Your water heater get s a ton of use every single day. It is probably one of your most-used appliances. While you are probably aware that problems can develop with your water heater itself, did you know that you can also have issues with the pipes that lead into it?
Your water heater uses several different types of pipes in order to deliver cold water to it and to pump heated water into your home. There are probably some copper pipes as well as some plastic pipes as well leading into or out of your system. Here are a few common things that you need to know about these pipes.
- Copper pipes – These types of pipes are used to carry water because of their durability and resistance to corrosion. Because your water heater uses so much water it can take a toll on plastic pipes. However, these types of pipes are more difficult to repair because the copper must be cut and soldered in order to replace the pipes.
- Plastic PVC – Another common type of pipe you might see near your water heater is PVC. This will usually only be used for fresh water intake as this kind of pipe is not often used with hot water. This is an easier type of pipe to work with because it doesn’t need to be soldered.
Causes of Pipe Replacement
There are a couple common things that can cause your water heater’s pipes to need replacement. One common cause is corrosion. If your home’s water supply is of a certain acidity or if you have hard water, it can cause minerals or corrosion to build up inside the pipes. This will cause huge issues for your water heater. Rust is another issue that can develop and cause the need for pipe replacement. While copper is very resistant to rust, the soldering material used to fit the pipes together (referred to as “flux”) can start to rust. And, of course, there are pipes made of other materials that can be used in your home, such as steel and polybutylene, which can can also have issues with both rust and corrosion. If you are not sure what your water heater pipes are made of, call your local Orlando plumber to examine your system.
If you need water heater repair in Orlando, make sure that you call Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. (MPI) .