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Default Anyone try pipe-relining vs. repiping their house or condo?

My 20 year old condo keeps developing pinholes in the copper plumping.
Just a matter of time before they occur in the slab and/or I get fed up
with the drywall damage and go for a repipe job. My neighbor had a
repipe and it was horrible, and he only got a one year warranty (seems
typical in Tampa, Florida) I've been reading of a new process called
pipe relining, where they clean out your existing copper pipes and line
them with epoxy (similar to some of the food cans that have a layer of
epoxy over the tin). They give a 10 year warranty and claim to do NO
damage to your walls, and claim to get the job done fast. Anyone have
experience (or an educated opinion) on this new process?

Thanks, Jon in Tampa

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Eric Tonks
 
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Don't see how they can get throughout the piping, around the tight ells and
tees and do a good and completely coated job. Also what happens to the
valves and other fittings?
I think I would agree with total abandoning and replacing with PEX and have
it done properly throughout.

wrote in message
oups.com...
My 20 year old condo keeps developing pinholes in the copper plumping.
Just a matter of time before they occur in the slab and/or I get fed up
with the drywall damage and go for a repipe job. My neighbor had a
repipe and it was horrible, and he only got a one year warranty (seems
typical in Tampa, Florida) I've been reading of a new process called
pipe relining, where they clean out your existing copper pipes and line
them with epoxy (similar to some of the food cans that have a layer of
epoxy over the tin). They give a 10 year warranty and claim to do NO
damage to your walls, and claim to get the job done fast. Anyone have
experience (or an educated opinion) on this new process?

Thanks, Jon in Tampa



  #4   Report Post  
Bob Pietrangelo
 
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I am not 100% sure but I think that process is for Drainage pipe with a much
larger diameter. It is not intended for residential copper tubing. I think
it is intended for decaying cast actually.

--
Bob Pietrangelo


www.comfort-solution.biz
On Time or Your Service Call is FREE
Preventive Maintenance Specialist




"Eric Tonks" etonks@sunstormADD-DOT-COM wrote in message
anews.com...
Don't see how they can get throughout the piping, around the tight ells

and
tees and do a good and completely coated job. Also what happens to the
valves and other fittings?
I think I would agree with total abandoning and replacing with PEX and

have
it done properly throughout.

wrote in message
oups.com...
My 20 year old condo keeps developing pinholes in the copper plumping.
Just a matter of time before they occur in the slab and/or I get fed up
with the drywall damage and go for a repipe job. My neighbor had a
repipe and it was horrible, and he only got a one year warranty (seems
typical in Tampa, Florida) I've been reading of a new process called
pipe relining, where they clean out your existing copper pipes and line
them with epoxy (similar to some of the food cans that have a layer of
epoxy over the tin). They give a 10 year warranty and claim to do NO
damage to your walls, and claim to get the job done fast. Anyone have
experience (or an educated opinion) on this new process?

Thanks, Jon in Tampa





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BobK207
 
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The relining is for potable water as well, my son's neighbor had it
done.

In either htis newsgroup or res.constr someone mentioned a cost of ~9k
for a reline.

If I ever get my ass in gear I'm going to do a PEX repipe (attic &
crawlspace) on my 1 story ranch.

Bought the hand expander on eBAY.

cheers
Bob



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Thanks for the tip on PEX - something else to read up about. I've got
a two story condo, so even flexible pipe would get messy.

Two companies advertise the relining for residential use. I think they
remove the valves at every fixture and attach their "process hardware"
to heat, then scrub clean, then line with epoxy. It looks like a huge
octopus that they run throughout your place to hookup to all the
fixtures. I also wonder how they can ensure they coat all of the
existing pipe, but it sure is an enticing process after you seen the
result of a re-pipe on a two story place. My neighbor's repipe cost 4k
(not including the drywall repair, and leaving out the outside faucet
on the back of his unit that he's willing to leave dry). I found out
that 1.7k was sales commission. I think the reline cost is directly
related to the number of fixtures involved - at least that's the look
from one website that asks for all that info for a price estimate.

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John/Charleston
 
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On 2 Apr 2005 13:06:03 -0800, "BobK207" wrote:

The relining is for potable water as well, my son's neighbor had it
done.

In either htis newsgroup or res.constr someone mentioned a cost of ~9k
for a reline.

Relining is a new concept to me but I'm not so sure I'd trust the
water coming thru freshly epoxy-walled pipes. Then again, I'm not
sure I trust Pex either...

If I ever get my ass in gear I'm going to do a PEX repipe (attic &
crawlspace) on my 1 story ranch.

Bought the hand expander on eBAY.


I have to ask...I bought my pex crimpers on Ebay but what is a "hand
expander"?
cheers
Bob


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Joshua Putnam
 
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No personal experience with it, but I spoke with a contractor's rep for
half an hour or so at a condo association trade fair last year, got a
reasonably good idea how it works. It looks like it should be quite
reliable.

They basically sandblast the interior of all your pipes down to bare
metal for good ahesion, and use compressed air to blow the coating
through the pipes.

They said it wasn't usually cost-effective on single-family residences,
unless there was a lot of pipe in slab that would have to be replaced.
Makes a lot more sense on multi-family because of the speed and minimal
disruption.

