Old Copper Pipes

[hibb]

I replaced the lines that went over to the sink and to the toilet. The
lines in this picture go to the outlets to the tub and over to where
the split off to the sink and toilet.

Would you replace those too if it were you?

If you think they should be replaced, would you use something other
than the usual copper pipes and fittings like the SharkBite products
for example?

Have you tried the "SharkBite" brand of products? If so what do you
think of them or have they developed any sort of reputation good or
bad?

Thanks, David

 

[hibb]

Ooops forgot the link to the picture. This picture is posted through
"yousendit dot com" instead of FileAve that I used before that caused
some folks some concern about malware.

http://tinyurl.com/248evr8

Thanks, David

 

[jeff_wisnia]

I replaced the lines that went over to the sink and to the toilet. The
lines in this picture go to the outlets to the tub and over to where
the split off to the sink and toilet.

Would you replace those too if it were you?

They don't look that bad to me.

And, if they are not leaking at those fittings,

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Jeff

 

[Jon Danniken]

Ooops forgot the link to the picture. This picture is posted through
"yousendit dot com" instead of FileAve that I used before that caused
some folks some concern about malware.

http://tinyurl.com/248evr8

Thanks, David

If it's just an image, use http://www.imageshack.us/ , then people can just
view it in their browser instead of having to "download" it.

Jon

 

[hibb]

hibb wrote the following:


Yousendit is for file transfers, like Napster, etc. I don't want to
download files to my computer unless I am completely secure that the
site is OK.
Use any of the free image sharing sites where no downloading is required.
Photobucket, Imageshack, Picasa, etc.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

Yeah, I'll have to try some of those. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[hibb]

Here is a new link to the picture using Imageshack. Hope it works for
you'all.

http://yfrog.com/mjdscn7920j

 

[Larry W]

Ooops forgot the link to the picture. This picture is posted through
"yousendit dot com" instead of FileAve that I used before that caused
some folks some concern about malware.

http://tinyurl.com/248evr8

Thanks, David

If that is just green discoloration on the surface of copper pipe, I
would not replace them. They have many years of life left.

 

[hibb]

If that is just green discoloration on the surface of copper pipe, I
would not replace them. They have many years of life left.

--
    There is always an easy solution to every human problem -- neat,
    plausible, and wrong."                                (H L Mencken)

     Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland - lwasserm(a)sdf. lonestar. org

I didn't notice any soft spots that wanted to kink when I was pulling
them to the side to get to other things.

I was asking because these will be under the tub far enough that they
will be hard to get to if something happens. This is an upstairs
bathroom. but it won't be used much and I might even turn the water
off to the upstairs most of the time.

Thanks, David

 

[RicodJour]

If it's just an image, usehttp://www.imageshack.us/, then people can just
view it in their browser instead of having to "download" it.

Yep. I didn't look at the picture for that reason. I have enough
crap on my computer.

R

 

[RicodJour]

 I didn't notice any soft spots that wanted to kink when I was pulling
them to the side to get to other things.

I was asking because these will be under the tub far enough that they
will be hard to get to if something happens. This is an upstairs
bathroom. but it won't be used much and I might even turn the water
off to the upstairs most of the time.

Thanks, David

Thanks for posting the picture on a normal hosting site.

In such situations, where something won't be accessible after the work
is completed, and getting to it for a repair would be problematic, the
thing turns into a Wallya. Wallya at it, might as well replace those
pipes. Copper corrodes from the inside out, and as someone else
mentioned, the first signs of a problem is some green patina spots
showing up, usually near the joints where someone was liberal with the
flux. So, I have to disagree with Bill's assesment. If the patina is
more or less uniform on the pipe, fine, but if there are localized
green spots with white stuff around, then that's a bad sign. The pipe
has corroded from the inside and the change in patina somehow
indicates thinner material where the pipe has eroded. This seems to
happen more in fittings and probably has to do with turbulent flow or
some such and/or excess flux.

Sharkbite fittings work great, and they are rated for burial in slabs,
but I don't know if they'd be my first choice if you're going with
copper pipe. I don't doubt the Sharkbite fittings would work, but I
just like the purity of copper with copper. If you're transitioning
to PEX the Sharkbites make it trivial - one of their best points. You
can work with copper, PVC or PEX with the same fitting, which makes
them indispensable in the repair kit. If you are concerned about them
being buried for a long while over occupied space below, run an air
pressure test. Hook up a fitting and pump it up to double your house
pressure and let it sit overnight to see if the air pressure is
dropping. If it holds at double the pressure, it's unlikely you'd
ever have a problem. They probably would be fine, they seem very well
made and they work better than the competition that I've tried, such
as the Zurn plastic stuff. Pretty funny, eh? I have no problem with
PEX supply piping, but plastic fittings give me the heebie jeebies. I
have had issues with the Zurn fittings before, so I just stopped using
them.

