home? If you don’t know much about plumbing or pipes, we’ll go through the main types in this blog so you can make decisions for your home plumbing with confidence. 

Different Types of Pipes

There are a number of different types of pipes that can be found in residential buildings. Over the years, plumbers have come to use different materials as some of the newer types have advantages over the ones originally installed in older homes. Each type has its own uses, benefits, and disadvantages. 

The principle types of pipes being installed today are:

  • Galvanized steel
  • Copper
  • PVC and CPVC
  • PEX
  • ABS

Older homes tend to have more galvanized steel pipes. This is steel coated with a layer of zinc to protect it from corrosion, and this type of pipe was and is often used for water supply lines (for water not meant for drinking). 

There are several downsides to using galvanized steel piping. It’s heavy, and it can be difficult to work with. Galvanized steel also rusts over time and has a tendency to clog, which is why it’s no longer used for potable water. This type of pipe has a lifespan of 20 to 50 years and will need to be replaced. 

Copper is a very popular material for pipes and is commonly used for water supply lines because of its durability and resistance to corrosion. It comes in different thicknesses and can be flexible or rigid. Rigid copper piping is used in long extension pipes, whereas flexible copper piping is used in smaller spaces where it may need to be run around various types of building elements. 

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipes are made of vinyl and plastic and used most often for drain, waste, and vent systems. They have a number of advantages over metal pipes in that they are affordable, lightweight, easy to install, durable, and are resistant to corrosion. This explains their growing popularity. 

CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) is the same type of pipe as PVC, but it’s treated with a chemical to allow it to withstand higher temperatures and resist warping. It’s available in a wider variety of sizes than the untreated PVC. CPVC is ideal for high-water-pressure applications. Both PVC and CPVC are put together using glue instead of soldering. 

PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) pipes are a flexible and easy-to-install alternative to traditional copper or PVC pipes. They are frost resistant and typically used for water supply lines. Unlike PVC and CPVC, PEX piping is flexible so it can be used on longer segments where PVC or CPVC would need to be cut and glued. This makes it ideal for small spaces with other construction elements. PEX pipes are connected with clamps and do not need to be soldered or glued. This type of pipe is heat resistant and affordable, but the material can cause an odor in water. It can also only be used indoors. 

ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) pipes are similar to PVC pipes but are more durable and resistant to impact. They are commonly used for drain, waste, and vent systems.

Other types of pipes that are outdated but still found in many older homes are cast iron and polybutylene and high-density polybutylene pipes – all of which plumbers will recommend be replaced. Cast iron pipes can last a long time, but they are subject to rusting and clogging. Polybutylene and high-density polybutylene pipes were discontinued for plumbing use because they had a tendency to leak. 

Choosing the Best for Your Home

Weinkauf Plumbing & Heating was named Best Plumber in Alpena in 2022. When you call us with your plumbing needs, our trained plumbing professionals will provide expert guidance on the most suitable materials for the job according to your application and budget. All of our recommendations will be made with the idea of ensuring your plumbing continues to work seamlessly for as long as possible. Call us today at (989) 354-5427 for help with your project or renovation. 

 

water streams from burst pipes after freezing

How To Prevent Burst Pipes

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Winter in Michigan is never dull. The weather runs the gamut from beautiful soft snowfalls to ice squalls and bitter, below-zero temperatures. People and plumbing have to be tough enough to keep up with it. During an extreme weather event like a polar vortex, pipes bursting can be a real threat. Burst pipes can cause significant damage in a very short period of time. Let’s go over what they can do and how you can be proactive to keep your pipes from freezing. 

Frozen Pipes Are a Homeowner’s Nightmare

When a pipe freezes and breaks from the pressure of the water inside, so many things can go wrong. Water can be tremendously damaging. If the broken pipe is in a hard-to-access area or around electrical wiring, it’s even worse. If the water is not turned off right away, it can quickly flood the home and cause damage to the structure and its contents. 

Perhaps the most immediate danger is if the water comes in contact with the home’s electrical system or starts a fire. If you have a pipe break in your home, you should not only turn off the water at the entrance to the house, you must shut the electricity off in any of the affected areas and call an electrician (after you call a plumber). 

