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ORANGEBURG PIPE & CLAY PIPE

Orangeburg pipe aka "fiber conduit" or "bituminous fiber" pipe. A mid-1800's invention.  Lost cost, easy to install but brittle & prone to failure.  It is no longer acceptable by code.  Clay pipe has the longest life span and use. It has been in use for thousands of years. Extremely strong and durable, its unaffected by chemicals such as acids found in food products. It is heavy and difficult to handle.  While very hard to crush it needs to be supported, ideally encased in concrete to provide support or under extreme pressure from roots it will snap.   

CAST IRON PIPE

Cast iron pipes were introduced to the U.S. in the early 1800's.  Up to the early 1970's it would be found in most residential and commercial sewer systems installed under slab.  Today it is still used in commercial, industrial, municipal, and high rise residential.  The life span of cast iron pipe is can be as high as 75-100 years. It is more expensive and harder to install.  The installation requires a higher degree of skill and specialized tools not normally found with today's plumbers. Over time, the bottom of the horizontal pipe “channels” away or literally disappears due to the flow of water through the ferrous cast iron pipe.  The resulting exposure to the soil below the pipe leads to soil erosion creating voids below the drain system and can cause foundation settling of the building structure above the piping system.  This erosion process causes clogs, stoppages, and sewer pipe failures in homes. 

TYPICAL DRAIN LINE FAILURES

-COLLAPSED/CRUSHED

-BELLIED

-CRACK

-ROOT INTRUSION

-RUST

GALVANIZED PIPE

Galvanized pipe is no longer used in homes, galvanized pipes was used extensively as water supply lines in new constructions prior to the 1960's.  Galvanized pipe has a tendency to react with minerals in the water, producing a build up of calcium which will lead to reduced water pressure. The pipe rusts from the inside out and over time they might corrode to the point where the pipes are completely restricted due to rust. 

COPPER PIPE

Contrary to popular belief copper water piping doesn't last forever.  In original design it was projected to last for 20-25 years, but failure can occur in as little as two years due to water chemistry.  It is the most widely used material for plumbing systems because of its ease of use, resistance to corrosion, and resistance to permeation by liquids and gases.  Hot or warm spots on the floor, soaked carpeting, ceilings or walls and high water bills are signs of failing copper pipes.

Pinhole leaks are a result of internal pitting corrosion of copper.

PVC PIPE

It wasn't until the late 60's early 70's that plastic PVC sewer pipe was approved for use in plumbing.  It quickly became the choice for sewage pipe and supply lines in new home construction.  PVC provides for much easier installations, cheaper materials, and easier production. 

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