It works on copper or galvanized, down to 1/2" nominal.

--
is Joshua Putnam
http://www.phred.org/~josh/
Updated Bicycle Touring Books List:
http://www.phred.org/~josh/bike/tourbooks.html
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Thanks for the detailed reply. In "googling around" I ran across a
duraflo reseller that seems to be going after the single family market:

"I don't think you should repipe at all. My company does pipe
restoration. We will take your existing system, dry it clean all the
encrustation out then clean it.We then coat the pipe with NSF,
IAPMO,AND UPC approved EPOXY. There is no demo of walls and or
ceilings. THat means your home will not be torn apart for the repipe.
We can generally complete a typical 2-3 bath house in two days. To get
more information go to our web site www.aceduraflo.com"

I wouldn't think there would be a big cost of scale problem with the
re-lining process, unless the epoxy is expensive to mix for just a
single unit.

My reading of PEX is mixed; positive article at

http://tinyurl.com/5xvwb

Horror story at:

http://www.nachi.org/bbsystem/viewtopic.php?t=9106

The latter points to the need of plumber experience with the product in
your area, and plumber competence.


But another concern I have with the pipe-reline is that Tampa is a
major lightening area. Houses get hit, and it's rumored to be one
accelerator of copper failure. Wonder if the epoxy would separate from
the copper with a lightening strike. Don't laugh, I've taken a direct
hit once, and who knows how many voltage raising nearby strikes.

Although I'm a confirmed DIY'er, this is one area I'd rather pay for a
professional job and get a long term warranty (if I could find that in
Tampa).

  #10   Report Post  
Bob Pietrangelo
 
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here is their website, I haven't looked at it yet but saw it in a trade rag
this morning

www.fixmypipes.com

Company name is Ace DuraFlo

They are in placentia, ca 1-877-775-0220

--
Bob Pietrangelo


www.comfort-solution.biz
On Time or Your Service Call is FREE
Preventive Maintenance Specialist




"BobK207" wrote in message
oups.com...
The relining is for potable water as well, my son's neighbor had it
done.

In either htis newsgroup or res.constr someone mentioned a cost of ~9k
for a reline.

If I ever get my ass in gear I'm going to do a PEX repipe (attic &
crawlspace) on my 1 story ranch.

Bought the hand expander on eBAY.

cheers
Bob





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BobK207
 
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John-

According to the PEX stuff I've read there are two permanent ways to
make the connections.

1) Metal frings & a crimper
2) PEX doubler rings and a tube expander tool.

To make the connections using the expander method

1) slide a "doubler ring" over the end of the tube
2) inset the expander tool into the end of the tube
3) expnad the tube
4) qucikly insert the fitting
5) the tube & doubler ring shrinks down ove thre fitting

the expander method takes advantage of the shape memory fo the PEX
material.

one comment that I have is,: the expander method fittings muct have a
different od thatn the fitting for use with the crimper & rings.


By hand expanderf I mean one that is done by hand. Wirsbo make a
pneumatic & a battery powered expander. Unfortunately all three
systems use different expander hads!!! These both are really pretty
spendy


I just bought a hand actuated expander. on eBay. I have les than 50
connections to make.

Why the concern about PEX/ perfomance (leaks?) or chemical safety?

I'm pretty old school on a lot of stuff. I use EMT or flex w/
THHN/THWN wire. I usually use copper tube. Two contractor friends
swear by PEX, we'll see.

cheers
Bob

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John/Charleston
 
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On 3 Apr 2005 23:28:55 -0700, "BobK207" wrote:

John-

According to the PEX stuff I've read there are two permanent ways to
make the connections.

1) Metal frings & a crimper
2) PEX doubler rings and a tube expander tool.

To make the connections using the expander method

1) slide a "doubler ring" over the end of the tube
2) inset the expander tool into the end of the tube
3) expnad the tube
4) qucikly insert the fitting
5) the tube & doubler ring shrinks down ove thre fitting

the expander method takes advantage of the shape memory fo the PEX
material.

one comment that I have is,: the expander method fittings muct have a
different od thatn the fitting for use with the crimper & rings.


Interesting, I'll have to look that up to get the exact picture. Is
there any advantage to this method over the crimp method?


By hand expanderf I mean one that is done by hand. Wirsbo make a
pneumatic & a battery powered expander. Unfortunately all three
systems use different expander hads!!! These both are really pretty
spendy


I just bought a hand actuated expander. on eBay. I have les than 50
connections to make.


Is this hard on the arm? I have tendonitis from gripping tools for
so many years...

Why the concern about PEX/ perfomance (leaks?) or chemical safety?


Chemical safety. Truth is, the water probably has far worse stuff in
it than it might get from the pipes.

I'm pretty old school on a lot of stuff. I use EMT or flex w/
THHN/THWN wire. I usually use copper tube. Two contractor friends
swear by PEX, we'll see.

cheers
Bob


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BobK207
 
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John-

I'm not sure of the advantge. It just seemed to me to simpler but who
knows

I also am concerned about the arm / hand strength needed, haven't used
it yet.
It has fairly long handles & I only have to do about 30 connections per
repipe.

I was also looking at the battery powered unit but it was just too
spendy to justify for 2 repipes

On chem safety, its not like PVC or CPVC, no solvent
Bob

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