Water pipe leakages are common in most plumbing systems nowadays. It often costs a lot of money to repair such damages. Copper pipes are the basic components of a plumbing system. Although certain problems are observed in copper pipes but these are relatively rare and can be easily detected. Copper pipes are a better alternative when compared to lead pipes, as they are stronger, lighter and a cheaper option. Problems with Copper Pipes Using copper pipelines often causes cuprosolvency that is characterized by the formation of blue-green stains on the sink surface and taps. It occurs as the corrosive material inside the copper pipelines reacts with water flowing through it.

Another problem arises when a layer is formed inside the drinking water copper pipelines. Long period of stagnation of water leads to such layer formation. Poor plumbing system along with such layer formation can cause serious damage. Stagnation in the drinking water-pipes can be avoided by carefully designing the plumbing system or by replacing the affected pipeline with a smaller diameter pipe line. Often a transparent or opaque color can be noticed in water. Such problems occur when highly soluble copper ions mix with the water in the pipe that makes the water appear blue. Plumbing contractors in South Carolina deal with such problems in the following ways :

• By using super-chlorination to turn the pipe into more protective black copper oxide
• By adopting methods to prevent long-term chlorine residual
• By adding bi-carbonates or polyphosphates in the pipeline Prolonged corrosion in a particular area will break the protective film inside the pipeline causing perforations.

As a result of this, leakages can develop in hot and cold water pipe lines and in hot water cylinders. Such problems can be solved in the following ways:
• Check that water inside the hot water pipeline remains hot and the cold water pipeline is kept cool
• Corrosion deposits can be cleaned with the help of citric acid
• When the cold water pipeline is affected, hot water above 60ºC should be flushed through the pipeline
• Use filter of marble chips or carbon dioxide to add carbonate hardness which helps in solving such problems Another way to solve that problem is by maintaining high water velocities or turbulence which prevents the thickening of corrosion layer.

Companies specializing in plumbing in South Carolina easily solve this problem with advanced plumbing designs. They suggest that the water flow velocity should not exceed 2 m/s in cold water and 0.5 m/s in hot water pipeline systems.

With the help of above mentioned techniques it is easily possible to maintain copper pipelines. This is necessary for the proper maintenance of the plumbing system, which forms an essential part of an overall home improvement plan.

Posted by : samcosc
@ Jan 31, 2011