If enough water floods the home, it can weaken the walls, collapse ceilings and floors, and even damage the foundation. If it’s not immediately remediated by a professional, it can also create a breeding ground for mold and bacteria which is difficult to remove after it takes hold in a home. 

All of this repair work is very expensive for a homeowner. Replacing belongings is another cost, and in some cases, the owners have to find alternative housing while the home is being repaired. 

How To Prevent Burst Pipes

Fortunately, there are actions you can take to protect your home or cabin from this terrible outcome. 

First, the homeowner can insulate the pipes by wrapping them with heat tape or foam sleeves to keep them from freezing if the temperature drops. Make sure that any area of the home that has pipes running through it is adequately insulated. 

If you are going to be away from your home or cottage for a longer period of time, do not lower the thermostat below 55 degrees. Fifty-five degrees is cool enough to save on energy costs, but warm enough to protect your home from excessively cold temperatures. Turn the water off at the entrance to the house and open the faucets to allow the faucets to drip. Running water is less likely to freeze than standing water. It’s also helpful to ask a friend to stop by and check periodically to make sure the furnace has not failed and everything looks good. 

Have your plumber inspect your pipes from time to time for leaks or weaknesses and repair anything that they might find right away. Regular maintenance keeps problems from becoming emergencies.

If you are stuck without electricity and/or heat for any extended period of time, shut the water supply off to your home, and open your faucets. If your home does freeze, do not try to thaw your pipes with an open flame. Call a plumber if you see any evidence of leaks. Otherwise, wait until the home heats up again to turn the water back on. It’s always useful to have the number of a plumbing professional on hand in an emergency.

If you are worried about pipe leaks or need emergency plumbing services, call us at Weinkauf Plumbing & Heating. We are available 24 hours a day for emergencies, and we are ready to help. Winter is tough, but with a little preparedness, you can prevent burst pipes even in the harshest of weather. 


Customer Service certificate

Customer Service Is Our #1 Priority

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We are proud to announce that Weinkauf Plumbing & Heating was recently featured by the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce for our customer service. The Chamber awarded us a certificate of recognition. Weinkauf always makes our work with customers our top priority, so we are happy to see that being noticed. 

Weinkauf customer service

Why Is Customer Service So Important? 

At Weinkauf we work with our team of service professionals to hone their customer service skills. Our goal is to exceed your expectations for service. This is important because even though we sell products like furnaces, hot water heaters, and toilets, it’s really the installation and maintenance of those products that makes a difference to your comfort. You invite us into your homes and businesses to do our work, and we want to make that a pleasant and rewarding experience for you. In order to do that effectively we have focused on the following: 

Listening – Before we start work, it’s our goal to listen and understand what the problem is and the limitations you may have in solving it so we can recommend appropriate and affordable solutions. 

Responsiveness – Emergencies happen. In fact, any furnace or plumbing failure will feel like an emergency pretty quickly. Our emergency number is 989-354-5427. Don’t hesitate to call! We are ready to quickly address your plumbing or HVAC problem so you can go back to living your life without that added stress.

Proactivity – We consider it part of the job to anticipate our customers’ needs if possible and take steps to prevent issues from arising in the first place. This often means recommending additional products or maintenance to stop a problem from becoming a problem. 

Consistent Service – All of our customers are valued customers and receive the same high standard of care. 

To meet these goals for service we train our staff, providing them with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to effectively handle customer concerns. We also focus on feedback and continuous improvement, developing our team’s skills and abilities. 

Many of our customers have noticed our customer service efforts and left reviews for us on our Google profile. If you’re unsure of who to call to fix your clogged sink or broken air conditioner, take some time to read the reviews there from over a hundred satisfied customers.

Weinkauf services all existing HVAC and plumbing products as well as the ones we sell and install. Call us anytime with questions – our service vans are stocked and ready to roll. We want to be your choice for plumbing and heating professionals in the greater Alpena, Michigan area which is why we make customer service such a high priority.