R

 

[clare]

I replaced the lines that went over to the sink and to the toilet. The
lines in this picture go to the outlets to the tub and over to where
the split off to the sink and toilet.

Would you replace those too if it were you?

If you think they should be replaced, would you use something other
than the usual copper pipes and fittings like the SharkBite products
for example?

Have you tried the "SharkBite" brand of products? If so what do you
think of them or have they developed any sort of reputation good or
bad?

Thanks, David

I've used "shark bite" connectors and they DO work - but I'd only use
them in situations where a proper soldered joint is difficult or
impossible to make due to location, or when joining dis-similar pipes
where soldering is not an option and the sharkbite is better than the
alternative.

 

[clare]

Ooops forgot the link to the picture. This picture is posted through
"yousendit dot com" instead of FileAve that I used before that caused
some folks some concern about malware.

http://tinyurl.com/248evr8

Thanks, David

Holy crap, what a mess! Soft copper pipe and compression/flare
fittings???
It wouldn't be staying there in MY house!!!
In that location, no reason not to use hard copper pipe with properly
soldered connections.

 

[clare]

hibb wrote the following:

Yousendit is for file transfers, like Napster, etc. I don't want to
download files to my computer unless I am completely secure that the
site is OK.
Use any of the free image sharing sites where no downloading is required.
Photobucket, Imageshack, Picasa, etc.

You don't need to download it - just hit "open" and use your image
viewer. I use IrfanView.

 

[clare]

hibb wrote the following:

The green color is the natural patina of copper. If it was a sign of
trouble, the Statue of Liberty would need a new skin less than every
hundred years.

What about the pipe at the bottom of the picture, below the cast iron
pipe?
And I'd be closely checking the quality/condition of the cast iron
pipe too. I've seen too many "weep" and let go. Many insurance
companies are not covering cast iron drainpipe any more on new
policies for that reason.

 

[RicodJour]

 You don't need to download it - just hit "open" and use your image
viewer. I use IrfanView.

There was no option for open with that first link - least not for me.
Just a "where did ya want to save that?" dialog. This is not normal
behavior, and not normal behavior is rarely good when it comes to
computers. The OP should just stick with one of the two or three
biggie hosting sites.

R

 

[RicodJour]

it's been my experience that these soft copper runs to things in older
houses are rarely 5/8" OD.  And that's the only way a sharkbite is gonna
be an option.  He might just as well go back to a known good point and
either sweat on or flare fitting to a pipe thread and use a proper
adaptor to the material he wishes to use.

Yes, of course - if the pipe is not standard, he has little choice.

R

 

[hibb]

Yes, of course - if the pipe is not standard, he has little choice.

R

I've already used the sharkbite stuff to replace the runs over to the
sink and the stool. I replaced those lines because the original did
not have shut off valves anywhere except in the basement.

Thanks, David

 

[hibb]

There was no option for open with that first link - least not for me.
Just a "where did ya want to save that?" dialog.  This is not normal
behavior, and not normal behavior is rarely good when it comes to
computers.  The OP should just stick with one of the two or three
biggie hosting sites.

R

Well, I haven't been accused of normal behavior in a long time but
when I tested the link I was asked if I wanted to open or save the
file.

Anyway, I did relocate the picture to another location so that it can
be viewed in a web page and can be viewed here:

http://yfrog.com/mjdscn7920j

Also, I an not exactly new around here and no one has reported any
security related problems with my pictures except a previous problem
with the FileAve site reported by you so I dumped them so I'm getting
a bit sensitive to you continually questioning my integrity. I see you
posting about "using one of the two or three biggie hosting sites" and
yet you keep those sites secret and don't enlighten us about what
exactly those sites are. I used Imageshack for the post in this note.
Are your biggie hosting sites better?

I don't blame you for being concerned about security but, like I said,
I am not new around here and didn't just suddenly show up out of the
blue asking you to download files. So if you have a problem with what
I am doing, teach me how to do it better instead of posting that my
behavior is not normal.

David

 

[clare]

There was no option for open with that first link - least not for me.
Just a "where did ya want to save that?" dialog. This is not normal
behavior, and not normal behavior is rarely good when it comes to
computers. The OP should just stick with one of the two or three
biggie hosting sites.

R

I just double clicked it and opened it.