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Author:
CMY SIX (AL)
I live in Alabama, house built in 1972, slab house. I have a water leak out in the yard about 3 feet from the footing, I have dug the pipe up at the water meter. it appears to be some sort of 3/4 pipe it looks like ridgid copper but it is grey in color like it is coated and where it connects to the meter. it looks like a compression fitting, I've laid roll copper in Ill in the 70's so I know what that looks like. Is it possible that this is coated rigid copper in 20 foot lengths joined with compression fittings?
Edited 2 times.
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Author:
packy (MA)
galvanized pipe is grey in color..
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Author:
North Carolina Plumber (NC)
Could it be sch.80 PVC ?
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Author:
packy (MA)
didn't think of that. galvanized would be light grey and schedule 80 PVC would be dark grey.
thing is, if someone ran PVC, why would they use compression fittings when they could just glue a coupling?
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Author:
CMY SIX (AL)
it's not SCH80 or galvinized, absolutely no rust, smaller out side diameter, smooth as glass,
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Author:
Wheelchair (IL)
Have you tried calling the water company and asked what was used or permitted when the house was built?
Best Wishes
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Author:
vic (CA)
It could be polybutylene as that not only came in rolls but also 20 ft lengths. It was grey and smooth and compression type fittings were used in some cases.
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Author:
CMY SIX (AL)
thank you all! Upon further investagation it looks like SCH 80, however like the one gentleman said it could be polybuteleyne, it looks like they used a compression or slip-sleeve fitting to make the connection to the water meter, I WILL call the water Co. and talk with them about what kinds of pipe were used here in the 70's
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Author:
North Carolina Plumber (NC)
If its original to the house built in '72, I'm betting it is not polybutylene.
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Author:
CMY SIX (AL)
I hope your right, I know how to work with SCH 80
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Author:
hj (AZ)
Probably polybutylene, although the outdoor pipe was usually blue, they could have used the gray material that was used indoors.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
Measure the o.d. of the pipe. PVC will have the same measurement as galvanized, PB will be the same as copper.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
And few people know how to work with PB any longer.
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Author:
m & m (MD)
The best way to work with PB is to replace it.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
That is the "best way", but not always the most economical one. But, I have known instances when the PB was repaired and then split again within a matter of hours at a different location.
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Author:
CMY SIX (AL)
you are probably exactly right, thank God, I was worried! Poly Butelyne wasn't MFG till 1978 to 1994 when it was pulled from the market
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Author:
vic (CA)
My understanding is that p.b. was first created in 1954 however it wasn't available until the mid '60's in Germany.
In the U.S. polybutylene was mainly mfr by Shell during the periods that you mentioned however to clarify p.b. was manufactured much earlier in Germany and a few other developed countries. I believe that polybutylene may have been here in the U.S. before 1978 and it's actually is still being successfully used in some countries.
The main issue/problem with it I believe is that chlorine water can accelerate the loss of tensile strength in p.b. pipe and so it can deteriorate the p.b. pipe, especially where high concentrations of chlorine exist such as in areas such as Florida's drinking water.
In recirculation systems where chlorine isn't present or with well water or with distilled water piping (I've installed some for kidney machines in hospitals) and so on where no chlorine is present it can last for a very very long time.
In the U.S. acetal fittings as well as aluminum crimp rings were used and both created a lot of problems.
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