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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Plumbing Pipes
Friday, January 17, 2020
Plumbing is not a hot topic of conversation at cocktail parties but, when the toilet backs up or a water pipe springs a leak, how the plumbing in your home has been installed and maintained becomes much more interesting. Here’s links with answers to some of our most often asked questions about plumbing pipes:
• How can I tell what type of plumbing pipe I have?
• Are plastic pipes (PVC, CPVC, and PEX) safe for drinking water?
• What do the ABS, PVC, CPVC, PB, and PEX plumbing pipe names mean?
• What are the abandoned pipes sticking out of the wall in my house?
• What are the pipes on my roof?
• Why is it a problem when a trap under a sink is installed backwards?
• How can I protect my pipes to keep them from bursting during a hard winter freeze in North Florida?
• Can galvanized steel pipe still be used for new water lines in a house?
• What are the code requirements for plumbing vent terminations?
• What are the code requirements for layout of drain piping under sinks?
• What causes a gurgling sound when a bathtub or sink drains?
• How can I tell if I have cast iron pipes in my house?
• Is it alright to have a shut-off valve on both the hot and cold water pipes at a water heater?
• Why can't a sanitary tee be used for a horizontal-to-horizontal drain pipe connection?
• Is a washing machine drain hose required to be secured at the standpipe?
• What is the difference between green and white sewer drain pipes?
• What is a "combination waste and vent" in a plumbing system?
• Does a "QEST" brand mark on pipe mean that it is polbutylene (PB)?
• What is a galvanized nipple?
• What are the pipes sticking out near my water valves?
• What is an "S-Trap" under my sink? Why is it a problem?
• Can PEX pipe be installed outside?
• Is PEX pipe freeze resistant?
• How do you accurately find a broken water pipe leak under the floor slab?
• What is the difference between water pipe and sewage (waste) pipe?
• What is the average life expectancy of PEX pipe?
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• What type of water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used in older houses?
• What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1950s residential plumbing?
• What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1960s residential plumbing?
• What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1970s residential plumbing?
• What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1980s residential plumbing?
• What type water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used for 1990s residential plumbing?
• What type of water supply and drain (DWV) pipes were commonly used in the 2000s?
• What type of water supply and drain (DWV) pipes are commonly used today?
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• What is the average life expectancy of galvanized steel pipe?
• What is the average life expectancy of ABS pipe
• What is the average life expectancy of copper pipe?
• What is the average life expectancy of PVC pipe?
• What is the average life expectancy of cast iron pipe?
• Is a hot water faucet handle required to be on the left?
• Why is sunlight exposure bad for PVC pipe?
• Why can't PVC be used for water pipe inside a house?
• What's that powdery crust on the pipe connections at the water heater?
• Can I make a trap under the sink from straight pipe and 90º elbows?
• What type of white plastic pipe has the marking CP-112-P in red letters?
• Why is there a flexible accordion pipe under the sink?
• What is the difference between PVC and ABS plumbing pipe?
• What is the difference between water service pipe and water supply pipe?
• Why is old galvanized steel water pipe a problem for homebuyers?
• What does polybutylene pipe look like? Why is it a problem?
• Which water pipes are an insurance problem and possibly uninsurable?
• Can PVC pipe be used for indoor plumbing?
• Should I buy a house with galvanized steel water pipes?
• Can you connect CPVC pipe directly to a gas water heater?
• Should I use a dielectric union or brass nipple to connect copper tubing and galvanized steel pipe?
• What problems are caused by connecting copper pipe/tubing directly to galvanized steel pipe?
• Is pipe insulation flammable?
• What does the Aqua-Rex Water Conditioner do?
• What are the requirements for installing a gas appliance connector?
• Why is Orangeburg sewer pipe a problem and how do I know if I have it?
• What is the average life expectancy of Orangeburg (bituminous fiber) pipe?
• What is plumbing venting? When was it first required for plumbing drain systems?
• Can gas piping be installed in a supply or return duct or plenum?
• Does a home inspector check and test shut-off valves?
• Will a sprinkler system work without a vacuum breaker (backflow preventer)?
• What devices are code approved for backflow prevention at a sprinkler (lawn irrigation) system?
• Where do I find the main water shut-off valve for my condominium?
• Does code require water pipes in the attic to be insulated?
• Does code require water pipes in a crawl space to be insulated?
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