Bill wrote:

Yes it is a code violation an no one who knows anything about plumbing would
do such a thing. Black pipe is used for gas and *not* water because it
rusts. Black pipe is less expensive.


.... which makes one wonder why the inspection at time of sale didn't
turn it up.

Which makes me think the previous owner must have done this or hired someone
who did not know what they were doing.

I don't think you're going to have the pipe rust away tomorrow or 5 years
from now even, but I imagine the water coming out of these pipes would be
nasty, especially if water was not run through the pipe for several days.

I wonder what *else* the previous homeowner did or had done? I would check
the house over real good, especially electrical wiring and natural gas
plumbing if you have it. Check venting for natural gas appliances and
fireplace chimney if you have that. Test your smoke detectors to be sure
they work.

And I would put it on your list to replace all the black pipe with
galvanized. Might want to install a water filter if it goes to a sink and or
run the water for awhile before using it for cooking or drinking water.

So far as life expectancy, they use black pipe for fire sprinkler systems
and these seem to last. But no one is drinking from these pipes. And when
draining or testing these sprinkler systems, the water is nasty. I wouldn't
drink it.


" wrote in message

Greetings,

I recently purchased a house which has had some of its galvanized water
pipe replaced with black pipe. I know that the work is new because
there are bar codes all over the pipe. I know that this is "not
good" but I would like to have some notion of how bad it is before I
decide whether or not to replace the pipe with galvanized.

a) Is this a code violation (if yes, why?)
b) What is the life expectancy of black pipe?
c) What is the life expectancy of galvanized pipe?
d) Are there any other factors?

Thank you for your time and energy,
William






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